Foundation Engineering for Expansive Soils

AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNDATIONS ON EXPANSIVE SOILS

Written for engineers, contractors, and geologists, Foundation Engineering for Expansive Soils is a comprehensive resource that covers the design and construction of foundations for expansive soils. Noted experts John D. Nelson, Kuo Chieh Chao, Daniel D. Overton, and Erik J. Nelson describe proven methods for identifying and analyzing expansive soils and the development of foundation designs that are appropriate for specific locations. Written to be a practical resource, Foundation Engineering for Expansive Soils takes a design perspective, founded on rigorous engineering principles. In addition, the text includes a wealth of case studies that cover the design and construction of foundations on expansive soils for both commercial and residential projects.

Foundation Engineering for Expansive Soils provides a succinct introduction to the basics of expansive soils, including how to avoid common mistakes and detailed information on both shallow and deep foundation design. The authors also profile soil remediation techniques and cover the most commonly used laboratory tests and site investigation methods used for establishing the physical properties of expansive soils.

The authors have performed hundreds of forensic investigations on expansive soils. This important resource draws on their real–world experiences developing new ideas and methods of analyses that have been successfully applied to foundation design.

Preface

Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

1.2 Organization

1.3 Terminology

Chapter 2. Nature of Expansive Soils

2.1 Microscale Aspects of Expansive Soil Behavior

2.2 Macroscale Aspects of Expansive Soil Behavior

2.3 Identification of Expansive Soils

2.4 Characteristics of Expansive Soil Profiles

Chapter 3. Site Investigation

3.1 Program of Exploration

3.2 Forensic Investigation

Chapter 4. Soil Suction

4.1 Soil Suction Components

4.2 Soil Water Characteristic Curve

4.3 Measurement of Matric Suction

4.4 Measurement of Osmotic Suction

4.5 Measurement of Total Suction

Chapter 5. State of Stress and Constitutive Relationships

5.1 State of Stress and Stress State Variables

5.2 Stress–Volume Relationships

5.3 Stress–Water Relationships

Chapter 6. Oedometer Testing

6.1 Consolidation–Swell and Constant Volume Tests

6.2 Correction of Oedometer Test Data

6.3 Relationship Between CS and CV Swelling Pressures (The m Method )

6.4 Factors Influencing Oedometer Test Results

Chapter 7. Water Migration in Expansive Soils

7.1 Water Flow in Unsaturated Soils

7.2 Depth and Degree of Wetting

7.3 Determination of Final Water Content Profiles For Design

7.4 Challenges in Water Migration Modeling for Expansive Soils

Chapter 8. Computation of Predicted Heave

8.1 Oedometer Methods

8.2 Soil Suction Methods

8.3 Empirical Methods

8.4 Progression of Heave with Time

8.5 Free–Field Surface Movement for Shrink Swell Soils

8.6 Discussion of Heave Prediction

Chapter 9. General Considerations for Foundation and Floor Design

9.1 Risk and Life Cycle Costs

9.2 Foundation Alternatives

9.3 Factors Influencing Design of Structures on Expansive Soils

9.4 Remedial Measures

Chapter 10. Soil Treatment and Moisture Control

10.1 Overexcavation and Replacement

10.2 Prewetting Method

10.3 Chemical Admixtures

10.4 Moisture Control Alternatives

10.5 Summary of Soil Treatment Methods

Chapter 11. Design Methods for Shallow Foundations

11.1 Spread Footing Foundations

11.2 Stiffened Slab Foundations

11.3 Remedial Measures for Shallow Foundations

Chapter 12. Design Methods for Deep Foundations

12.1 Pier and Grade Beam Foundation

12.2 Patented Piers

12.3 Deep Foundation Design Examples

12.4 Remedial Measures for Deep Foundations

Chapter 13. Floors and Exterior Flatwork

13.1 Slabs–on–Grade

13.2 Stiffened Slabs

13.3 Structural Floors

13.4 Exterior Slabs and Flatwork

13.5 Remediation Techniques

Chapter 14. Lateral Pressure on Earth Retaining Structures

14.1 Computation of Lateral Pressure from Expansive Soils

14.2 Testing for Measuring Lateral Swelling Pressure

14.3 Reduction of Lateral Swelling Pressure

14.4 Design for Lateral Earth Pressure

References

Symbols

Abbreviations

Index

JOHN D. NELSON, has over 50 years of geotechnical engineering experience with emphasis in expansive soils.??He is Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at Colorado State University, and Principal Engineer at Engineering Analytics, Inc.

KUO CHIEH CHAO, has over 20 years of geotechnical experience in foundation design and construction on expansive soils. He is Vice President of Engineering Analytics, Inc. and Adjunct Professor at Colorado State University.

DANIEL D. OVERTON, has over 30 years of geotechnical engineering experience including foundation design for expansive soils. He is President of Engineering Analytics, Inc. and a Faculty Affiliate at Colorado State University.

ERIK J. NELSON, has over 30 years of experience in geotechnical engineering, foundation design, and forensic investigations for expansive soils. He is Vice President of Engineering at Engineering Analytics, Inc.