Volume Change Behavior of Desiccated Soils

Little information exists regarding the volume change behaviour of desiccated soils which are widespread in occurance. This paper reports a study on a few such soils and relates their behaviour with the known behaviour of pure clay minerals. The modified effective stress concept is exploited to mechanistically classify the volume change behaviour of desiccated soils. Previous experimental work indicated that repeated desiccation results in interparticle bonding which is also chemical in nature. Such bonding results in increased resistance to compression and greater permeability in such soils. Depending on the degree of bonding, an expansive soil may display either reduced expansiveness or even behave as a non-expansive soil in the undisturbed condition.