SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental Study on Soil–Water Retention Properties of Compacted Expansive Clay

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Advances in Transportation Geotechnics IV

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering ((LNCE,volume 166))

  • 1772 Accesses

Abstract

The soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) defines the relationship between water content and matric suction in soil, which contains fundamental information needed for the hydromechanical behavior of expansive soil that generally lies within the unsaturated soil mechanics framework. Moreland clay is highly expansive soil abundant in northern Louisiana, part of Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Unsaturated soil properties for shear strength, permeability, and volume change are needed to identify expansive soil-induced stresses on pavement or railroad track due to seasonal variation of moisture content in the subgrade layers. Determination of the two critical variables obtained from the SWCC, i.e., the air-entry value (AEV) and the residual state suction, is essential for the prediction of unsaturated soil deformations. In this research, an experimental testing program was conducted on the expansive Moreland clay to investigate the soil–water retention properties by adopting the axis translation technique to control suction in the range of 0–1500 kPa. A computer program was developed to fit experimental data, and it was compared with predicted SWCC using empirical relationships. The AEV and the residual state suction, two critical variables, were obtained from the SWCC formulation of Fredlund and **ng equation. Finally, the shrinkage curve was determined to interrelate between elastic deformation and SWCC of Moreland clay.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 349.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fredlund DG, Rahardjo H, Fredlund MD (2012) Unsaturated soil mechanics in engineering practice, 2nd edn. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Brooks R, Corey T (1964) Hydraulic properties of POROUS MEDIA. Hydrol Pap Color State Univ 24:37

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mualem Y (1976) A new model for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated porous media. Water Resour Res 12:513–522. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR012i003p00513

  4. Van Genuchten MT (1980) A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44:892–898. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x

  5. Fredlund DG, **ng A (1994) Equations for the soil-water characteristic curve. Can Geotech J 31:521–532. https://doi.org/10.1139/t94-061

  6. Kosugi K (1996) Lognormal distribution model for unsaturated soil hydraulic properties. Water Resour Res 32:2697–2703. https://doi.org/10.1029/96WR01776

  7. Seki K (2007) SWRC Fit–a nonlinear fitting program with a water retention curve for soils having unimodal and bimodal pore structure. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci Discuss 4:407–437

    Google Scholar 

  8. Leong EC, Rahardjo H (1997) Review of soil-water characteristic curve equations. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 123:1106–1117. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1997)123:12(1106)

  9. Chen FH (2012) Foundations on expansive soils. Elsevier

    Google Scholar 

  10. Al-Rawas AA, Goosen MFA (2006) Expansive soils: recent advances in characterization and treatment, 1st edn. CRC Press

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Nelson JD, Chao KC, Overton DD, Nelson EJ (2015) Foundation engineering for expansive soils. Wiley Online Library

    Google Scholar 

  12. Erzin Y, Erol O (2007) Swell pressure prediction by suction methods. Eng Geol 92:133–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.04.002

  13. Khan MA, Wang JX, Patterson WB (2017) Swelling–shrinkage properties of expansive Moreland clay. PanAm Unsaturated Soils 2017:100. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784481707.011

    Google Scholar 

  14. Khan MA, Wang JX, Patterson WB (2019) A study of the swell-shrink behavior of expansive Moreland clay. Int J Geotech Eng 13:205–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2017.1351744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Adem HH, Vanapalli SK (2015) Prediction of the modulus of elasticity of compacted unsaturated expansive soils. Int J Geotech Eng 9:163–175. https://doi.org/10.1179/1939787914Y.0000000050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Chiu CF, Yan WM, Yuen K-V (2012) Reliability analysis of soil–water characteristics curve and its application to slope stability analysis. Eng Geol 135:83–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2012.03.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Likos WJ, Song X, **ao M et al (2019) Fundamental challenges in unsaturated soil mechanics. Geotechnical fundamentals for addressing new world challenges. Springer, Berlin, pp 209–236

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  18. Rao BH, Venkataramana K, Singh DN (2011) Studies on the determination of swelling properties of soils from suction measurements. Can Geotech J 48:375–387. https://doi.org/10.1139/T10-076

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hunt AG (2004) Comparing van genuchten and percolation theoretical formulations of the hydraulic properties of unsaturated media. Vadose Zo J 3:1483–1488. https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2004.1483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Marinho FAM, Oliveira OM, Adem H, Vanapalli S (2013) Shear strength behavior of compacted unsaturated residual soil. Int J Geotech Eng 7:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1179/1938636212Z.00000000011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Rassam DW, Cook F (2002) Predicting the shear strength envelope of unsaturated soils. Geotech Test J 25:215–220. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ11365J

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Tahasildar J, Erzin Y, Rao BH (2018) Development of relationships between swelling and suction properties of expansive soils. Int J Geotech Eng 12:53–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2016.1250040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Vanapalli SK, Fredlund DG, Pufahl DE, Clifton AW (1996) Model for the prediction of shear strength with respect to soil suction. Can Geotech J 33:379–392. https://doi.org/10.1139/t96-060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Watabe Y, LeBihan J-P, Leroueil S (2006) Probabilistic modelling of saturated/unsaturated hydraulic conductivity for compacted glacial tills. Géotechnique 56:273–284. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2006.56.4.273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Fredlund DG (2018) State of practice for use of the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) in geotechnical engineering. Can Geotech J 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2018-0434

    Google Scholar 

  26. Akin ID, Likos WJ (2020) Suction Stress of clay over a wide range of saturation. Geotech Geol Eng 38:283–296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-019-01016-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Peron H, Hueckel T, Laloui L, Hu LB (2009) Fundamentals of desiccation cracking of fine-grained soils: experimental characterisation and mechanisms identification. Can Geotech J 46:1177–1201. https://doi.org/10.1139/T09-054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Frydman S, Baker R (2009) Theoretical soil-water characteristic curves based on adsorption, cavitation, and a double porosity model. Int J Geomech 9:250–257. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-3641(2009)9:6(250)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Khan MA, Wang JX, Sarker D (2018) Stabilization of highly expansive moreland clay using class-C fly ash geopolymer (CFAG). IFCEE 2018:505–518. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784481592.050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Sarker D, Apu OS, Kumar N, et al (2021) Application of sustainable lignin stabilized expansive soils in highway subgrade. In: International Foundations Congress & Equipment Expo 2021. Dallas, TX. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784483435.033

  31. Tu H, Vanapalli SK (2016) Prediction of the variation of swelling pressure and one-dimensional heave of expansive soils with respect to suction using the soil-water retention curve as a tool. Can Geotech J 53:1213–1234. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2015-0222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. ASTM D1452 (2016) Standard practice for soil exploration and sampling by auger borings. ASTM Int. https://doi.org/10.1520/D1452_D1452M-16

  33. ASTM D4220 (2014) Standard practices for preserving and transporting soil samples. ASTM Int. https://doi.org/10.1520/D4220_D4220M-14

  34. ASTM D1557 (2012) Standard test methods for laboratory compaction characteristics of soil using modified effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft3 (2,700 kN-m/m3)). ASTM Int. https://doi.org/10.1520/D1557-12E01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. ASTM D2216 (2019) Standard Test methods for laboratory determination of water (moisture) content of soil and rock by Mass. ASTM Int. https://doi.org/10.1520/D2216-19

  36. ASTM D854 (2014) Standard test methods for specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer. ASTM Int. https://doi.org/10.1520/D0854-14

  37. ASTM D4318 (2017) Standard test methods for liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of soils. ASTM Int. https://doi.org/10.1520/D4318-17E01

  38. ASTM D6913 (2017) Standard test methods for particle-size distribution (gradation) of soils using sieve analysis. ASTM Int. https://doi.org/10.1520/D6913_D6913M-17

  39. ASTM D2487 (2017) Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (unified soil classification system). ASTM Int. https://doi.org/10.1520/D2487-17E01

  40. ASTM D6836 (2016) Standard test methods for determination of the soil water characteristic curve for desorption using hanging column, pressure extractor, chilled mirror hygrometer, or centrifuge. ASTM Int. https://doi.org/10.1520/D6836-16

  41. Suits LD, Sheahan TC, Perez-Garcia N et al (2008) An oedometer-type pressure plate SWCC apparatus. Geotech Test J 31:100964. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ100964

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Khan A (2017) Influence of moisture content distribution in soil on pavement and geothermal energy. PhD Dissertation, Programs of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Technology, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA

    Google Scholar 

  43. Azam S, Ito M, Chowdhury R (2013) Engineering properties of an expansive soil. In: Proceedings of the 18th international conference on soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  44. Fityus S, Buzzi O (2009) The place of expansive clays in the framework of unsaturated soil mechanics. Appl Clay Sci 43:150–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2008.08.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Ramirez EF (2013) Introducing unsaturated soil mechanics to undergraduate students through the net stress concepts. M.S. Thesis, Arizona State University

    Google Scholar 

  46. Zapata CE (1999) uncertainty in soil-water characteristic curve and impacts on unsaturated shear strength predictions. Ph.D. Thesis, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

    Google Scholar 

  47. Zapata C, Houston WN, Houston S, Walsh KD (2000) Soil-water characteristic curve variability. In: The GeoDenver 2000-unsaturated soils sessions ‘advances in ultrasound geotechnical’. ASCE, pp 84–124. https://doi.org/10.1061/40510(287)

  48. Puppala AJ, Punthutaecha K, Vanapalli SK (2006) Soil-water characteristic curves of stabilized expansive soils. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 132:736–751. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:6(736)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Haines WB (1923) The volume-changes associated with variations of water content in soil. J Agric Sci 13:296–310. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600003580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Al-Dakheeli H, Bulut R (2019) Interrelationship between elastic deformation and soil-water characteristic curve of expansive soils. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 145:04019005. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002020

  51. Ikra BA, Wang JX (2017) Numerical simulation of moisture fluctuations in unsaturated expansive clay, heave/settlement predictions, and validation with field measurements. In: PanAm unsaturated soils. ASCE, pp 198–208. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784481707.021

  52. Khan MA, Wang JW (2017) Application of Euler-Bernoulli beam on winkler foundation for highway pavement on expansive soils. In: Proceedings of PanAm-UNSAT 2017: Second Pan-American Conference on Unsaturated Soils, ASCE. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784481691.023

  53. Sarker D, Wang JX, Khan MA (2019) Development of the virtual load method by applying the inverse theory for the analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced pavement on expansive soils. In: Geotechnical special publication. American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA, pp 326–339. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784482124.034

  54. Khan MA, Wang JX, Sarker D (2020) development of analytic method for computing expansive soil–induced stresses in highway pavement. Int J Geomech 20. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001511

  55. Wang JX, Sarker D, Ikra B (2018) Development of a mechanistic-based design method for geosynthetic-reinforced pavement on expansive soils and prediction of moisture content fluctuations in subgrades. Southern Plain Transportation Center, Norman, OK

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Mr. Daniel Thompson at Aillet, Fenner, Jolly & McClelland, Mr. Gary Hubbard at Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation, and Dr. Shams Arafat for their assistance in selecting soil sampling sites and soil sample collection. Some suggestions during weekly discussions from Dr. Ling Cao, a visiting professor from China Three Gorges University, were appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programs of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Technology, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA

    Debojit Sarker & Jay X. Wang

Authors
  1. Debojit Sarker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jay X. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Debojit Sarker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA

    Erol Tutumluer

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA

    Soheil Nazarian

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA

    Imad Al-Qadi

  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA

    Issam I.A. Qamhia

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Sarker, D., Wang, J.X. (2022). Experimental Study on Soil–Water Retention Properties of Compacted Expansive Clay. In: Tutumluer, E., Nazarian, S., Al-Qadi, I., Qamhia, I.I. (eds) Advances in Transportation Geotechnics IV. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 166. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77238-3_33

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77238-3_33

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-77237-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-77238-3

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation