Behaviour of walls and frames on expansive soils

M. Dafalla, M. Al-Shamrani

In the proceedings of: GeoMontréal 2013: 66th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 11th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Geohazards I

ABSTRACT: Expansive soils are receiving a wide attention from design engineers as being a source of hazard and discomfort in semi-arid zones. The methodologies and techniques applied are often expensive and involve over design which makes the construction cost unjustified. This research is aimed at quantifying the movement and level of risk associated with structures suffering from swelling behaviour. A crack and movement survey was carried out for a market building and surroundings in central area of Saudi Arabia over more than one year period. Digital measuring devices were used. Movements were examined and compared to typical clay shale behaviour and environmental conditions. Widening and closing of cracks following expansion and shrinkage was found a repeated phenomenon with minimum effect on the overall structural stability. This behaviour leads to suggest flexible wall design approaches to utilize typical structures and keep them functional.

RÉSUMÉ: Le gonflement des sols revêt une attention particulière des mécaniciens des sols dans les zones semi-arides. Les méthodologies et les techniques de stabilisation appliquée imposent des répercussions financières couteuses. Cette bâtiment abritant un ma/ retrait est minimal affectant faiblement la stabilité de la structure. Ce comportement mène à suggérer des murs flexibles permettant de maintenir les structures fonctionnels.

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Cite this article:
M. Dafalla; M. Al-Shamrani (2013) Behaviour of walls and frames on expansive soils in GEO2013. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{GeoMon2013Paper283,author = M. Dafalla; M. Al-Shamrani,title = Behaviour of walls and frames on expansive soils,year = 2013}