ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Published Online: 15 June 2005
Page Count: 7

Rapid Determination of Swelling Pressure of Clay Minerals

Thakur, VKS
Former Post Graduate Student, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Powai, Mumbai

Singh, DN
Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Powai, Mumbai

(Received 21 January 2002; accepted 12 January 2005)

Abstract

The present study deals with development of a rapid and easy way to apply methodology that can be employed to determine the swelling pressure of clay minerals, and hence, expansive soils. Conventional oedometer tests were performed to determine the swelling characteristics of montmorillonite and bentonite clay minerals corresponding to various molding water contents, maintaining the same dry density. With the help of a dew point potentiameter, which can be used for measuring very high suction (≅90 MPa), the suction of these minerals was measured. The results obtained were used to correlate suction with the swelling pressure and the correlation was validated using data reported in the literature. The study demonstrates the usefulness of the methodology for quickly determining the swelling pressure of various clay minerals and soils.

Keywords:
montmorillonite, bentonite, swelling pressure, suction, dew point potentiometer

Paper ID: JTE11866
DOI: 10.1520/JTE11866
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