Influence of Horizontal Stresses on Gilgai Landforms
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 8
Abstract
Gilgai landforms are series of mounds and depressions with amplitudes that range from 7.6 to 45.7 cm (3 to 18 in.) and wavelengths that range from 4.6 to 9.1 m (15 to 30 ft). Gilgai landforms occur in soils parented from overconsolidated expansive clays in Texas. A mechanism is proposed that may be causing these landforms and undulations in pavements. The presence of naturally occurring horizontal stresses in overconsolidated expansive clays is believed to be the essential cause of these extreme movements. It is proposed that the horizontal stresses alter the normal vertical stresses in a prebuckling mode and produce a differential vertical rebound. The behavior of gilgai and their associated shear fractures support this theory.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120 • Issue 8 • August 1994
Pages: 1437 - 1444
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 11, 1992
Published online: Aug 1, 1994
Published in print: Aug 1994
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