Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia

Title: ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFICATION OF THREE TYPES OF DIFFICULT SOILS
Author: Ayadat Tahar
DOI: 10.13168/AGG.2021.0015
Journal: Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia, Vol. 18, No. 2 (202), Prague 2021
Full Text: PDF file (2.0 MB)
Keywords: identification, prediction, collapsible soil, swelling soil, liquefaction, difficult soils
Abstract: The soil engineer needs to be able to readily identify difficult or problematic soils and to determine the amount of settlement that may occur. This paper deals with the assessment and identification of three types of difficult soils: collapsible soils, swelling soils, and liquefiable soils. In the first instance, the study investigates the effect of some soil properties on wetting-induced collapse strain and the swelling potential of soils. Also, two new methods for predicting soil collapse and swelling potential are developed. The proposed relationships correlate between collapse strain and swelling potential and some soil parameters which are believed to govern soil collapse and swelling. Validation of these two relationships with some data reported in literature is also examined. Furthermore, the paper describes the different steps suggested in a new procedure for soil liquefaction assessment. The procedure was presented in the form of an evaluation guide. In addition, a relationship was suggested for computing the potential for liquefaction. An application of the proposed procedure to a practical case is included in order to validate and illustrate the different steps to be followed in the suggested evaluation procedure.