Significance of molecular-level behaviour incorporation in the constitutive models of expansive clays – a review

Expansive clays are widely prevalent all over the world as one of the most problematic soils. These soils undergo significant volume change with a change in the moisture regime, thereby posing problems to the stability of the structures founded on such strata. Efforts have been made to model the erratic behaviour of these soils at the macro, micro, and, to a lesser extent, nano levels. Micro and nano level fabrics, believed to have a central role in the overall behaviour of expansive clays, are only partially considered in the modelling concepts; natural clay fabrics with multiple clay minerals, silt and sand inclusions, micro fissures, cementation, overconsolidation, induration and other such features have never been considered. This paper covers a review of deficiencies in the existing constitutive models for the expansive characteristics of the natural clayey soils at macro, micro and nano levels. These shortcomings are discussed in the light of the understanding of the fundamentals including fabric and structure controlling the swelling mechanism of the expansive clayey soils at the molecular level. Finally, a framework based on authors’ work to incorporate molecular level behaviour in the constitutive modelling of expansive clays is presented.     

Coupled modelling of hydro‐mechanical behaviour of unsaturated compacted expansive soils

The Barcelona basic model cannot predict the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, whereas the Barcelona expansive model (BExM) can only predict the stress–strain behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils without the water‐retention behaviour being incorporated. Moreover, the micro‐parameters and the coupling function between micro‐structural and macro‐structural strains in the BExM are difficult to determine. Experimental data show that the compression curves for non‐expansive soils under constant suctions are shifted towards higher void ratios with increasing suction, whereas the opposite is true for expansive soils. According to the observed water‐retention behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, the air‐entry value increases with density, and the relationship between the degree of saturation and void ratio is linear at constant suction. According to the above observation, an elastoplastic constitutive model is developed for predicting the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, based on the existing hydro‐mechanical model for non‐expansive unsaturated soil. The model takes into consideration the effect of degree of saturation on the mechanical behaviour and that of void ratio on the water‐retention behaviour. The concept of equivalent void ratio curve is introduced to distinguish the plastic potential curve from the yield curve. The model predictions are compared with the test results of an unsaturated expansive soil, including swelling tests under constant net stress, isotropic compression tests and triaxial shear tests under constant suction. The comparison indicates that the model offers great potential for quantitatively predicting the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Swelling behaviour of expansive soil treated with fly ash–GGBS based binder

In this article, the potential of a binder developed by admixing fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) to stabilise expansive soils is evaluated. Laboratory tests included determination of free swell index, swell potential and swelling pressure tests of the soil/binder mixtures at different mixing ratio. The test results showed decrease in the swelling behaviour of the soil with increase in binder content. The percent swell–time relationship was observed to fit the hyperbolic curves enabling us to predict the ultimate percent swell from few initial test results. Addition of 1% of lime to the binder showed further improvement in reducing swelling. A good linear relationship is established between percent oedometer swell and modified free swell index (MFSI) for soil/binder mixtures without lime but the same has not been observed in the presence of lime. The compressibility characteristics of the soil/binder mixtures reduced nominally with increase in binder content but in the presence of lime, the compressibility reduced significantly. Binder used in this study has been found to be effective and economic to stabilise expansive soils with lesser amount of chemical additives such as lime.     

Engineering problems associated with expansive clays from Romania

Engineering problems associated with expansive clay formations, which have a large swelling and shrinking potential, exist in different regions of Romania.In the general framework of the study of the behaviour of expansive clays, the present paper describes some particular aspects connected with the swelling and shrinkage processes and their engineering effects in Romania.The differences between swelling potential relationships, obtained by two different methods are presented and discussed. Swelling pressure tests were accomplished using the available standard techniques, as well as a specially developed cell pressure equipment.Attention is drawn to the stages of the shrinkage process as related to soil structure. It was found that, in a general case, there are three distinct?tages: initial, normal and residual shrinkage.Laboratory investigations have shown that in soils with an anisotropic structure, the directional variation of shrinkage strains is elliptical in shape, with the maximum shrinkage normal to particle orientation.The engineering aspects of the results are discussed.     

百色膨胀土用作路堤填料的试验验证

基于膨胀土可以直接用作路堤填料的分类指标体系,在室内开展了3种不同膨胀土的物理性质、击实性状、强度特性试验研究,验证广西百隆高速公路膨胀土路段的膨胀土也可以直接用作路堤填料,并结合现场实体工程的效果验证用改进CBR值、改进CBR膨胀量和稠度3指标作为膨胀土路堤填料的分类指标体系的合理性。通过对标准CBR试验和改进CBR试验的对比,进一步验证了用改进CBR试验法评定膨胀土承载强度的合理性。由百色膨胀土的不浸水CBR试验,说明可以用封闭包盖对百隆路膨胀土路堤进行物理处治。实体工程中采用土性最差的1号膨胀土做填芯和用红黏土包边,得到的工程效果令人满意。由室内外试验结果,可以得出这3种百色膨胀土都可以直接用作路堤填料。     

掺粉煤灰-石灰对膨胀土胀缩性的影响试验研究

本文探讨利用粉煤灰、石灰-粉煤灰作为添加剂改良合肥膨胀土的可行性与改良效果。试验研究了粉煤灰、石灰-粉煤灰掺合物对膨胀土的胀缩性的影响以及养护作用对改良膨胀土胀缩性的影响。研究结果表明,随着掺灰率的增加,膨胀土的自由膨胀率、膨胀量、膨胀力与线缩率呈减小趋势,这说明掺粉煤灰可有效降低膨胀土的胀缩性。经过一定龄期养护后的击实样的膨胀试验结果表明,随着养护龄期的加长,膨胀土的膨胀量与膨胀力都有一定降低。     

Mechanical behaviour of expansive soils after several drying and wetting cycles

This paper presents results from an experimental study performed on natural and compacted expansive soils in different loose and dense states using principally osmotic oedometers. The loose soils showed significant shrinkage, while the dense soils produced a swelling accumulation during the suction cycles. These cycles induced an equilibrium stage, which indicates an elastic behaviour of the samples under suction cycles. At the end of suction cycles, a loading/unloading test was performed on all samples at different constant suctions to define LC (loading collapse) yield curve as well as the newly defined SC (saturation curve) yield curve. Generally, the suction cycles for the looser soils approached the LC and SC yield curves while they became the same at the equilibrium state. For the denser soils producing the swelling strain accumulation, the unique LC and SC curves were activated together. Additionally, we found that at the equilibrium stage, both initially loose and dense samples presented the same mechanical parameters. In other words, the LC or SC yield curves superimposed for different initial states of the samples at the equilibrium stage. Moreover, these compression curves provided sufficient data to propose a simplified model for the mechanical behaviour of the swelling soils at the equilibrium stage.     

江淮膨胀土自由膨胀率特征

自由膨胀率是公路及其他行业膨胀土判别与分类的常用指标,研究自由膨胀率特征对指导膨胀土判别分类具有重要意义。本文依托皖中地区在建的合(肥)六(安)高速公路,开展了自由膨胀率及其他相关性指标的试验研究,分析了皖中膨胀土的自由膨胀率特征。研究表明:皖中地区膨胀土自由膨胀率与反映膨胀本质的指标蒙脱石含量,以及液限、塑性指数等间接性判别指标具有较好的相关性,可将其用作膨胀土判别与分类的指标;分类实践发现《公路路基设计规范》所推荐的自由膨胀率分级评判标准不能适用于皖中地区膨胀土;根据研究结果给出了具有合理分类特征的分类标准建议。     

重塑膨胀土的三向膨胀力试验研究

用三向胀缩仪对南阳陶岔重塑膨胀土做了12个三向膨胀力试验,9个湿胀干缩试验和9个控制变形的膨胀力试验。试验结果表明,三向膨胀力不等,水平膨胀力小于竖向膨胀力;湿胀干缩使重塑膨胀土的膨胀力降低,第一次干湿循环后膨胀力减小最多;微小的位移可以使膨胀力大大降低,膨胀力与位移呈对数关系;给出了膨胀力与初始含水率和干密度的关系式。     

Zarka shakedown modelling of expansive soils subjected to wetting and drying cycles

Unsaturated expansive soils subjected to wetting and drying cycles result in huge differential settlements of structures built on these materials. The existed models for these materials present large number of parameters that lead to time-consuming procedure to characterise their mechanical behaviour during wetting–drying cycles. In this context, Zarka shakedown theory previously applied to the mechanical loading of granular materials has been used for expansive soils subjected to suction cycles. The parameters of this shakedown-based model were calibrated for two different expansive soils. The comparisons between the experimental results and the calculations for the different tests, demonstrate the capacity of Zarka shakedown theory to simulate the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils.     

Study on the swelling behaviour of blended clay–sand soils

Soils containing expansive clays undergo swelling that can be both detrimental and beneficial in various applications. In the Arabian Gulf coastal region, natural heterogeneous soils containing clay and sand (tills, shales, and clayey sands) support most of the civil infrastructure systems. Likewise, mixes of clay and sand are used for local earthwork construction such as roads and landfills. A clear understanding of the swelling behaviour of such soils is pivotal at the outset of all construction projects. The main objective of this paper was to understand the evolution of swelling with increasing clay content in local soils. A theoretical framework for clay–sand soils was developed using phase relationships. Laboratory investigations comprised of mineralogical composition and geotechnical index properties of the clay and sand and consistency limits, swelling potential, and morphology of clay–sand mixes. Results indicated that soil consistency of mixes of a local expansive clay and an engineered sand depends on the weighted average of the constituents. Mixes with 10% clay through 40% clay capture the transition from a sand-like behaviour to a clay-like behaviour. Influenced by the initial conditions and soil matrix, the swelling potential of the investigated mixes correlated well with soil plasticity (SP(%) = 0.16 (I _p)^1.188). The parameters sand void ratio and clay–water ratio were found to better explain the behaviour of blended clay–sand soils.     

THM analysis of a large‐scale heating test incorporating material fabric changes

Engineered barriers are basic elements in the design of repositories for the isolation of high‐level radioactive waste. This paper presents the thermo‐hydro‐mechanical (THM) analysis of a clay barrier subjected to heating and hydration. The study focuses on an ongoing large‐scale heating test, at almost full scale, which is being carried out at the CIEMAT laboratory under well‐controlled boundary conditions. The test is intensely instrumented and it has provided the opportunity to study in detail the evolution of the main THM variables over a long period of time. Comprehensive laboratory tests carried out in the context of the FEBEX and NF‐PRO projects have allowed the identification of the model parameters to describe the THM behaviour of the compacted expansive clay. A conventional THM approach that assumes the swelling clay as a single porosity medium has been initially adopted to analyse the evolution of the test. The model was able to predict correctly the global THM behaviour of the clay barrier in the short term (i.e. for times shorter than three years), but some model limitations were detected concerning the prediction of the long‐term hydration rate. An additional analysis of the test has been carried out using a double structure model to describe the actual behaviour of expansive clays. The double structure model explicitly considers the two dominant pore levels that actually exist in the FEBEX bentonite and it is able to account for the evolution of the material fabric. The simulation of the experiment using this enhanced model provides a more satisfactory reproduction of the long‐term experimental results. It also contributes to a better understanding of the observed test behaviour and it provides a physically based explanation for the very slow hydration of the barrier. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

击实膨胀土工程变形特征的试验研究

以湖南邵阳膨胀土为例,对3种击实膨胀土工程变形特性进行了试验研究。试验结果表明：膨胀土的起始含水率和起始干密度对其膨胀力和膨胀量大小的影响是主要的外部因素;根据膨胀力试验和膨胀量试验的试验数据,拟合出膨胀力曲线和膨胀量曲线的变化规律均为指数关系。同时,还研究了膨胀速度曲线、收缩特性曲线的特征及膨胀和收缩两个过程的相似关系。研究结果为膨胀土路堤的设计及膨胀土地基处理等膨胀土问题提供了重要的依据。     

Behavior of expansive soils stabilized with fly ash

Expansive soils cause serious problem in the civil engineering practice due to swell and shrinkage upon wetting and drying. Disposal of fly ash, which is an industrial waste in both cost-effective and environment-friendly way receives high attention in China. In this study, the potential use and the effectiveness of expansive soils stabilization using fly ash and fly ash-lime as admixtures are evaluated. The test results show that the plasticity index, activity, free swell, swell potential, swelling pressure, and axial shrinkage percent decreased with an increase in fly ash or fly ash-lime content. With the increase of the curing time for the treated soil, the swell potential and swelling pressure decreased. Soils immediately treated with fly ash show no significant change in the unconfined compressive strength. However, after 7 days curing of the fly ash treated soils, the unconfined compressive strength increased significantly. The relationship between the plasticity index and swell-shrinkage properties for pre-treated and post-treated soils is discussed.     

膨胀土胀缩性评价中有关问题的研究

膨胀土吸水膨胀、失水收缩,产生地表变形,进而导致建筑物破坏。本文就现行膨胀土胀缩性指标试验及地基变形量评价计算中有关问题进行了研究,认为以天然含水量为起始含水量测定土样胀缩率是不合适的,建议以缩限为起点进行膨胀试验,以胀限为起点进行收缩试验,采用加荷膨胀量（而非卸荷膨胀量）参加有荷载下的膨胀率计算。膨胀土地基勘察必须结合场地条件分析可能影响土体含水量变化的因素,对同一工程采用几种方法评价,互相对比、参照。     

A method for extending a general constitutive model to consider the electro-chemo-mechanical phenomena of mineral crystals in expansive soils

The mechanical behavior of expansive soils varies according to the chemical composition of the pore fluid. It is well known that electrochemical phenomena on the surface of clay mineral crystals considerably affect their macrostructural behavior. In particular, a change in the pore fluid composition causes osmotic consolidation or swelling. In this study, a model is constructed to describe the characteristic behavior of expansive soils by coupling the interlaminar behavior of clay mineral crystals and the soil skeleton behavior. The interlaminar behavior is derived from the electro-chemo-mechanical coupling equilibrium of mineral crystals, and the soil skeleton behavior is given by a general elastoplastic constitutive model for soils. This modeling approach extends a general model to consider the electro-chemo-mechanical phenomena of mineral crystals. Oedometer tests with the replacement of the cell fluid and the swelling pressure and deformation tests on expansive clays are simulated with the proposed model. The simulation results indicate that the proposed method can reasonably represent the typical behavior of expansive soils.     

膨胀土的电导率与膨胀性的关系研究

膨胀土是一种高塑性、强亲水的黏性土。由于黏土矿物含量较高,膨胀土颗粒的交换阳离子含量也较高,总比表面积较大,在电导率测试指标上反映是膨胀土的导电性随膨胀性的增大而增强。选取强、中、弱3种不同膨胀等级的代表性试样,采用无电极电阻率测定仪和便携式电导率探头,测试了膨胀土泥浆和孔隙水溶液电导率测试,采用原子吸收光谱仪检测了膨胀土孔隙水溶液中的离子种类、含量等。研究表明,膨胀土孔隙水溶液的导电性与膨胀土泥浆的导电性均随膨胀性增大而增大,膨胀土的电导率和自由膨胀率具有良好的线性关系,工程中可以利用这一原理进行膨胀土的快速判别。     

非饱和红粘土和膨胀土抗剪强度的比较研究

红粘土是对环境湿热变化敏感的塑性粘土,具有一般膨胀土吸水膨胀失水收缩的特性。与普通粘性土相比,红粘土与膨胀土的强度特性更为复杂。它既是土体抵抗剪切破坏能力的表征,也是计算路堑、渠道、路堤、土坝等斜坡稳定性以及支挡构筑物土压力的重要参数。通过试验研究讨论了红粘土与膨胀土的强度特性以及与一般粘性土的差别及其各种影响因素,并探讨了非饱和红粘土与膨胀土的抗剪强度指标与含水量之间的相关关系。试验结果表明,红粘土与一般膨胀土的吸水膨胀规律完全相同。其试验结果可为红粘土与膨胀土地区工程设计与建设提供参考依据。     

Reduction of Expansive Index,Swelling and Compression Behavior of Kaolinite and Bentonite Clay with Sand and Class C Fly Ash

Swelling behavior of expansive soil has always created problems in the field of geotechnical engineering. Generally, the method used to assess the swelling potential of expansive soil from its plasticity index, shrinkage limit and colloidal content. Alternative way to evaluate swelling behavior is from its expansive index (EI) and swelling pressure value. The present study investigates the reduction of EI and swelling pressure for kaolinite and bentonite clay when mixed with various percentages of Ottawa sand and Class C fly ash. The percentages of Ottawa sand and Class C fly ash used were 0–50 % by weight. The results show that there is a significant reduction in the swelling properties of expansive soil with the addition of Ottawa sand and Class C fly ash. The reduction in EI ranged approximately from 10 to 50 and 4 to 49 % for kaolinite and bentonite clay, respectively. Also the maximum swelling pressure of kaolinite and bentonite clay decreased approximately 93 and 64 %, respectively with the addition of various percentages of Ottawa sand and Class C fly ash. Standard index properties test viz., liquid limit, plastic limit and linear shrinkage test were conducted to see the characteristics of expansive soil when mixed with less expansive sand and fly ash. Also, for these expansive soils one dimensional consolidation test have been conducted with sand and fly ash mixtures and the results were compared with pure kaolinite and bentonite clay.     

Swelling behaviour of GPA-reinforced expansive clay beds subjected to swell-shrink cycles

Granular pile-anchor (GPA) technique has been found to be an innovative foundation technique for expansive clays posing the dual problem of swelling and shrinkage. Swelling occurs during absorption of water and shrinkage during evaporation of water. Generally, in field expansive clay beds, swelling takes place during rainy seasons and shrinkage during summers. GPA is a recent innovative foundation technique devised to ameliorate the dual swell-shrink problem of structures founded on expansive clay beds. The other innovative techniques are drilled piers, belled piers and under-reamed piles. Laboratory scale model studies and field scale experiments on GPAs yielded useful results and revealed that swelling of expansive clay beds was effectively controlled by GPA technique. Studies on swell-shrink behaviour of GPA-reinforced clay beds have not been performed so far. This paper presents results obtained from laboratory scale model studies on GPA-reinforced expansive clay beds subjected to alternate cycles of swelling and shrinkage. The data presented in this paper pertain to the swelling of test clay beds under the influence of three swell-shrink cycles (N) spanning a time period of 300 days. The test clay beds were reinforced with varying number of GPAs (n = 0, 1, 2 and 3). Heave (mm) in a given swell-shrink cycle decreased with increasing number of GPAs. Further, for a given number of GPAs (n), heave (mm) also decreased with increase in depth from the top of the clay bed. It was found that the resultant thickness of the clay bed (H_r) for swelling increased with increasing number of cycles. However, the percentage heave (ΔH/H_r) decreased as the number of swell-shrink cycles (N) increased.