International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)

ISSN: 2278-0181
ETRASCT' 14 Conference Proceedings

FOUNDATIONS ON EXPANSIVE SOILS

Prof Abhishek Arya Er Abhimanyu Choudhary Er Anish Khan Er Heera Ram

Asso. Prof, Civil Dept. B. Tech VI Sem, Civil Dept B. Tech VI Sem, Civil Dept B. Tech VI Sem, Civil Dept
JIET JIET JIET JIET
Jodhpur, India Jodhpur, India Jodhpur, India Jodhpur, India
abhishek.arya@jietjodhpur.com

Abstract—Analysis and assessment of expansive soils is  Diagonal cracks in exterior arched walls supported by
of utmost importance while founding the structures, as these soils piers and from footings because of swelling and
undergo large volumetric changes even due to small fluctuations shrinkage.
in water content. The volumetric changes are very large in  Vertical cracks in the wall bottoms occur due to the
magnitude and they are responsible for distress of structures.
The amount of damage caused by expansive soils is alarming.
lateral moments.
Estimated average annual loss in the world, attributed to  The hearting of the earthen dam made of clay core
expansive soil movement is approximately 1, 05,988 millions of exhibits even a small swelling pressure, due to change
rupees, which exceeds the combined average of annual damages in water content may initiate shear cracks and these
from floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and tornados. [1] In this may cause instability to earthen dam.
paper various types of damages caused by expansive soils are  When the side slopes at the canal are subjected to
given. change in water content, these slopes are likely to get
Thorough understanding of engineering properties of
damaged if they are made up of the expansive soils.
soils are essential not only for using current methods in the
design of earth structures, but also to provide a key to further  The roads that pass through expansive sub grade are
progress in the field of geotechnical engineering. According to the subjected to heaving and settlement of treacherous
characteristics and properties of swelling soils, various important soils. No full proof solution yet obtained and a major
techniques, that have to be adopted, while constructing a research effort in India has been directed to find a
foundation on expansive soils are discussed in the present paper. solution to the roads passing through black cotton soil
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Keywords— expansive; swelling; CNS; MAT foundation areas.[3]
I. INTRODUCTION
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Soil engineers did not recognize the problem of expansive

soils until 1930. The increasingly extensive use of concrete
slab on ground construction after 1940 has further increased
the damage to the structure caused by expansive soils.
Potentially expansive soils can be found almost anywhere in
the world. The countries in which expansive soils have been
reported as follows: Argentina, Cuba, India, Spain, Australia,
Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Burma, Israel, Mexico,
Turkey, Canada, Iran, Rhodesia and U.S.A. In India, the
expansive soil is called Black Cotton Soil, which covers 3,
00,000 sq.km widely. [2]
III. INFLUENCING PROPERTIES
II. BEHAVIOUR & DAMAGES OF EXPANSIVE SOILS
FIG 1 VERTICAL & DIAGONAL CRACKS
Expansive soils are having inherent property of shrinking
when it is dried and swelling when water is absorbed. When The important factor which influences the expansive soil is
water is absorbed by a clayey soil which had shrunk by swelling pressure. It indicates the capacity of the soil. The
evaporation of pore water, the compression forces between following table gives the swelling potential of soil as low,
soil particles reduces considerably and elastic expansion medium, high and very high from which we can identify the
occurs and this cause swelling. soil as swelling type or not.
Following damages may be caused by expansive soils:
 Horizontal cracks in interior corner of main walls due to
sinking of foundation.

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
ETRASCT' 14 Conference Proceedings
FIG 2 FOOTING WITH SPECIAL CUSHIONS

TABLE I. SWELLING POTENTIAL (2) CNS – MSM Technologies

 CNS Technology: - In this technology we
S. intercept Cohesive Non-Swelling soil layer
Soil Propoerty LOW MEDIUM HIGH V. HIGH
No. below the shallow foundations on expansive
soils. Thus CNS concept is based on self
1. Liquid limit <35 35-50 50-70 >70
equilibrating phenomenon with a difference that
2. Plastic index <15 10-35 20-55 >55 clay minerals present in CNS are non-expanding
3. Shrinkage limit >18 8-14 6-12 <10 such as kaonite, chlorite etc., The thickness of
4. Colloidal <12 12-27 18-38 >27 CNS needed to prevent transmission of swelling
content pressure and heave to the foundation. Thickness
depends upon swelling pressure, heave, index
5. (< 1 micron <20 20-30 30-60 >60
properties, density, and compression index of
6. fraction) <20 20-35 25-50 >50 under laying expansive soil and also on the index
7. Shrinkage index <20 20-40 40-90 >90 properties, density, and compression index of
Free swell index CNS material. CNS can be obtained as a natural
Clay content material or can be made produced by blending
two or more materials.
(2 micron clay
 MSM Technology: - In this technology we
%)
intercept the layer of Mechanically Stabilized
Mix over CNS intercepting layer, to improve the
IV. METHODS OF FOUNDATION PRACTICES bearing capacity of the system. Normally MSM
The following are the important methods to adopt, while consists of graded aggregate, sand and fines with
constructing foundations on expansive soils. more plasticity, similar to that allowed in water
(1) Footings with special cushions bond macadam mix if possible better compaction
(2) CNS – MSM Technologies may be adopted.
(3) Granular pile anchor
(4) Strip footing
(5) Stiffened mat foundation
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(6) Chemical stabilization
(7) Moisture control
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(1) FOOTINGS WITH SPECIAL CUSHIONS

In this method the excavation is carried out up to a
depth of greater than depth of foundation and freely
draining soil such as a mixture of sand and gravel, is filled
up and compacted up to base level of the foundation.
Reinforced concrete footing is constructed at this level and
over this brick wall may be constructed. Mixture of sand
and gravel is filled up loosely over the footing. A cushion
of granular soil below the foundation absorbs the effect of
swelling and so its effect on foundation will considerably FIG 3 SHALLOW FOUNDATION WITH CNS &
reduce. [4] MSM INTERCEPTING LAYERS

(2) GRANULAR PILE_ANCHOR METHOD

Granular Anchor pile is one which the foundation is anchored
at the bottom of Granular pile, to a mild steel plate through a
central mild steel rod. This serves to hold the particulate
granular medium and prevents the Granular pile from being
sweared away by the swelling soil and thus instrumental in
mobilizing frictional resistance to uplift force on the
foundation. [5] So the uplift force caused on the foundation is
resisted by
(i) Weight of the Granular _ anchor pile
(ii) Frictional resistance along the pile.

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
ETRASCT' 14 Conference Proceedings
movements of the foundation soil. Differential heave also
reduced when stiffness of slab and superstructure is
increased. [7]

FIG 6 STIFFENED MAT FOUNDATION

(6) MOISTURE CONTROL
If the water is prevented from moving into the soil, under
FIG 4 FOOTING WITH A PILE ANCHORAGE and near the building post construction, swell & shrinkage is
(4) STRIP FOOTING reduced. For that moisture barriers are placed around the
perimeter of the building. They efficiently reduce the
The design procedure used presently for strip footings variations in water content and differential heave. [8]
does not consider the distortion mode of hogging when
perimeter shrinkage causes corner down subsidence. It
was realized that conventional strip foundations with sand
cushions were inadequate reinforcing the shallow strip
footings was then tried and inverted ‘T’ foundations is
now commonly used. [6] The common types of strip
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footings that have been used for light buildings are:
(i) Unreinforced with plinth band.
(ii) Nominally reinforced with plinth band.
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(iii) Nominally reinforced inverted T.

FIG 7 VERTICAL & HORIZONTAL

MOISTURE BARRIERS
(7) CHEMICAL STABILIZATION
The soils treated with calcium carbide do not easily pickup
water as it is deliquescent and hygroscopic. When sodium
chloride is added to the soil crystallization occurs in the pores
of the soil and it forms a dense hard-mat. So absorption of
moisture is prevented. Phosphoric acid combined with wetting
agent can be used for stabilization of expansive soils as it
FIG 5 INVERTED TEE STRIP reacts with clay minerals and forms insoluble aluminum
phosphate, which serves as moisture proof. Some agents such
(5) STIFFEND MAT FOUNDATION as sodium silicate, alkyl chloro silanes, siliconate amines,
The common method of stiffening consists of a slab cast chrome lignin can be used for the water proofing of the soils.
beams 3 – 4 meters apart both longitudinally & laterally.
The rigidity of mat minimise distortion of the
superstructure from both horizontal and vertical

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
ETRASCT' 14 Conference Proceedings
V. CONCLUSIONS

Deeper foundations are much safer than shallow foundations

as they offer more frictional resistance. Providing cushions
under the foundations can reduce effect of swelling potential
on foundation. Granular Pile concept is a new concept which
is more effective and economically viable than the existing
foundation practices, particularly under light structures. As
moisture changes are responsible for the swelling of expansive
soils, it is better to provide moisture barriers around the
building area to prevent the percolation of moisture. Some
chemicals form water proofing agents, when they are mixed
with the soil and prevents the access of moisture.
REFERENCES
[1] Fu Hua Chen (1975): “Foundations on Expansive Soils”, Elsevier
scientific publishing Company, New York.
[2] Satyanarayana D (1966): “Swelling pressure and related mechanical
properties of Expansive soil”, Ph.D. Thesis I.I.Sc., Bangalore.
[3] Phatak D.R. (1990): “Foundations engineering”, Everest publishing house,
Pune.
[4] Andersland, O. B. and Khattak, A. S. (1979) “Shear Strength of Fiber Soil
Mixtures”, Proc. Int. Conf. on Soil Reinforcement, Paris, France.
[5] Charan, H. D. (1995) “Probabilistic Analysis of Expansive Soil, Ph D
Thesis, Dept. of Civil Engg., I.I.T. Roorkee, India.
[6] Gosavi, M., Patil, K. A., Mittal, S. and Saran, S. (2004) “Improvement of
Properties of Black Cotton Soil Subgrade through Synthetic
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Reinforcement”, J. Institution of Engineers (India), Vol. 84,
[7] Gray, D.H. and Oshashi, H. (1983) “Mechanics of Expansive Soil”, JI.
Geotech. Engg., ASCE, 109 (3),
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[8] Hoare, D. J. (1979) “Laboratory Study of Granular Soils Reinforced with

Randomly Oriented Discrete Fibers”, Proc. Int. Conf. on Use of Fabrics
in Geotech., Paris, France. 1,

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