Prof. D. N. Singh

V RAMANA KARAPUREDDI

M.Tech.
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, India ramana_145@yahoo.com

SOME STUDIES ON SWELLING, SHRINKAGE AND TENSILE STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF FINE- GRAINED SOILS

Expansive soils exhibit significantly high volumetric changes and hence they pose a serious threat to stability of structures and foundations. As such, determination of swelling properties (viz., swelling potential and swelling pressure) of these soils becomes mandatory. Earlier researchers have developed various experimental techniques, and empirical relationships based on the results obtained from these investigations, for determination of swelling characteristics of these soils. However, though, these techniques help in direct estimation of the swelling properties of these soils, the instrumentation is quite time consuming and cumbersome. This can be overcome by employing the latest techniques of measuring suction of these soils and hence computing the swelling characteristics of the soils though, indirectly, but quite rapidly and easily. To demonstrate utility and ease of this methodology, attempts were made in the present study to establish swelling properties of the expansive soils from their suction measurements. Results were critically evaluated vis-?-vis those available in the literature. Further, efforts were made to determine tensile strength of the fine-grained soils and results obtained are critically evaluated by comparing them vis-?-vis those computed by employing various relationships available in the literature. In addition, attempts were made to develop generalized relationships that employ multiple soil properties for determining tensile strength of fine-grained soils. Details of the methodologies adopted are also presented in the present study.