Performance of Irrigation Systems for Control of Moisture Changes
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 9, Issue 1
Abstract
Over the last 30 yr, Eastern Canada has experienced several droughts during which extensive settlement problems developed in lightweight buildings founded on the Champlain Sea clays. These clays are known for their open structure, which collapses when the moisture content is decreased and does not return to its initial state if water is added to the soil. This type of situation occurs during droughts in which the lack of rainfall causes the desiccation of clays. If trees are located in close proximity to buildings founded on shallow footings the problem is exacerbated, since the roots can grow beneath the foundations and extract moisture during droughts. This will cause the clays to shrink and the structures to settle. The goal in dealing with these clays is to try to maintain a constant soil moisture. The elimination of planter areas around the perimeter of the buildings can help reduce moisture changes. This paper presents the results of a field monitoring program, on the effectiveness of different irrigation systems, in maintaining a constant soil moisture and in reducing building settlements in the clay deposits of Montreal Island.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Bozozuk, M., and Burn, K. N.(1960). “Vertical ground movements near elm trees.”Géotechnique, London, England, 10(1), 19–32.
2.
Burn, K. N. (1973). “House settlements and trees.”Proc., Nat. Conf. on Urban Engrg. Terrain Problems; Tech. Memo. No. 103, Nat. Res. Council, Ottawa, Canada, 41–53.
3.
Day, R. W.(1991). “Damage of structures due to tree roots.”J. Perf. Constr. Fac., ASCE, 5(3), 200–207.
4.
Driscoll, R.(1983). “The influence of vegetation on the swelling and shrinking of clay soils in Britain.”Géotechnique, London, England, 33(2), 93–105.
5.
Hammer, M. J., and Thompson, O. B.(1966). “Foundation clay shrinkage caused by large trees.”J. Soil Mech. and Found. Div., ASCE, 92(6), 1–17.
6.
Perpich, W. M., Lukas, R. G., and Baker, C. N.(1965). “Desiccation of soil by trees related to foundation settlement.”Can. Geotech. J., Ottawa, Canada, 2(1), 23–39.
7.
Silvestri, V., Soulié, M., Lafleur, J., Sarkis, G., and Bekkouche, N.(1992). “Foundation problems in Champlain clays during droughts. II: Case histories.”Can. Geotech. J., Ottawa, Canada, 29(2), 169–187.
8.
Silvestri, V., Soulié, M., Lafleur, J., Sarkis, G., and Bekkouche, N.(1990). “Foundation problems in Champlain clays during droughts. I: Rainfall deficits in Montreal (1930–1988).”Can. Geotech. J., Ottawa, Canada, 27(3), 285–293.
9.
Thornthwaite, C. W.(1948). “An approach toward a rational classification climate.”Geographical Rev., 38(1), 55–94.
10.
Ward, W. H. (1953). “Soil movement and weather.”Proc., 3rd Int. Conf. on Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., ICSMFE, Zurick, Switzerland, Vol. 4, 477–482.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 9 • Issue 1 • February 1995
Pages: 34 - 48
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Feb 1, 1995
Published in print: Feb 1995
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.