Chen simplified the approach for practitioners by relating heave potential to the swelling pressure. He famously categorized the degree of expansion based on the swelling potential percentage, creating a classification system that is still printed in geotechnical textbooks today:
Do not cite the PDF as “online source” if it’s an unauthorized scan. Instead, treat it as a reprinted book. foundations on expansive soils chen 1988 pdf
In the realm of geotechnical engineering, few challenges are as insidious, costly, or technically complex as the behavior of expansive soils. These soils, often referred to as "hidden disasters," can lie dormant for years before subtle changes in moisture content trigger catastrophic volume changes, heaving foundations and cracking structures. Chen simplified the approach for practitioners by relating
| Chapter | Title | Key Topics | |---------|-------|-------------| | 1 | Nature of Expansive Soils | Clay mineralogy (montmorillonite), identification tests, swelling potential | | 2 | Fundamental Principles | Soil suction, osmotic pressure, heave prediction models | | 3 | Site Investigation | Sampling methods, undisturbed tube samples, pit exploration | | 4 | Laboratory Testing | Free swell tests, consolidation-swell tests, suction measurements | | 5 | Design of Foundations | Stiffened slabs (wire-reinforced), drilled piers, under-reamed piles | | 6 | Preventive Measures | Chemical stabilization (lime, cement), moisture barriers, pre-wetting | | 7 | Construction Procedures | Moisture control during building, backfilling against foundations | | 8 | Diagnosis of Distress | Crack pattern analysis (diagonal, vertical, horizontal), floor surveys | | 9 | Remedial Measures | Underpinning (push piers, helical piers), drainage correction, root barriers | | Appendix | Design Charts & Tables | Heave vs. initial suction, depth of wetting, stiffness index | In the realm of geotechnical engineering, few challenges
Without the 1988 book, the empirical database for expansive soil design would be significantly poorer.
Chen (1988) and other researchers have proposed various design strategies to mitigate the problems associated with expansive soils. Some of these strategies include:
Other relevant references: