A Simple Modeling Approach for Estimation of Soil Deformation Behaviour of Natural Expansive Soils Using the Modulus of Elasticity as a Tool

Abstract

This paper details the fundamental concepts of a proposed approach along with the step-by-step procedural details for modeling time-dependent deformation of natural expansive clay soils. Estimation of the soil suction variations within the active zone depth and the corresponding soil modulus of elasticity with respect to the suction variation form the key components of the proposed approach. The soil suction variations within the active zone of the expansive soil profile are estimated using the soil-atmosphere commercial model VADOSE/W. The soil deformation (shrinkage/swelling) is estimated based on the soil structure constitutive relationship for unsaturated soils considering the variation of modulus of elasticity with respect to suction. The proposed approach, which is referred to as the modulus of elasticity based method (MEBM), reasonably well reproduced the deformations of previously published field study results of a natural expansive soil caused by changes in suction over time taking account of environmental factors.