1.

GENERAL
Expansive soils are those that exhibit particularly large volumetric changes (shrinkage and swell)
following variations in their in-service moisture contents.

Expansive soils, which usually contain the clay mineral montmorillonite, include sedimentary
and residual soils, clay stones and shales. Relatively large areas are covered with expansive soils
such as black cotton soils and red silt clays. These clays have caused persistent difficulties in
construction and are a relatively common problem in Ethiopia. The following paragraphs give an
outline of the problems associated with these soils, in order for the personnel in charge of the
investigations to be aware of their nature.

1.1 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEMS

• Volume changes: expansive soils shrink and crack when they dry out and swell when they get
wet. The cracks allow water to penetrate deep into the soil, hence causing considerable
expansion. This results in deformation of the canal surface, since the expansion and the
subsequent heave are never uniform. Furthermore, these volume changes may produce lateral
displacements (“creep”) of the expansive clay, if the side slopes are not gentle enough. Seasonal
wetting causes the canal edges to wet and dry at a different rate than those under the lining. This
mechanism in turn causes differential movements over the cross section of the canal and
associated crack developments.

• Bearing capacity: when the moisture content increases, expansion occurs and the bearing
strength of the expansive soil decreases dramatically. The CBR may be reduced to less than 2 if
the soil becomes completely saturated.

• Susceptibility to erosion: when they are or become dry, expansive soils may present sand like
texture. In this state, they are prone to erosion to a much greater extent than that normally
anticipated from their plasticity and clay content.
 2. IDENTIFICATION
Routine investigations: are those analyses carried out during normal centerline soils surveys and
site observations, including simple geological and geomorphological assessments, field
reconnaissance, and routine indicator tests of Atterburg limits and grading.

Table below shows information usually collected during a field reconnaissance, with typical
features of expansive soils given in the second column:

Table 1: Features of Expansive Soils- Soil Descriptions

Soil Description Typical Features of Expansive Soils

Soil Type More clayey soils are likely to be expansive
Consistency when slightly moist to dry Stiff to very stiff
Consistency when wet Soft to firm and sticky
Structure Typical cracked surface, slick-sided fissures
Color Only a reliable indicator when combined with local
knowledge
Extended investigations are advisable if:

• The results of the field reconnaissance indicate expansive soils, and

• PIw >20% Where PIw = Plasticity Index tested on fraction <425µm, weighted for the sample’s
actual content of particles <425µm as follows: PIw = PI x (% passing 425µm)/100
Extended investigations include simple additional laboratory tests to estimate expansiveness and
shall be routinely employed where special measures against damage from expansive soils are
proposed in the design.

Extended investigations include:

• Shrinkage Limit (ASTM D4943-89)

• Calculation of Expansiveness from Formula
• Classification of low/medium/high expansiveness (see Table 2)
Expansiveness is calculated from the following formula:

Єex = 2.4 wp – 3.9 ws + 32.5

Where;
wp = PI x (% passing 425mm)/100
ws = Shrinkage Limit x (% passing 425µm)/100
Table 2: Expansive Soils- Classification

Expansiveness Єex Classification

<20 Low
20-50 Medium
>50 High

3. RESULTS

Samp Stati Soil Consistency Plastici Shrinka Expansiven Classificati

le No. on ty ge Limit ess on
Index
    Typ Col Structu Wet Dry        
e or re conditi Conditi
on on
1                    
2                    
3                    
4                    
5                    

4. PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURE

Excavation and replacement: this simple procedure effectively eliminates the problems and is
therefore recommended as much as possible. However, backfill materials are to be obtained from
borrow pits, thereby increasing the need for such investigations. The investigations should focus
on minimizing haulage of the materials, and this method will be economically viable only if
suitable backfill material is available in the vicinity of the road.

It is usually considered sufficient to excavate the expansive soil to a depth of about 1 m (even if
some expansive soil remains under the backfill material, it will be confined and protected from
moisture changes). This may consequently be used for preliminary estimates of the required
quantity of backfill material. Such backfill material should exhibit strength (CBR) characteristics
similar to those of the overlying embankment materials (preferably at least CBR on the order of
5, i.e. subgrade strength class S3) and should not be too pervious in order not to act as a drain.
 6000
B.T.L B.T.L
2500

FB
F.S.L Inspection Road
1.50 1.50

1.00
1.00

FSD
E.G.L

1.00
D.B.L

3.00

Expansive Soil Cut Line

Figure 1: proposed Expansive Soil Cutting/Excavating Cross Section

The expansive soil shall be excavated in such a way that as shown in figure 1. The proposed side
slopes for excavation are 1m vertical to 3m horizontal both sides, so as to let the back fill is well
compacted and the cut line is proposed to be 1m below the finishing surface of canal and
embankment.

N.B.: Almost all part of the document is adopted from ERA Site Investigation Manual 2002.