Addressing Expansive Soils

This article describes in detail how the construction of a highway in China led to development of several new techniques for stabilizing embankments that consist primarily of expansive soil. Work on a 180-kilometer expressway was interrupted in September 2003 in the southern part of central China when landslides occurred on slopes that had been excavated. Expansive soil, which consists largely of clay, can change in volume and strength as levels of moisture change, which can cause serious damage to geotechnical infrastructure. Researchers at Changsha University of Science and Technology came up with three different solutions for the problems related to the highway construction project. The three methods included installing root piles and building a retaining wall at the toe of the slope, as well as changing soil behavior with a liquid chemical. A second method involved the use of French drains, while the third consisted of constructing a flexible supporting structure.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/10480594
• Authors:
  • Yang, He-Ping
  • Zheng, Jian-Long
  • Zhang, Rui
• Publication Date: 2007-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: pp 62-69
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 77
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0885-7024
  • Serial URL: http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/newce/html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compaction; Embankments and retaining walls; Geogrids; Landslides; Road construction; Soil stabilization; Subgrade (Pavements); Swelling soils
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I51: Earthworks and Soil Drainage;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01044935
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 26 2007 12:12PM