International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 13

The Effects of Water Contents

on Free Swelling of Expansive Soil
Agus Tugas Sudjianto1), M. Cakrawala 1) and Candra Aditya 1)
1)
Civil Engineering Department, University of Widyagama Malang, East Java, Indonesia
E-mail : ats_2003@yahoo.com


Abstract -- The expansive soil will be swelling upon wetting
and shrinnking to drying. This behavior can damage of
construction structures, particularly, light buildings and roads.
The phenomenom is very interesting to be researched, how far
the effect of water contents is towards the behavior of free
swelling of expansive soil. The material of expansive soil are
selected from Karang Jati Ngawi region East Java Province.
The expansive soils result in a variation of plasticity index and
activity in the soil from Karang Jati (Ngawi) mixed with Na-
bentonite. The research on free swelling is done by being
remolded with diameter 6.35 cm and high 1.70 cm, with initial
water content of 32% and dry density of 1.26 g/cm3. An
electronic digital caliper is used to measure free swelling.
Results of the research indicate that the water contents have a
linear relation with free swelling.
Index Term-- The expansive soil, Na-bentonite, water content,
free swelling.
I. INTRODUCTION
An expansive clay is one type of fine-grained soil that is
formed from expansive minerals with the size of colloidal. In
general, expansive clay minerals are formed from
montmorilonite, illite, kaolinite, halloysite, chlorite, vermiculite,
and attapulgite [1].
Expansive clays have properties which are typical of the
expansive mineral content with a high ion exchange capacity,
resulting in expansive clays having a high shrinkage potential
development, if there is a change in water content. If the water
content increases, expansive soil will swell accompanied by an
increase in pore water pressure and the incidence and
development pressures. When the water content is reduced to
the extent, a shrinkage will occur. The nature and development
of such shrinkage can cause damage to the buildings [2].
It is stated [3]that the order of sensitivity to development is
the shrinkage of the expansive mineral montmorillonite having
the highest level of development, and these minerals are
divided into Na-montmorillonite and Ca - montmorillonite.
Expansive clay soil can be found in many places in the world
[1], namely Argentina, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United
States, Australia, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco , Myanmar,
Jordan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Spain, Turkey and Venezuela.
. from a test pit with a depth of two meters. The pit was
The phenomenon of high swelling - shrinkage can cause
damage to the building. It is resported [4] that in the United
States, losses caused by expansive soil problem turned out
exceeding other natural disasters, including losses caused by
earthquakes and tornadoes. According to data from the
Federal Emergency Agency (FEMA) in 1982, losses due to
expansive soil in 1970 reached $ 798,100,000 [5]. Every year
building damage, the structure of buildings and roads caused
by expansive soils are predicted approximately $ 150,000,000 in
the UK, approximately $ 100,000,000 in the USA, and even
billions of dollars around the world [6].
In Indonesia, in terms of incidence of the soil, expansive clay
problems are almost found all over Indonesia, from North
Sumatra to Papua. Total losses have not been reported, but
from research and surveys that have been made by the
Highways and Road Development Research Center and
Department of General Construction, a lot of damages that
occur in several roads on the island of Java are caused by
expansive clay soil problems [7].
Some researches show that the consistency of expansive
clay soil is strongly influenced by soil water content.
According to [8], plasticity index (PI) and liquid limit (LL) can
be used to determine the swelling characteristics of expansive
clays in general. Tthe only plasticity index (PI) alone can be
used to estimate the swelling characteristics of expansive clays
in general [9]. According [10], [1[, [11[ and [12], the higher the
plastic index (PI) in an expansive clay minerals is, the higher
the potential for development will be.
Expansive soils in Indonesia make logical problems become
more complex, because our country is located in the trop ics,
where wetting and drying cycles always happen due to the
rainy and dry seasons. The result is that in areas where
expansive soils become swelling - shrinkage is due to
changes in water content and suction. Based on this
phenomenon, this research is conducted separately to
determine the severity of such influences as how far does the
change in water content affect the behavior of free swelling of
expansive soil.
II. EXPERIM ENTAL PROGRAM
A. Material and Sample Preparation
The soil samples for this study were brought from Karang Jati,
Ngawi region, East Java Province, of which its map is shown in
Fig. 1. The region experiences some of the largest diferential
ground movement in East Java. Soil Samples were obtained

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 International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 14

escavated in ± 10 ms from the shoulder of the road. The test method according ASTM D4546-96 [13] with a
Undisturbed samples were taken using a sample tube with a method based on [9]. Dimension of soil samples with a
length dimension of 30 cms and a diameter of 7 cms. diameter of 6.35 Cms and high of 1.70 Cms, with initial water
Undisturbed samples will be kept to water content change and content of 32 % and dry density of 1.26 g/cm3, as based on the
vibration, as well as clean from the roots of plants. The standard Proctor test. The samples of free swelling test are
expansive formation at the site is a grey-green to yellowish shown in fig. 4.
weathered clayey shale. In this study to vary the plasticity
index and activity, then Karang Jati soil was mixed with Na-
bentonite. Mixing methods as practiced by [9] is a composition
of 10% to 30% of the dry weight of expansive soil,
respectively. Examples of Na-bentonite ares used presented in
Fig. 2. Na-bentonite were bought in a chemical shop in Surabaya
city (East Java). Soil mixture are made in 3 variations, the
composition of the mixture are shown in Table I.

Fig. 3. Electronic digital caliper.

Fig

Fig. 1. T he map Karang Jati, region Ngawi, East Java.

Fig. 4. T he samples free swelling test..

To calculate vertical and horizontal swelling from Electronic

digital caliper, formula 1 and 2 are used. For the calculation of
volumetric swelling by using formula 3.

final high  initial high H

Sz  100%  100%
initial high H (1)
final diameter  initial diameter D
Sx  100%  100% (2)
initial diameter D

final volume  initial volume V (3)

Sv  100%  100%
initial volume V

Fig 2. T he samples Na-Bentonite.

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
T ABLE I A. Soil Properties
COMPOSIT ION OF MIXED SOIL Test properties of clay Karang Jati (Ngawi) and mix of soil
MATERIAL Expansive Soil Soil Soil are intended to obtain information about swelling potential
soil Mix 1 Miix 2 Mix 3 from soil properties, especially soil consistency limits, chemical
Karang Jati Clay 100.00 61.06 54.27 47.49
and mineral compositions of soil. When observed visually, the
Na-bentonite 0.00 6.78 13.57 20.35 clay sample has a grayish black color. The results of
properties, chemical and mineral compositions of clay
B. Test Procedure of Free Swelling Test expansive of Karang Jati, Ngawi (East Java) and mix of soil are
In this study, to measure the free swelling deformation, shown from Table II to Table IV and Fig. 5 shows the results
anelectronic digital caliper was employed. The electronic digital of X-ray difraction.
caliper is shown in Fig 3.

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T ABLE II [10], [15] and [16] who state that the expansive clay soil is
GENERAL SOIL P ROP ERTIES KARANG JATI (NGAWI) AND MIX OF SOIL classified as a very high swelling potential if the liquid limits
P ROP ERTY Karang Soil Soil Soil (LL) is higher than 60% and plasticity index (IP) is higher than
Jati Mix 1 Miix 2 Mix 3
35% and the amount of mineral montmorillonite is over 35% of
Water Content, wc (%) 63.59 54.80 50.81 46.77 the total mineral content.
Unit weight, γ (t/m 3 ) 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51
Specific Gravity, Gs 2.62 2.59 2.56 2.53 B. Swelling Potential
Variaous investigations have developed charts and tables to
Plastic Limit, PL (%) 29.77 31.92 36.21 41.25
asses the degree of expansiveness of expansive soils using
Liquid Limit, LL (%) 101.00 119.7 136.66 164.03 simple index tests. Only a few are tested here, depending on
5 simplicity and wide aceptance. The summary of swelling
Plasticity Index, PI 71.23 87.83 100.44 122.80 potential of expansive soils is shown is Table V.
(%) Ii is obseved that expansiveness of all in the summry in
Shrinkage Limit, SL 10.70 13.49 16.24 18.98 Table V, the soils vary from high to very high according to [8],
(%) [9], [10], [15], and [16]
Clay content (%) 95.60 94.53 94.87 95.13 T ABLE V
SUMMARY SELLING POT ENT IAL OF EXP ANSIVE CLAY
Classification Unified CH CH CH CH METNOD OF Soko Mix 1 Miix 2 Mix
Classification A-7-5 A-7-5 A-7-5 A-7-5 P REDICTION SWELLING 3
AASHT O P OTENTIAL
Cassagrande Extra Extra Extra Extr
T ABLE III high high high a
CHEMICAL COMPOSIT ION KARANG JAT I ( NGAWI) AND MIXED OF high
SOIL Merwe Very Very Very Very
high high high high
P ROP ERTY Karang Soil Soil Soil
Jati Mix 1 Miix 2 Mix 3 Mitchell (1976) High Very Very Very
high high high
SiO2 64.98 62.00 62.54 62.63 Seed, dkk. (1962) High Very Very Very
high high high
Al2 O3 20.67 23.04 22.73 22.69 Very Very Very
Holtz and Gibbs (1956) High
Fe2 O3 5.39 10.27 9.74 9.38 high high high

T iO2 0.24 0.26 0.25 0,25

C. The Results of swelling vertical Test
CaO 3.55 1.27 1.30 1.34 The Swelling test in Karang Jati (Ngawi) clay and mix of soil
MgO 3.57 1.67 1.69 1.74 is based on with initial water content of 32 % and dry density
Na2 O 1.05 1.15 1.43 1.65 1.26 g/cm3. as based on standard Proctor test as shown fig. 5.
The swelling test results swelling are shown in Table VI and
K2 O 0.55 0.34 0.32 0.32
Fig. 6. The fig. shows the relationship between time (minute)
and strain (ε) of soil Karang Jati (Ngawi) and mix of soil. The
T ABLE IV
MINERAL COMPOSIT ION OF SOIL KARANG JAT I AND MIXED OF
swelling vertical are greater with the increas in Na-bentonite
SOIL in the Karang Jati clay.
P ROP ERTY Karang Soil Soil Soil
1.36
Jati Mix 1 Miix 2 Mix 3
1.30
50,11 50,48 50,94
Dry Density, γd (g/cm3)

Montmorilonite (%) 76.10

1.24
Feldspar (%) 16.20 16,03 16,67 17,90
1.18
Alpha Quartz (%) 5.30 6,80 6,63 6,47

Halloysite (%) 4.30 13,03 12,89 12,10 1.12

Cristobalite (%) 0.90 14,03 13,33 12,59 1.06

The results of soil properties fom Karang Jati (Ngawi) and mix 1.00
15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55
of soil especially soil consistency limits (Atterberg limits) at Water Content, w (%)
the liquid limit (LL) are from 101% to 164,03% and plasticity
index (IP), from 71.32% to 122,80%. The test of clay Fig. 5. Curve Proctor standard test [14].
composition in mineral Karang Jati and mix of soil shows that
the most dominant are the montmorillonite of 49.74% to
50,94%, this soil has a very high swelling potential. This
procedure as done by previous researchers include, [8], [9],

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T ABLE VI
50
SWELLING VERT ICAL OF EXPANSIVE SOIL Horizontal

Samples W Sr Initial Swelling W Final Sr Final Vertical

Volumetric
(Sr), % vertical (wf), % (Sr), % 40
Initial
(wi), %

Strain, e (%)
30
Karang Jati 32.00 82.57 24.87 57.89 100

Mix 1 32.00 83.53 32.02 62.94 100

20
Mix 2 32.00 84.52 37.94 67.04 100

Mix 3 32.00 85.57 43.82 71.10 100 10

0
Karang Jati 20 30 40 50 60

(Ngawi) Water Content (%)

Ssoil Mix 1
Soil Mix 2
Soil Mix 3 Fig. 8. Curve relation of water content and free swelling of mix 1 soil
[14].
70
Horizontal
Vertical
60 Volumetric

50

Strain, e (%)
40

30

20

10
Fig. 6. Relationships between time and strain of soil Karang Jati (Ngawi)
and mix of soils. 0
The Relationship between swelling vertical (strain) and time 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

(minute) shows that the greater the time (minute) is, the greater Water Content (%)

swelling vertical (strain) expansive clay soil that occur as

shown in Fig. 6.
Fig. 9. Curve relation of water content and free swelling of mix 2 soil
[14].
The Results of free swelling
70
One of the parameters in relations of the swelling Horizontal

expansive soil is to know the value of water content (w) ([1], 60 Vertical
Volumetric
([9] and [12]). The relationship between the water content (w) 50
and free swelling in Karang Jati soil is shown in Fig. 7. For
Strain, e (%)

40
mixed soil 1, 2 and 3, it is as shown in fig 8 to fig. 10 below.
50 30
Horizontal
Vertical 20
Volumetric
40
10
Strain, e (%)

30 0
20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Water Content (%)
20

10
Fig. 10. Curve relation of water content and free swelling of mix 3 soil
[14] .
Fig 7 to fig. 10 and Table VII, show the relationship between
0
20 30 40 50 60 the free swelling ND water content (w). In that fig., the greater
Water Content (%) the value water content (w) is, the greater the free swelling
occurs. The results also showed that the difference between
vertical swelling and horizontal swelling in free swelling is not
Fig. 7. Curve relation of water content and free swelling of Karang Jati
very large, only about 1.22. But the volumetric swelling is large
soil [14].
because of the combined results of the calculation of vertical
swelling and horizontal swelling, as in formula 3. Ratio of

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 International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 17

volumetric deformation swelling with vertical deformation Education, Republic of Indonesia through a Research Grant
swelling is as high as 2,98 and the ratio of volumetric “Hibah Penelitian Hibah Bersaing” in the 2012 fiscal year
deformation swelling and horizontal deformation swelling is as with Number of Contract: 0036/SP2H/PP/K7/KL/II/2012, in 9th
high as 3,63. February 2012, All contributions are acknowledged.
The value of plasticity index Karang Jati (Ngawi) soil and
soil mixture on the Table II, showed the greater the percentage REFERENCES
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A CKNOWLEDGMENT 715 – 719.
This research was carried out by the financial support of
Directorate of Research and Community Service (DP2M)
Directorate Jenderal of Higher Education, Ministry of National

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