TECHNICAL PAPERS
Apr 15, 2002

Collapsible Soil Engineering in Highway Infrastructure Development

Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 128, Issue 3

Abstract

Rapid growth in arid and semiarid regions has brought increased focus on volume change characteristics of moisture sensitive unsaturated soils. One such soil type of concern is collapsible soil. There are numerous reports of pavement problems resulting from soil wetting-induced collapse. The purpose of this paper is to review methods for detecting moisture sensitive collapsible soils and to explore the value and feasibility of various testing and evaluation methods and mitigation alternatives for highway design applications. Findings on site variability for several collapsible soil deposits are presented. The advantages and disadvantages of laboratory and in-situ direct response to wetting tests are discussed. The advantages and limitations of qualitative and nondestructive methods for assessing soil collapsibility are also addressed.

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References

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Barbour, S., Fredlund, D., Gan, J., and Wilson, G. (1992). “Prediction of moisture movement in highway subgrade soils.” Proc., 45th Canadian Geotechnical Conf., Toronto.
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Published In

Go to Journal of Transportation Engineering
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 128Issue 3May 2002
Pages: 295 - 300

History

Received: Apr 26, 2000
Accepted: Jun 15, 2001
Published online: Apr 15, 2002
Published in print: May 2002

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Authors

Affiliations

S. L. Houston, M.ASCE
Professor and Chair, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ 85287-5306.
W. N. Houston, M.ASCE
Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ 85287-5306.
C. A. Lawrence, A.M.ASCE
PhD Candidate and Faculty Associate, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ 85287-5306.

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