Application
Application
Roads or buildings on expansive soil need special treatment because this soil behaves differently from ordinary soft soil. Expansive soil has a high potential to swell and shrink as its moisture content changes. In the field, expansive soil tends to have fairly good bearing capacity as long as it is not exposed at the surface and its moisture content stays stable. That is why it is often mistaken for good soil, with fatal results if its swell-shrink potential is ignored. Changes in moisture content make this soil very unstable, causing ground movement and significantly reducing its bearing capacity.
Treating expansive soil is not only about reinforcement; it needs a complete approach. Here are some of the steps to take when dealing with expansive soil:
- Replacing the Expansive Soil
- Water Management with a Drainage System
- Soil Stabilization by Soil Mixing
- Adding a Waterproof Layer
- Preloading the Soil
Several geosynthetics are suitable for treating expansive soil, such as geomembrane as a waterproof layer, geotextile as a separator for the fill, and geopipe or geonet for better drainage.
Benefits
Benefits
- Takes the tensile stresses the soil cannot carry
- Increases soil bearing capacity
- Reduces the aggregate needed
- Widens the load distribution area under the pavement
