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GIS and Geotechnical Mapping of Expansive Soil
GIS and Geotechnical Mapping of Expansive Soil
CIVIL ENGINEERING
a
National Water Research Center, Construction Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt
b
National Water Research Center, Survey Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt
KEYWORDS Abstract This paper presents the results of a subsurface site investigation that was performed to
Swelling pressure; characterize different soil and rock formations along Sheikh Zayed canal with particular emphasis
Atterberg limits; on the swelling characteristics of the clays in that area. Site-specic empirical correlations were
Clay content; developed to predict the clay swelling potential and pressure from simple and economic laboratory
Geographic Information test results. The data were input into a Geographic Information System (GIS) framework to pro-
System (GIS); vide interactive maps that show the spatial distribution of the variables and identify their charac-
Spatial analysis teristics. These maps are then used to easily identify the values of swelling pressure/potential at
various locations. This research provides a tool that is based on simple index tests that can be used
to provide data that otherwise would require elaborate and costly investigations; the GIS frame-
work allows storing, retrieving and updating these data easily to assist taking supported decisions
dynamically.
2012 Ain Shams University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.
All rights reserved.
2090-4479 2012 Ain Shams University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2012.11.005
424 M. Labib, A. Nashed
these investigations, several empirical correlations have been From the reviewed literature it was found that:
proposed [28] that relate the swelling behavior to certain physi- Seed et al. [33], investigated, articially prepared compacted
cal properties of soils such as consistency limits and clay content; soils, (i.e. clay mineral) and obtained the following equation:
all of which are easily obtained from testing disturbed samples.
Sp KA2:44 C3:44 1
These empirical equations are easy to apply and give satisfactory
results [15]. where Sp is the swelling potential in percentage; C the clay con-
This research was thus put onto track, in order to develop tent in percentage; A the activity of soil = Ip %/C % and K
empirical relationships between swelling potential, swelling the a constant for all types of clay minerals = 36 105.Seed
pressure, plasticity index and clay content for clay from Toshka et al. [33] reported that plasticity index (Ip) is a suitable factor
region in Upper Egypt. The empirical relations are derived from for predicting swelling potential. The study carried out by Seed
experimental investigations carried out on a large number of soil et al. [33] gave reasonable results when compared with actual
samples representing a wide variation of clay contents and soil conditions. One criticism to this method is that the volume
consistency limits, from El-Sheikh Zayed canal. The steps of change was measured on samples prepared from commercial
the present investigation are presented in this paper. grade clay minerals and may not accurately represent in situ
The literature was rst reviewed to be aware of the available material behavior because of the variation in composition of
formula in the eld of interest. A study area was chosen and most soils. They gave the following relationship:
described. The study area was visited and eld measurements Sp KMI2:44
p 2
so as sampling were undertaken. Laboratory examinations
were carried out in order to analyze the obtained samples. where M is the 60 for natural soils 100 for articial soil and Ip
Based on the examination results, empirical formulae were the plasticity index in.
established. Ranganatham and Satyanarayan [28] proposed the follow-
These empirical relations are used as a tool for identifying ing equation:
the soil activity in the region and mapping the study area.
The large volume of data concerning the bore holes properties Sp m1 SI 2:57 3
needs to be stored, managed and visualized and this is best where Sp is the swelling potential in percentage; m1 the
done by a Geographic Information System (GIS) in an inte- constant = 41.13 and SI the shrinkage index = (liquid limit
grated geographic framework. plastic limit)/liquid limit.
Moreover, a customized GIS program can provide detailed Sowers and Kennedy [37] carried out swelling pressure tests
maps for the different variables used in dening the swelling on undisturbed samples and gave the following relationship:
pressure as well as any other parameters of choice.
A geo-database is designed to store the location, Atterberg Log P 2:132 0:208LL 0:000665cd
limits, soil formation, free swelling and the calculated swelling 0:0269wo 4
pressure for each collected sample studied in this research. This 2
analysis approach was adopted recently to the soil in Harran where P is the swelling pressure in kg/cm ; LL the liquid limit
plain located in the South East of Turkey [40,41] where the in percentage; cd the natural dry density in kg/cm3 and wo the
swelling behavior of clayey soils was studied by using Geo- natural water content in percentage.
graphical Information System (GIS) including liquid limit Pidgeon [24] predicted the swelling pressure (P) and devel-
(LL) and plasticity index (PI) contour maps. Moreover, the oped a correlation for swelling and swelling pressure as follows:
values of swelling percentages determined for soil located in P 2:7 2:4eo =Ip 5
this area are used to obtain the swelling potential hazard F 1:38P 1:8wo 6
map by means of a customized GIS program. It is expected
Log P 3:45 63eo =Ip 7
that this map will be a useful tool for planners and engineers
in their efforts to achieve better land-use planning and decide where P is the swelling pressure of clay in kPa; F the free swell-
necessary remedial measures. Similarly, this research intro- ing of the clay in percentage; eo the clay initial void ratio and Ip
duces the most valuable property of GIS, ability to provide the plasticity index.
an interactive map, to the Toshka region. This map can be Komornic and David [15] provided a statistical comparison
used in future work in the region and provide decision makers with measured data and provided a relationship for predicting
with a reliable and convenient tool to evaluate the soil proper- swelling pressure using liquid limit, natural dry density, and
ties and help them take decisions on the feasibility of executing natural moisture content as follows:
new national projects in Toshka region, with due consideration
LogP 2:132 0:0208LL 0:000665cd 0:0269wo 8
to the actual soil properties; this also applies to any future
2
modications of existing structures or any possible future eld where P is the swelling pressure of clay in kg/cm and cd the
variations. natural density in kg/cm3.
Vijayvergiya and Ghazzaly [42] expressed the swelling
potential as follows:
2. Literature review
Log P 1=120:44LL wo 0:4 9
The literature was reviewed in order to perceive an insight The method is based on data collected from a wide variety
about the available formulas that focused on predicting swell- of samples and is very simple to use, this means that all that is
ing potential or swelling pressure. Moreover the literature re- required is the natural water content and liquid limit. How-
view demonstrated the capability of using GIS in addressing ever, experience with regard to application of the method is
geotechnical problems. relatively limited.
GIS and geotechnical mapping of expansive soilin Toshka region 425
Nayak and Christensen [21] conducted swelling potential El-Nahhas et al. [8] investigated the analytical prediction of
and swelling pressure tests on 18 soil specimens compacted heave movements of swelling deposits comprising more than
to a moisture content close to the optimum. The following one layer of expansive and non-expansive soil. The effects of
equations were obtained for all tested specimens. the magnitude of the active depth on the expected heave were
discussed.
P 3:5817 102 Ip 1:12 C2 =w2o 3:7912 10
Holtz [10] indicated that a good grade of high swelling com-
2 1:45
Sp 2:29 10 Ip C=wo 6:38 11 mercial bentonite will have a free swell value from 1200% to
2000%. Holtz suggested that soils having as low as 100%
where P is the swelling pressure in kg/cm2; C the clay content
can cause considerable damage to lightly loaded structures,
in percentage and Sp the swelling potential in percentage.
and soil having free swell below 50% seldom exhibit apprecia-
Snethen and others [35] reported that the correlation be-
ble volume change even under very light load.
tween Nayak and Christensen results with measured odometer
Turkoz and Tosun [40,41] used the methylene blue test to
data but the experience with the method outside the area of its
predict the cation exchange capacity, swelling parameters
development is somehow limited.
and swelling potential of expansive natural clay soil. The data
Chen [3] developed an equation, which relates the swelling
included in their study were index properties, clay size fraction
potential of the soil to its plasticity index as:
and methylene blue values.
The above methods, including direct and indirect tech-
Sp 0:2558EXP0:8381Ip 12
niques, do not give an accurate assessment of the potential vol-
where Sp is the swelling potential in percentage and Ip is the ume change. However, experience with local areas have
plasticity index. indicated reasonably good results using the above techniques.
This method eliminates the need for hydrometer analyses The method that the authors used in this paper provides
and provides some relative measures of soil properties. A cor- prediction equations which were obtained from statistical com-
relation was developed between the oedometer swelling data parison of measured properties. The method is based on data
and the percent passing the No. 200 sieve. collected from a wide variety of samples and is very simple to
Abouleid and Reyad [1] found that it is more convenient to use; all that is required is the plasticity index and clay fraction.
correlate the expansive properties with the percentage of clay The collected data is stored in a geo-database and by using
particles ner than 0.002 mm, liquid limit and eld penetration the powerful tool of GIS, different maps were produced to clar-
resistance. ify the geotechnical properties of soil samples under study. The
Swelling_P
15.800000
13.580000
19.000000
19.000000
17.000000
15.800000
10.000000
8.200000
8.200000
6.300000
9.100000
19.000000
9.600000
10.000000
21.000000
13.500000
occurrence factors by frequency ratio and bivariate logistic
regression models. Sun [38] presented a method for the assess-
ment of geotechnical characteristics related to earthquake mo-
Free_Swell
tion in a small urban area using a GIS-based tool. Later, Sun
[39] applied a GIS-based geotechnical tool to assess spatial
120
110
90
130
100
85
75
100
130
100
120
190
140
80
130
125
earthquake hazards in an urban area. Chung [5] constructed a
GIS-based virtual geotechnical database for St. Louis metro
59.474
_Clay
55.36
67.84
66.19
66.27
51.43
64.31
61.97
64.43
27.89
84.93
72.48
59.42
54.85
76.82
78.92
area. Rosen [31] offered decision makers a visualization of
cut-off wall construction data using a geotechnical based GIS.
37.43
23.39
27.73
29.23
41.39
30.56
31.96
27.55
46.93
14.79
21.42
28.05
33.02
17.71
16.91
_Silt
38.4
In light of the above studies, it may be concluded that the
GIS is capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, editing,
_Sand
7.21
8.77
6.08
7.18
5.13
6.07
8.32
25.18
3.28
12.53
7.05
5.47
4.17
7.5I
4.5
6.4
analyzing and displaying geographically referenced informa-
tion [16].
Soil_Class
were chosen to carry out the present investigation.
Fig. 1 shows the Toshka project location including Sheikh
Zayed Canal, Nasser Lake. The main pump stations, the
34.49
34.47
41.12
31.22
27.15
30.38
42.83
27.21
49.44
48.78
39.75
28.48
32.45
54.02
46.35
24.3
bridge, Toshka depression and the soil samples locations along. PI
Also Fig. 2 shows the geologic map of Toshka area. From the
39.07
25.52
29.39
35.19
34.71
30.55
29.07
29.16
25.86
27.92
19.98
22.21
17.44
33.34
geologic map, it was clear that sand dunes, Paleocene chales
30.6
24.8
PL
70.51
66.41
59.01
59.45
71.99
53.07
79.74
76.65
69.73
50.45
49.28
78.82
79.69
area. The study area is dominated by a sedimentary succession
59.9
57.7
LL
10.6-10.7
21.4-21.5
14.4-14.5
12.0-12.3
2.40-2.50
10-10.10
13-13.10
22-22.10
13.9-14
8.0-8.1
5.8-5.9
4.0-4.1
8.5-8.6
7.9-8.0
9.0-9.5
8-8.10
4. Field measurements and sampling
Geographical and mechanical properties of examples of soil samples studied.
Elevation
202.68
202.68
201.56
201.56
201.48
201.68
201.68
201.12
200.34
200.34
200.34
200.34
200.34
199.01
199.01
were obtained and boreholes were dug. The boreholes ranged
between 4.65 and 26 m.
632675.672
632495.911
632136.281
632136.281
631956.375
631767.218
631767.218
631596.357
634477.097
634477.097
634477.097
630218.513
630218.513
632495.11
631337.25
631337.25
East_E
13016.988
13016.988
12841.757
12841.757
12657.847
12408.301
12408.301
12408.301
12265.311
12265.311
North_II
12528.97
12754.1
12657.8
11121.5
11121.5
Four (4) boreholes (at km 21.00) on branch 2 and another
four (4) boreholes at km 26.00 on branch 2 were undertaken.
1013106.9888
1013104.578
10131016.988
1012841.757
1012841.757
1012657.847
1012657.847
1012408.301
1012408.301
1012408.301
1012265.311
1012265.311
1012528.97
1012754.1
1011121.5
1011121.5
5. Laboratory examination and results
North_II|
K 148-2
K 148-5
K 152-1
K 152-3
K 159-4
K 159-5
K 159-8
K 161-2
K 161-4
K 177-3
K 177-4
E 2-3
E 2-7
K146
E7
K 148
K 152
K 152
K 154
K 159
K 159
K 159
K 161
K 161
K 177
K 177
k 148
E2
E7
tions are developed that use simple index tests involving Atter-
ID
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
Point
10
11
12
13
14
15
0
sented in Table 1.
428 M. Labib, A. Nashed
6. Pilot gis geo-database region, a pilot GIS geo-database was designed to include the
geotechnical and mechanical properties of fty three (53)
Based on the results obtained from laboratory tests and geo- soil samples obtained from this region. These properties
technical site investigations executed for Branch 4 in Toshka were stored in the geo-database as shown in Table 2. The
14
Swelling Pressure (P) Kg/cm2
12
10 y = 0 .1266x
R 2 = 0 .9312
8
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Free Swelling (F)
Figure 8 Relation between swelling pressure (P) and free swelling (F).
locations of the collected samples are shown in Fig. 3. 8.1. Establishing empirical formulas
These data are retrievable and can be easily reviewed and
updated periodically in light of any future variations or Based on the obtained results, the relation between the free
observations. swelling (F) and the activity (A) was plotted and empirical for-
mulas were established. Fig. 7 shows this relation, and the pro-
7. Producing GIS maps duced formula was as follows.
For activity that ranged between 0.3 and 0.81
In order to visualize the soil properties of the collected sam-
A 0:0798 X0:4229 13
ples, GIS layouts were generated to display the chosen proper-
ties. As an example, the Atterberg limits are given in Fig. 4 and A 0:0798 F0:4229 14
the soil formations are given in Fig. 5. These layouts relate the
soil properties of the samples to their geographic locations For activity that ranged between 0.81 and 1.5
along Branch 4 of Sheikh Zayed Canal. Moreover, the Geo- Y 0:2783 X0:0:288 15
graphic Information System (GIS), tailor-designed in this re- 0:288
search provides a tool to select a particular soil sample and A 0:2783 F 16
retrieve all its properties, as shown in Fig. 6. Accordingly, The relation between the swelling pressure (P) and free
numerous tasks can be handled using the developed system swelling (F) was plotted in Fig. 8 and empirical formulas were
depending on the purpose of information needed and the established, as follows:
scenario under evaluation.
Y 0:1266X 17
8. Results P 0:1266 F 18
Substituting (21) in (17) and (19), the following equations
GIS can be used effectively in order to visualize and analyze
are found:
the results of the experimental studies and site investigations
For activity that ranged between 0.3 and 0.8
carried out in areas having high swelling potential to prevent
the occurrences of possible problems and take appropriate
design precautions before construction of any new project in P 0:126612:5A2:36 19
these areas. Furthermore, this system allows updating the For activity that ranged between 0.81 and 1.5
existing data easily to reect new changes/modications to
the initial conditions. P 0:12663:6A3:47 20
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