Swelling Measurements and Prediction of Heave for a Lacustrine Clay

Abstract

The swelling characteristics of a postglacial lacustrine clay were studied by means of standard consolidation apparatus. The amount of swelling was measured for undisturbed specimens and remoulded specimens prepared to constant initial conditions. Specimens were allowed to swell under various surcharge loads. An empirical relationship was obtained between volume change, surcharge load, and initial water content. Swelling pressure for no volume change was obtained by three experimental procedures for different initial water contents and compared to values calculated from physico-chemica1 equations. Undisturbed specimens showed less swelling than remoulded specimens, but otherwise the results showed similar trends.