810 Chapter 18

Table 18.5 Potential volume change rating (PVC)

PVC rating
Less than 2
2^
4-6
>6
Category
Non-critical
Marginal
Critical
Very critical
(Source: Chen, 1988)
Figure 18.15(a) shows a soil volume change meter (ELE International Inc). This meter
measures both shrinkage and swelling of soils, ideal for measuring swelling of clay soils, and fast
and easy to operate.
Expansion Index (El)-Chen (1988)
The ASTM Committee on Soil and Rock suggested the use of an Expansion Index (El) as a unified
method to measure the characteristics of swelling soils. It is claimed that the El is a basic index
property of soil such as the liquid limit, the plastic limit and the plasticity index of the soil.
The sample is sieved through a No 4 sieve. Water is added so that the degree of saturation is
between 49 and 51 percent. The sample is then compacted into a 4 inch diameter mold in two layers
to give a total compacted depth of approximates 2 inches. Each layer is compacted by 15 blows of
5.5 Ib hammer dropping from a height of 12 inches. The prepared specimen is allowed to
consolidate under 1 lb/in2 pressure for a period of 10 minutes, then inundated with water until the
rate of expansion ceases.
The expansion index is expressed as
£/ = — xlOOO (189)
hi
where A/I = change in thickness of sample, in.
h. = initial thickness of sample, in.
The classification of a potentially expansive soil is based on Table 18.6.
This method offers a simple testing procedure for comparing expansive soil characteristics.
Figure 18.15(b) shows an ASTMD-829 expansion index test apparatus (ELE International
Inc). This is a completely self-contained apparatus designed for use in determining the expansion
index of soils.
Table 18.6 Classification of potentially expansive soil
Expansion Index, El Expansion potential
0-20 Very low
21-50 Low
51-90 Medium
91-130 High
> 130 Very high
(Source: Chen, 1988)
Foundations on Collapsible and Expansive Soils 811
Swell Index
Vijayvergiya and Gazzaly (1973) suggested a simple way of identifying the swell potential of
clays, based on the concept of the swell index. They defined the swell index, Is, as follows
*-~~ (18-10)
where wn = natural moisture content in percent
\vl = liquid limit in percent
The relationship between Is and swell potential for a wide range of liquid limit is shown in
Fig 18.16. Swell index is widely used for the design of post-tensioned slabs on expansive soils.
Prediction of Swelling Potential
Plasticity index and shrinkage limit can be used to indicate the swelling characteristics of expansive
soils. According to Seed at al., (1962), the swelling potential is given as a function of the plasticity
index by the formula
(18.11