Types of Problem Soils
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ScribdTranslationsTypes of Problem Soils
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ScribdTranslationsProblematic soils
During geotechnical studies it is necessary to have the ability to recognize soils
problematic, in order to take into account their behavior during the design and
construction of any structure and thus avoid instability or failure. Among the most
common are:
expansive soils
An expansive soil is any soil that experiences changes in contact with water.
significant volumetric movements, which generally translate into movements of the
foundation soil that are transmitted to the structure, affecting its operation,
either through cracks or fissures, or breaks in installations that reach the
construction.
These soils can be divided into two categories:
1. Unsaturated clay deposits of wind origin, whose lumps reach
silt size. They are susceptible to expansion under moisture and
settlements under load and saturation.
2. Clay deposits of residual origin, highly reactive to changes in
humidity; They represent expansion under saturation and contraction in a dry environment.
The change in volume in the presence of water can be determined both in the field
like in a laboratory. In the laboratory, tests can be used such as free expansion,
expansion-load; or, through mineralogical analysis by means of diffraction of
X-rays, differential thermal analysis, chemical analyzes and microscope studies
electronic. In the field they can be identified when a trajectory is observed
polygonal while the soil dries. These floors have great resistance to cutting.
in the dry state and are very sticky near their plastic limit state. Also
can be identified through the results of soil classification, that is
that is, with the values of the consistency limits and fines content. In Gamboa
(1967) and Holtz & Gibbs (1956) explain each of these tests in more detail.
identification. The ASTM D4546 standard also explains how to obtain the
expansion and compression potential of cohesive soils.
Dispersive soils
Certain types of fine-grained soils are easily erodible and are known as
dispersive soils. These soils, unlike the others, have a greater
Dissolved sodium content in pore water. The erosion process occurs when
colloidal clay particles are removed by water within the soil which
is almost stagnant, while in other types of soil this process requires a
considerable velocity in the water so that erosion can occur.
Dispersive clay soils are identified by drilling testing
(pinhole), the “clump” test and the “dispersion” test (double hydrometer). I also know
use chemical tests for the purpose of determining the percentage exchange
of sodium, the sodium absorption ratio and the total dissolved salts. He
Procedure for these tests can be found in Sherard (1976) and the standard
ASTM D4647 for pinhole testing.
Collapsible floors
A collapsible soil is one that, under load and/or saturation, undergoes settlement.
abrupt
They can be divided according to their origin into the following categories:
1. Residual, unsaturated sandy soils, with a high void and cohesion ratio
low residual; may collapse under wetting and loading if they occur
intense seepage through the soil followed by desiccation of the material.
2. Soils of wind origin, with a high void ratio, unsaturated, slightly
cemented by surface depositions between the particles.
3. Poorly cemented and unsaturated loess type aeolian soils, as well as
clay soils of aeolian origin with lumps of particles the size of silt
that are unsaturated.
4. Clay soils of aeolian origin with lumps of silt-sized particles
unsaturated
The collapse of the structure of these soils occurs due to saturation or dissolution of the
cementitious and by the effect of the applied loads. When cohesion is apparent and
produced by the surface tension of the water menisci, the collapse is immediate