i eh Pe PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON UNSATURATED SOILS 27-30 August 1998 Beijing, China VOLUME 1 International Academic PublishersVOLUME CHANGE AND SHEAR STRENGTH OF AN UNSATURATED EXPANSIVE CLAY SRT. Such Department of Civil Engineering, Federal (Inversity of Pernambuco, Braztt BLN. Ferreira Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil E.G. Bastos Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Pernambuco, Braz ABSTRACT. Laboratory tests were pecformed on unsaturated expansive clay in order to study the volume ‘change and shear strength behaviour. The research has been cartied out in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Brazil, and involved standard pressure cells, standard oedometer and oedometer under suction controlled, standard direct shear and direct shear under controlled suction tests. The results obtained provided the valuation of the volume change and shear strength behaviour of this soil, and allows to obtain unsaturated soil parameters for engineering design |. INTRODUCTION upper layer, Beneath these two layers, the soil “The expansive soils are found in diferent changes oa yellow sandy sit and sindy clay layers. sites of Brazil, causing serious problems on light buildings, paveiens and slope stability associated t0 the scasenal eycles of soil wetting and drying, On unsaturated conéitions, the sil behaviour is studied considering the water content and sucion changes In addition, the complex mechanism of expansion of these soils is influenced by some factors! soils ‘opertes, environeatal and stress state conditions ‘This paper presents some results of laboratory tests performed on unsaturated expansive clay in order to study its soil volume change and Shox srngth behaviour The research vas eared s Sr td mntasuted oil taps coloced fa a8 Figure 1, Res ctystaton ‘ experimental ite located atthe Nor Metropolitan she fs veh , cae Cae: en ost ae cs nee so eter rain fe id ta hve ee PY ante ame import orn the relabink prema process are recordin Tables tan 2, respeatively 2, SOIL PROFILE AND CHARACTERIZATION _ “Table 1. Soil characteristics Oss aH “The experimental sit is located about 20 Kin Acasy 975-000 4 sorth of the Rests City Fig.1) Geology of this Sasifewegit 1 AN Ioeation is. compose’ of “on non-consoliated 2 oo seamen and sedimentary rocks overyng basement =e a : Shield The limestone Maria Farha Formation a S | interbedded with sale and oterops equenty atthe Fein 9 Xen Sols read) fom weathering of thee Megumsana tl Sedimentary rocks tits ra) The sol profile presens a st ayer aey sty it 3 ciay with 22 min thickness, wich i potently a ic f expansive, A yellow grey silty clay comes below being 1.7 m thick, with similar characterization of the -72-Tr a ‘bie 2 = Some factor in swellshrnk prooass aa ACTORS RESUCTS— Ti ROS ray mineningy _ Motmonloniie CCoemuty of Sot water CTCMSme!1005 Properties Tnteace : repeat Hyauie Conductivity 10ems Pasi e granulowetty Activity: 075-1 Climate TM 71-1 Local Vegetation ‘Gramne ronmental Sebel water vel Temporary ® Soi Moise 1% 35% {aye Loeaton| Supertcal ‘ative Layer om AiTemperaue 20°C -30%C sess Hisor octet suess Vervalares —s4Pa Ok? sale Load cease Don'text _-sue_*_td incease_Don'tesst_ The soil is classified in medium to very lerge expansive, using traditional classifications for determination the expansive potential for a soil (vijayvergiya and Ghazzaly, 1973), 3 LABORATORY TESTS Standard pressure cells and oedometer tests ‘were performed using undisturbed Shelby samples, collecting at 1.3 m, 2.2 m and 2.90 m depth, 4.1 Soil suetion-water content relationship Standard. pressure cells (ASTM D3152-72) were used to determine the soil suction-water content relationship. Samples were molded into 2 ring with 50 mm of diameter and 20 mm high. Figure 2 shows the relation suction-water content for the samples collecting at diferent depts. 2 DER a5 La5a 729-24 WATER conTENT) oon ees SUCTION (Ms) Figure 2, Soil suction-water content relationship ‘The Scheicher and Schuell no, $89 and ‘Whatman’s no. 42 fier papers were used to measurement the sil suction, The calibration of each filter paper follows the same procedure, lke is described in technical literature (Sibley et af 1990, Chandler et ai, 1992), The procedure for this determination consist in sampling litle cues and put in contacting with the Ster paper above deserbe, Subsequent enveloping the conjunet an Cling Sin, an allowed during seven days at room temperature @3'C) for moisture equilibrium. After” the cauilrium time, precise gravimetric water content determination (40.0001g) were performed for each filter paper. The fiter papers water contents were then measured, and the soil suction data were obtained from the calibration curve. ‘The natural soll suctions were determined from samples collected fom the same layer, during dry season, Table 3 shows some data obtained using filter paper and preseure cells methods. The results of soil suction value tothe depth were very similar. Table 3. Soil suction determinates Depth Pressure os ) ‘Pa oH : us . 450 12080 60 - 200 . 950 20 1200. 5.2. Oedometer tests Te swell pressure of the soil was determined by standard oedometer cells tet (ASTM D2435-90), ‘using samples with 71.4 mm of diameter and 20 mm high ‘Two significantly different procedures for ‘volume changes or swell have been identified in the research, First the sample was placed in the ‘Sedometer at the field moisture content under a relative small vertical total stress, Water is then ‘supplied and the volume change is monitoring. The percent swell are plotted against log of the applied sess which ig conform to a linear relation (Fig. 3). ‘After sweling, the vertical stress is increased in a ‘consolidation test, including the rebounding eurve by decrease of vertical stress, The vertical stress that teause the sample return to initial height, determining the swell pressure, and the slope of rebound curve (Eig. 4).SWELLED, DEFORMATION) DEFORMATION 4) DEFORMATION G4) VERTICAL STRESS og Figure 3, Swell under vertical stress VERTICAL STRESS 4) Figure 4. Swell versus applied stress ‘These results showed a similar behavior to the depth analyzed. The soils parameters obtained in coedometer tests are report in Table 4 Table 4, Results oedometer tests ‘ov (kPa) Parameter Depth) 132229 ce oist 0,115 0,120 G04 0,047 0.051 7 P 136130120, wm 3102388 30,68 we oT KAT 3 Co 0,098 0,098 9,110 C041 0,044 01049 20 P ial tos 2s w 2736 32,76 31.41 we BBL 29565. 29.65, Co 09088 9,085 0,098 C0408 9,083 0,042 0 P 43 108s wy 3152. 30,87 3097 wy 2879 29,20 29,20 Co 0,080 0,080 9.083, Ce 04035 0,035 0,040 80 > Isl 163,120 3602 32,47 30,91 23 (C37 Compression index Ce ~ Swell index. Slope of rebound curve void ratio versus log net vertical stress Swell Preesure ‘= Inia water content ‘¢— Final water content Second procedure used in this research was the use oedometer tests under controlled vertical stress and suction. The control of the suction is based (on axis translation technique. The fixed ring has 70, ram of diameter and 20 mm of height. The suction values were increased or decreased, according 10 drying or wetting in the tests. The sample was allowed to drain out (or in) the excess or deficiency ‘of water While the soil specimen was coming 10 ‘equilibrium with the applied suction and vertical siress, readings of time, vertical strain ofthe sample, and water movements from or to the specimen were taken. Figure $ shows the relationship between swell ‘and suction for different vertical stresses under Controlled suction. In these tests the suction values were decreased and wetting was adopted as water 14.. a content path, In some cases the changes of water rent causes more influence on expansion value than the applied vertical stress, Table 5 gives the sol Suction index (C,), obtained from oedometer tests tinder controlled suction to three layers, This parameter is obtained ffom the slope of void ratio ‘esis log of suction — TALS SWELL 04) DEPT 115 {1.450 iw SUCTION Pa) SWELL) oo Table 5. Oedometer test results eww G DEPTH (a) ors) (4) 4) 132229 7 3el 387 Dost 0057 00a 20% 219 0041 0083 088 50258 281 0082 0055 D089 80379281 04s D050 0055 1 - Veal sess 2%, Iniial sil moisture ve Final si moisture Cy Suction index 3.3. Shear strengih Shear strength parameters were obtained using standard and direct shear test apparatus under ‘controlled suction. In these tests, the samples were submitted 10 vertical stress of TkPa, SOkPa and 80KPa, ‘The standard direct shear tests were performed using small block samples collected from Im depth. The sample dimensions were 100x100mm and height 38mm, and the soil suction values were determined after each test by the filter paper method. However, the shear strength tests under controlled suction were performed using undisturbed block samples collected from Im to 1.40m depth, In this test the samples dimensions were 50x50 mm and height 20 mm, Figure 6 shows the results obtained using the standard direct shear tess, In general the results for the samples trend are similar, As its seen, the shear strength increases to high values suction In Tables 6 and 7 the results of each sample and data ae records, rctonscotemen co | LeNATURAL ~sontane SHEAR STRENOTILAPY) DEPTH 2,70; 3. SUCTION?) 300 Figure 5. Swell under controlled suction whe fe beet owhaL sms as Figure 6 ~ Standard direct shear tests -78-Table 6 Direct shear test conditions Table 9 ~ Direct shear test results ae eee ae __ condition _(%) (%) (kPa) (kPa)_(kPa), conditions (kPa) friction (§)__ (KPa) 338 49 80 30.8 ia. iE S spree j poses i oa : ‘t+ Strength Shear 8 i riers tee i ee celle Sa ay a sea san Direct shear tests performed under controlled suction, the apparatus was the same direct shear cell ‘modified by CEDEX model (Escivio, 1989). The ‘method is based in axis translation technical, whose permit an application of even IS MPa. The soil behavior was assessment by the 50 kPa, 200 kPa and 400 kPa suction values. The results of each sample and their data are records in Tables 8 and 9 Figure 6 presents linear envelopes fitted reasonably well the obtained shear sirergth data, leading to the definition of the shear strength parameters cand 6" presented in Table 9: Figure 7 shows a relationship between t and suction for different vertical stress. This is in agreement with observation made by other authors, testing different types of soils (Escirio & Jucd, 1989). The series of tests have been continued to upper values of suction, ‘Table 8 ~Direct shear test conditions Sample wm ‘Suction a soudiion _(%4) (22) GePa)_ GPa) _uPay 252295 7 a8 es BS 50s 260297 m ons 21m 7 09 Unarmed 256 384 2008 261 8s ooo 2018s 7 a Ms Tm) 27288 w 77 ‘w= Taal water comtent wy Final water Cote 9. Vera sss + Surength Shear Figure 6 ~ Direct shear test under controlled suction } ol 0100 3003008 SUCTION Ps) Figure 7, Variation of the x with vertical stress, for different values of suction 3000 4. CONCLUSIONS Full characterization of an unsaturated expansive clay included its properties, the environmental fictors and stresé state. In this way, Soil suction is the main parameter ‘0 allow the soil behaviour. For soil samples collected from 1.3m to 2.9m depth, the volume change parameters ie very similar The swell pressure, the compression and swell index no changes with depth. Same behaviour was obtained ‘on unsaturated tests performed under controlled suction, the volume change parameters were more -78-influenced by suction than vertical stress. The results, of suction index were very similar too. “The direct shear test results shows a decrease of the shear strength for low confinement tension and suction values. The effects promoted by unsaturated conditions are shown on standard and under ‘controlled suction tests. The suction effects are tevded a signify in fluence inthe soil cohesion and in the angle ofthe fiction ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ‘The investigation described above was performed with the support of FACEPE ~ Fundagio {de Amparo & Ciéncia e Tecnologia /PE, and CNPq ~ CConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifieo & ‘Teenolégico. The autho are also indebted to Professor Justino da Silva, J. M. and technical Brito, AC REFERENCES Chandler, R.1,Crily, M.S. & Montgomery- Smith, G. (1992). A low-cost method of assessing clay desiccation for low-rise buildings. Proc. of the Institute of Civil Engineering, vol. 92, No 2, London, (Chen, F. H. (1988), Foundations on expansive soils. American Elsevier Seience Pub, NY. Esedrio V. & Jucd, J. F.T, (1989). Strength and deformation of parly saturated sois, 12° Int Conf. On Soil Mechanics and Foundation Eng., Rio de aneizo, vol. 1, pp. 43-46. Fredlund D. G. (1987). The prediction and performance of structures on expansive soils. Pred. and Perf in Geoth, Eng,, Calgary, 51-60 ‘Ferreira R. N. (1997). Geotechnical behavior of an unsaturated expansive clay. MSc. Thess. Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil - Civil Engineering Depertment - August, (in portuguese), Tues, SFT. (1994), “The prediction of total heave using laboratory and field tests data”, Proc. of the Second Brazilian Symposium on Unsaturated Soils, Recife, voll, pp. 89-97. Jucé, J. FT. Justino da Silva, J. M.; Gusmo Filho, J. A. & Bastos, E. G. (1995), “Laboratory and field tests on an unsaturated expansive clay”. Proceedings of the First Intemational Conference on ‘Unsaturated Soils, Paris, vo. 2, pp. 877-884 Jucd, J. FT, Gusmio Filho, J. A & Sustino da Silva, J. M. (1992). Laboratory and field tests on fan expansive cay in Brazil Proc. of 7 Int. Conf. on Expansive Soils, Dallas, vol. 1, 337-342. Sibley, J. W; Smyth, G. K. & Willians, D. J (1990), Suction-moisture content calibration of filter papers from different boxes. Geotechnical Testing Journal, vol. 13, No 3, p. 257 = 262, Vijayversiva, V. N. & Ghazzaly, 0.1, (1973) Prediction of swelling potential for natural clays Proc. Of the 3% Int. Conf. On expansive soils, Haifa, vol 1, pp. 227-236.