Estimating shrink/swell in expansive soils using soil suction

A field and laboratory study was started fn 1985 to evaluate the engineering behavior of expansive clay soils. The work was sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in order to provide a data base to improve the design techniques for structures founded on expansive soils. The preliminary results of this study (for two research sites of contrasting c1imates) were used to test the universality of a recently developed soi1 suction method to estimate soi1 movement beneath slab-on-ground foundations. The soi1 suction method was also tested with respect to different climatic conditions. In addition, the relationship between the theoretical edge moisture variation distance and climate was evaluated.