Abstract

Problems associated with shrink-swell soils are well known geotechnical problems that
have been studied and researched by many geotechnical researchers for many decades.
Potentially shrink-swell soils can be found almost anywhere in the world especially in the
semi-arid regions of the tropical and temperate climate. Foundation slabs on grade on
shrink-swell soils are one of the most efficient and inexpensive solutions for this kind of
problematic soil. It is commonly used in residential foundations or any light weight
structure on shrink-swell soils. Many design methods have been established for this specific
problem such as Building Research Advisory Board (BRAB), Wire Reinforcement Institute
(WRI), Post- Tensioning Institute (PTI), and Australian Standards (AS 2870) design
methods. This research investigates most of these methods, and then, proposes a moisture
diffusion soil volume change model, a soil-weather interaction model, and a soil-structure
interaction model. The proposed moisture diffusion soil volume change model starts with
proposing a new laboratory test to determine the coefficient of unsaturated diffusivity for
intact soils. Then, it introduces the development of a cracked soil diffusion factor, provides
a chart for it, and explains a large scale laboratory test that verifies the proposed moisture
diffusion soil volume change model. The proposed soil-weather interaction model uses the
FAO 56-PM method to simulate a weightless cover performance for six cities in the US
that suffer significantly from shallow foundation problems on shrink-swell soils due to
seasonal weather variations. These simulations provide more accurate weather site-specific
parameters such as the range of surface suction variations. The proposed weather-site
specific parameters will be input parameters to the soil structure models. The proposed soil-
structure interaction model uses Mitchell (1979) equations for moisture diffusion under
covered soil to develop a new closed form solution for the soil mound shape under the
foundation slab. Then, it presents a parametric study by carrying out several 2D finite
elements plane strain simulations for plates resting on a semiinfinite elastic continuum and
resting on different soil mounds. The parametric study outcomes are then presented in
design charts that end with a new design procedure for foundation slabs on shrink-swell
soils. Finally, based on the developed weather-soil-structure interaction models, this
research details two procedures of a proposed new design method for foundation slabs on
grade on shrink-swell soils: a suction based design procedure and a water content based
design procedure.
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CitationsCitations8
ReferencesReferences12

o Existing soilstructure interaction models for expansive soils are mostly
based on the Winkler model and consider the ground's initial mound shape
due to shrinkage (or swelling). Nelson and Miller [20] have summarized
these existing models, while other researchers [21,22] have estimated the
shrinkage at the extremities of foundation slabs with empirical methods and
have investigated the effect of the shaped form of the ground (due to
 shrinkage) on building behavior using numerical methods. In such a
framework, the influence of vertical stress changes beneath the foundation
during the shrinkage phase on the hydraulic parameters of the soil is not
included when calculating the final transmitted settlement.

An analytical model of soilstructure interaction with swelling soils during droughts

Error! Referencia de hipervnculo no vlida.Error! Referencia de

hipervnculo no vlida.ABSTRACT: Lightly loaded structures constructed on
expansive soils may develop structural damage as a result of changes in the soil's
moisture content. This study investigated an analytical model of soil-structure
interaction to assess the settlement of dwellings built on swelling soils when
droughts occur. The building behavior was investigated with the Euler-Bernoulli
beam theory, and the ground behavior was investigated with a Winkler-derived
model based on the state surface approach. The analytical model results were
compared to those of a finite element analysis using the Barcelona Expansive Model
(BExM) performed with Code_Bright. The analytical model was then used to assess
the settlement transmission ratio for a typology of clayey soils and different
parameters of building. The results indicated that the final deflection of the building
increased with the building length and soil suction. The building deflection due to
the suction variations was inversely proportional to the load, the rigidity of the
building and the embedding depth of the foundation. Increasing these parameters
made the building less vulnerable to shrinkage and swelling action. (c) 2013
Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Full-text Article Oct 2013

Emad Jahangir Olivier Deck Farimah

Masrouri

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o Different methodologies exist, including relative humidity drying [5],
microwave drying [46], spray drying [2] , and the suitability of these
methodologies depends on the material or aim of the test. Drying tests are
often used in geotechnics, because climatic conditions alter the performance
of materials, including concrete damage due to differential shrinkage [15] ,
fissuration of clayey soils [63] or degradation of the soilstructure interfaces
due to the cyclic swelling-shrinkage of the soil [1]. In geomechanics, the
drilling and subsequent exploitation of underground structures desaturate
deep rock masses and perturb their stability.
ActaGeotechnicaGuillonGiotGiraudArmand2012

File Data Apr 2013 Arabian Journal of Geosciences

Thophile Guillon Richard Giot Gilles Armand

Albert Giraud Albert Giraud

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o Nelson and Miller (1992) summarized these existing models. Other authors
(Abdelmalak 2007; Viet Do et al. 2008) estimated the shrinkage at the
extremity of foundation slabs by empirical methods and investigated the
consequence of the shaped form of the ground (due to shrinkage) on the
building behavior using a numerical method. Under such a framework, the
influence of vertical stress changes beneath the foundation during the
shrinkage phase and the hydraulic parameters of soil are not taken into
account to calculate the final settlement.

Estimation of ground settlement beneath foundations due to shrinkage of clayey soils

Error! Referencia de hipervnculo no vlida.Error! Referencia de

hipervnculo no vlida.ABSTRACT: The shrinkage and swelling of clayey soils is
a natural hazard, which may significantly affect buildings. Foundation settlement
caused by this geohazard for buildings constructed on expansive soils undergoing a
drought period was studied. A soilstructure interaction model is proposed. The
hydromechanical coupling is taken into account by using the state surface approach.
Settlement is evaluated according to building stiffness, ground hydromechanical
properties, surface suction variation, suction profile, and foundation depth. The
uncertainties are considered by using the Monte Carlo approach, and an application
has been performed for the average settlement assessment of a group of buildings.
This paper outlines the significant dependency of the final settlement on the
building stiffness. It highlights the benefits of rigid buildings and deeper
foundations to reduce vulnerability to this geohazard.

Full-text Article Jun 2012

 Emad Jahangir Olivier Deck Farimah
Masrouri

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o Different methodologies exist, including relative humidity drying[5],
microwave drying[46], spray drying[2], and the suitability of these
methodologies depends on the material or aim of the test. Drying tests are
often used in geotechnics, because climatic conditions alter the performance
of materials, including concrete damage due to differential shrinkage[15],
fissuration of clayey soils[63]or degradation of the soilstructure interfaces
due to the cyclic swelling-shrinkage of the soil[1]. In geomechanics, the
drilling and subsequent exploitation of underground structures desaturate
deep rock masses and perturb their stability.

Response of Callovo-Oxfordian claystone during drying tests: Unsaturated hydromechanical

behavior

Error! Referencia de hipervnculo no vlida.Error! Referencia de

hipervnculo no vlida.DESCRIPTION: The French National Agency for Nuclear
Waste Management is currently studying the Callovo-Oxfordian claystone as a
potential repository for nuclear waste. This study focuses on the hydromechanical
(HM) unsaturated response of the rock subjected to hydraulic loading. Static
atmosphere drying tests highlighted the HM coupling and mechanical anisotropy of
the samples. A coupled poroelastic model was proposed, involving highly nonlinear
equations. Numerical simulations were performed using the finite element code
Code_Aster. Through a sensitivity analysis, the most suitable parameters for
estimation were found to be the Biot coefficient and 3 of the 4 independent
parameters of the Van Genuchten-Mualem relations. The parameters were estimated
according to an inverse procedure that minimizes a cost functional. The estimates
could not outline any hysteretic behavior, but they appeared to be divided into two
groups (depending on their fitted values). The convergence and stability of the
inverse algorithm were studied, and the results showed that direct computations
must be run prior to the inversion to ensure its convergence. No plasticity occurred
in the samples (according to the model), whereas irreversible phenomena do take
place in situ.ABSTRACT: The French National Agency for Nuclear Waste
Management is currently studying the Callovo-Oxfordian claystone as a potential
repository for nuclear waste. This study focuses on the hydromechanical (HM)
unsaturated response of the rock subjected to hydraulic loading. Static atmosphere
drying tests highlighted the HM coupling and mechanical anisotropy of the samples.
A coupled poroelastic model was proposed, involving highly nonlinear equations.
Numerical simulations were performed using the finite element code Code_Aster.
Through a sensitivity analysis, the most suitable parameters for estimation were
found to be the Biot coefficient and 3 of the 4 independent parameters of the Van
Genuchten-Mualem relations. The parameters were estimated according to an
inverse procedure that minimizes a cost functional. The estimates could not outline
any hysteretic behavior, but they appeared to be divided into two groups (depending
on their fitted values). The convergence and stability of the inverse algorithm were
studied, and the results showed that direct computations must be run prior to the
inversion to ensure its convergence. No plasticity occurred in the samples
(according to the model), whereas irreversible phenomena do take place in situ.

File Data Jun 2012

Thophile Guillon Richard Giot bullet Albert+1 more

author... Giraud @bullet

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o Indeed the change in water content at the edge of the slab w edge is one
half of the change in water content in the free field w 0 since Equation 7 is
linear and since U 0 = 2.U edge as mentioned before. Furthermore
Abdelmalak (2007) showed that there is a simple empirical relationship
between the specific water capacity C w and the shrink-swell index I ss :

Design of stiffened slabs-on-grade on shrink-swell soils

Error! Referencia de hipervnculo no vlida.Error! Referencia de

hipervnculo no vlida.ABSTRACT: Stiffened slabs-on-grade are one of the most
efficient and inexpensive foundation solutions for light structures on shrink-swell
soils. After removing the top soil, the stiffening reinforced concrete beams, say 1m
deep and 0.3 m wide, are formed in the natural soil and placed every 3 m in both
directions. The slab is typically 0.1 m thick. Such stiffened slabs are often called
waffle slabs because of the geometric analogy with a waffle. They are commonly
used in the USA for the foundation of houses or any light weight structure on
shrink-swell soils and cost about 100$/m 2 (2010). This paper presents a simple
design procedure and associated charts for calculating the depth of the beams
required to limit the differential movement of the foundation due to bending to an
acceptable amount. This bending of the foundation is due to the shrinking and
swelling of the soil during the dry and wet seasons under the edges of the structure.
The procedure consists of using the change in suction or the change in water content
 selected for design purposes in the region, the anticipate depth of influence of these
seasonal changes, the soil properties, and the beam depth, to calculate the distortion
of the slab under load. If the distortion is too large for the type of structure
considered, the beam depth is increased until the acceptable value is reached.

Full-text Article Jan 2011 Arabian Journal of Geosciences

J.-L. Briaud Remon Abdelmalak Xiong Zhang

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Unsaturated characteristics of undisturbed expansive shale from Saudi Arabia

Error! Referencia de hipervnculo no vlida.Error! Referencia de

hipervnculo no vlida.ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the soil
water characteristic curves (SWCC) of undisturbed expansive shale identified at
different locations of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The SWCCs were evaluated for
suction ranging from 0.5 to 400 MPa. Based on test results, all SWCCs reveal a
bimodal curve indicating the presence of two distinct pore size distributions referred
to as small and large micropores. Volume change measurements were performed to
evaluate void ratiosuction relationships which confirmed the expansive nature of
shale. Similarities between measured SWCCs and void ratiosuction relations
developed for expansive shale originating from same geological formation suggests
the impact of geological and environmental conditions on the unsaturated behavior
of shale samples. Finally, a modified approach based on Mckeens classification
methodology was proposed to assess the swelling potential using bimodal SWCCs.
The modified approach was used to assess the relative contribution of different
micropores on the swelling potential of shale.

Article May 2013

Tamer Elkady

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Soil structure interaction for shrink-swell soils a new design procedure for foundation
slabs on shrink-swell soils. Available from:
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-swell_soils_a_new_design_procedure_for_foundation_slabs_on_shrink-swell_soils
[accessed Sep 23, 2017].