Estimating structural design parameters for slab-on-grade supported residential and light commercial structures from fundamental soil moisture changes

Date

1993-08

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

Clayey soils with the potential to shrink or swell are found throughout the world, particularly in areas where semi-arid and arid climates exist, such as the United States, Austraha, Africa and the Middle East (Donaldson, 1969). The distribution of expansive soils in the United States and throughout the world are shown in Figs. 1-1 and 1-2.

Clayey soils with this shrink-sweU potential cause many problems in engineering stmctures, such as canal linings, highways, pavements, retaining walls and slab-on-grade foundations. Slab-on-grade foundations for residential and hght commercial buddings, which have been widely used since World War n, are especially affected by this shrinkswell potential.

In general, the bearing capacity of the sod and apphed loads are the main concem for design engineers. The ground surface swells as the soil moisture content increases and the ground surface shrinks as the sod moisture content decreases. Therefore, differential sod movement in both forms due to changes in moisture content of the soil must be considered by design engmeers. Lightly loaded stmctures, such as warehouses, highways, pavements, apartments, one or two story houses, and industrial buildings are very susceptible to the differential sod movement due to their low confining pressures. Differential sod movement can resuh in distress, distortion, and stmctural damage to brick walls, slab-supported interior walls, and floor slabs.

Description

Keywords

Swelling soils, Foundations

Citation