Identification and behavior of collapsible soils.

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Joint Transportation Research Program : Civil Engineering
• Creators:
  El Howayek, Alain ; Huang, Pao-Tsung ; Bisnett, Rachael ; Santagata, Maria Caterina
• Corporate Creators:
  Purdue University. Joint Transportation Research Program
• Corporate Contributors:
  Indiana Department of Transportation ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Collapse Potential Collapse Properties Collapse Strength Collapsibility Collapsible Soils Double Oedometer Instruments For Measuring Loads Or Pressure Loess Oedometers Soils By Strength Wetting

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/IN/JTRP-2011/12
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Indiana
• Corporate Publisher:
  Purdue University. Joint Transportation Research Program
• Abstract:
  Loess is a soil that can exhibit large deformations upon wetting. Cases of wetting induced collapse in loess have
  
  been documented for natural deposits and man-made fills. These issues are of concern to the Indiana DOT due to the growth
  
  of the state’s infrastructure in regions with significant loess deposits.
  
  The research reviewed the existing literature on loess, focusing on index properties, structure, mineralogy, criteria
  
  used for quantifying collapsibility, methods for measuring collapse potential, and, in particular, the collapsibility of
  
  compacted loess. Additionally, available documentation on loess deposits in Indiana was reviewed and summarized.
  
  This research also included experimental work conducted on two loess samples, obtained in one in Daviess (Soil A)
  
  and in Tippecanoe (Soil B) county. The soils have similar characteristics, with close to 70% silt content and plasticity
  
  characteristics that classify both of them as CL (USCS) and A-6 (AASHTO).
  
  Experiments performed on the two soils included index tests, standard Proctor compaction tests, and an extensive
  
  program of double odeometer tests to measure the wetting induced strains as a function of stress level. Specimens of soils A
  
  and B were compacted over a wide range of values of relative compaction (from 75% to close to optimum) and of water
  
  contents (from 5-6% points dry of optimum to optimum). The collapse potential of each specimen was quantified using the
  
  ASTM D5333 criterion. All specimens but one (compacted at close to optimum conditions) showed some wetting induced
  
  collapse. The collapse strains increased with decreasing relative compaction and decreasing compaction water content, in
  
  some cases exceeding 10%. In some tests significant wetting induced strains were measured under relatively small stresses
  
  (50-100 kPa), indicating that this problem may require consideration even for small fill heights.
  
  The results of the experiments were compared to literature data for other soils, and overall found to be consistent
  
  with previously reported behavioral trends. Based on the results of the testing, recommendations are made for field
  
  compaction specifications.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  SPR-3109
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:5f30d548ed2499a714a531309e5265471d0067bcdcf9cffc7db0c526b1f7feb8
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/23601/dot_23601_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 22.09 MB ]