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Evaluation of damage to light structures erected on a fill material rich in expansive soil

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Abstract

The paper reports a study of the cause of defects in light structures and the toppling of a wall constructed on a fill material rich in Ankara clay. Laboratory tests were carried out on vertical and horizontal samples from boreholes and a trial pit was excavated near the damaged structures. The results showed that in the vicinity of the toppled wall, swelling pressures in the horizontal direction were greater than those measured in the vertical direction. The swelling properties of the fill material were higher than those of original Ankara clay as determined previously by other investigators, suggesting that breakdown of the cementing bonds and a change in the fabric are the main factors affecting the swelling pressure of disturbed and compacted expansive soils. The calculations to predict uplift showed a good agreement with the observations in the damaged structures. It is concluded that swelling was the main cause of the damage to the light structures at the study site and resulted from the highly expansive nature of the fill material, poor drainage, the semi-arid climate, poor construction methods and ineffective precautions. Some recommendations for minimizing the effects of swelling at the study site are briefly outlined.

Résumé

L’article présente une étude sur les causes de défauts dans des structures légères et le basculement d’un mur, ouvrages construits sur des matériaux de remblai contenant de l’argile d’Ankara. Des essais de laboratoire ont été réalisés sur des échantillons prélevés en sondage et découpés verticalement ou horizontalement. Une tranchée d’observation fut excavée près des structures endommagées. Les résultats ont montré qu’à proximité du mur basculé, les pressions de gonflement dans la direction horizontale étaient plus fortes que dans la direction verticale. De plus, les propriétés de gonflement du matériau de remblai étaient plus importantes que celles de l’argile d’Ankara intacte, suivant les mesures faites antérieurement par d’autres chercheurs, ce qui suggère que la disparition des liens de cimentation et la modification de la microstructure sont les facteurs principaux qui contrôlent la pression de gonflement des sols gonflants remaniés et compactés. Les calculs réalisés pour prévoir le gonflement ont montré un bon accord avec les observations faites sur les structures endommagées. On conclut que le gonflement des sols de fondation était la cause principale des dommages affectant les structures légères sur le site d’étude et que ces dommages résultaient de la nature fortement gonflante des matériaux de remblai, du faible drainage du terrain, du climat semi-aride et des méthodes de construction peu adaptées au terrain. Des recommandations pour minimiser les effets du gonflement sur le site d’étude sont brièvement données.

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Acknowledgments

It is a pleasure for the authors to acknowledge the logistic support of Fatih Adil during the borings. The authors also specially thank the General Directorate of Meteorology for providing the rainfall data, Prof. Dr. Abidin Temel of the Geological Engineering Department at Hacettepe University for his kind help with XRD analyses and Semih Senkan (graduate student of Gazi University) for his help during the sampling and testing stages of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Construction, Technical Education Faculty, Gazi University, Beseveler, Anakara, Turkey

    Mustafa Ozer & Nihat Sinan Isik

  2. Department of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, 06800, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey

    Resat Ulusay

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  1. Mustafa Ozer
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  2. Resat Ulusay
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  3. Nihat Sinan Isik
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Correspondence to Resat Ulusay.

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Ozer, M., Ulusay, R. & Isik, N.S. Evaluation of damage to light structures erected on a fill material rich in expansive soil. Bull Eng Geol Environ 71, 21–36 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0395-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0395-2

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