Data based model development on swelling characteristics of expansive earth material from selected sites under West Bengal region in India

Abstract

This investigation was carried out to study the swelling characteristics of remolded expansive black cotton soil with apparent self-organizing characteristics from selected sites located at region under Eastern India. Swelling potentials and swelling pressures for natural soils and their sand admixtures under varying conditions have been measured. An attempt has been made to predict the swelling potential from plasticity index and clay content of soil. In this study the remolded sample prepared from clayey soil from Kolaghat, and expansive soil from Kharagpur local and Durgapur located in West Bengal state of India were tested. The remolded soil sample passing through 4.75 mm were used. Fine sands passing sieve size 0.6 mm and retained on 0.075 mm added in different proportions to change the clay content of the soils. Fine sands were added at the rate of 5% and 10% by wt. to all the samples. Soil tests, such as Grain Size Distribution, Atterberg Consistency Limits, Compaction tests, Swelling Pressure Tests, Consolidation Tests, Swelling Potential Tests and Free Swell Tests were performed. An attempt was made to develop relationship among clay-content, activity of the clay characteristics, and the percentage of swell and plasticity index to predict probable swelling potential of clayey soil samples. A consistent functional correlation with realistic parametric assessment was observed amongst Atterberg limits and free-swell tests and facilitated a reasonably realistic assessment of swelling capacity of given expansive soils.