Unsaturated soil mechanics applied to expansive soils

The shrinkage and swelling of clayey soils is a natural hazard, which may significantly affect buildings. The foundation settlement caused by this geohazard for buildings constructed on expansive soils undergoing a drought period was studied. A soil-structure interaction model is proposed. The hydromechanical coupling is taken into account by using the state surface approach. The settlement is evaluated according to building stiffness, ground hydro-mechanical properties, suction variation on surface, suction profile and foundation depth

Keywords:

Unsaturated Soils , Expansive Soils , Foundation