Field Investigation and Numerical Analysis of Residential Building Damaged by Expansive Soil Movement Caused by Tree Root Drying
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 31, Issue 1
Abstract
Trees have long been known to cause damages to pavements and buildings as a result of soil desiccation by tree roots. This paper presents a case study of a residential house damaged by expansive soil movement caused by tree root drying. Daily transpiration and water uptake of a large Eucalypt tree, located 7 m from the northwest corner of the house, was monitored by using a sap flow meter. A numerical analysis was conducted to estimate the soil suction distribution and soil movement under influence of the tree. The measured soil suction profiles indicated that the large Eucalypt tree on the site had influenced the soil moisture condition to a depth of approximately 3.5 m, i.e., 1.5 m below the level of underpins. The case study revealed that the damage was most likely caused by tree root drying, and the differential foundation movements that had occurred after installation of underpins could be attributed to relatively shallow depth of underpins.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 31 • Issue 1 • February 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 16, 2015
Accepted: Mar 7, 2016
Published online: Jun 2, 2016
Discussion open until: Nov 2, 2016
Published in print: Feb 1, 2017
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