TECHNICAL PAPERS
Jun 13, 2003

Shrink Test–Water Content Method for Shrink and Swell Predictions

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 7

Abstract

A new method is proposed to estimate the vertical movement of the ground surface for soil that swells and shrinks due to variations in water content. The water content is used as the main soil parameter and a shrink test is suggested to obtain the relationship between the change in water content and the volumetric strain induced. We propose estimating the change in water content and the depth of seasonal moisture changes from local databases or from existing techniques. The method is evaluated by comparing the predicted movement and the measured movement of four full-scale spread footings over a period of 2 years.

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References

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Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129Issue 7July 2003
Pages: 590 - 600

History

Received: Dec 12, 2001
Accepted: Sep 11, 2002
Published online: Jun 13, 2003
Published in print: Jul 2003

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Authors

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Jean-Louis Briaud, F.ASCE
Spencer J. Buchanan Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843-3136.
Xiong Zhang
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843-3136.
Sangho Moon
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843-3136.

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