Abstract
The main objective of this paper was to study the swelling properties of Regina clay. The deposit comprises a topsoil (surface to 0.3 m depth), an expansive clay (0.3–8 m), and a bottom till (8–9 m). High liquid limit (70 ± 15 %) and plastic limit (33 ± 4 %) indicated high water retention and adsorption capacity for the clay. Irrespective of the cover type (vegetation and cracked road), the field water content in summer closely matched the plastic limit. The clay was characterized by medium-to-high swelling that was best predicted by SP = 0.16 (I p)1.188. The soil had 51 % clay minerals including smectite (32 %), illite (7 %), kaolinite (5 %), and chlorite (3 %). With a CEC of 40 cmol(+)/kg, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were found to be the main exchangeable cations: the specific surface area was 50 m2/g. The SP and P s for a 1.2 m deep sample measured 12 % and 260 kPa, respectively, and the estimated surface heave of 180 mm gradually diminished to 3.6 m depth. These values matched well with consistency-based correlations.
Résumé
L’objectif principal de cet article était l’étude des propriétés de gonflement de l’argile de Regina. La formation géologique comprend un niveau supérieur (de la surface à 0,3 m de profondeur), l’argile gonflante (de 0,3 m à 8 m de profondeur) et un niveau inférieur morainique (entre 8 m et 9 m de profondeur). Les fortes limites de liquidité (70 ± 15 %) et limites de plasticité (33 ± 4 %) indiquaient une forte capacité de rétention d’eau et une forte capacité d’adsorption du sol argileux. Indépendamment du type de couverture (végétation ou route fissurée), la teneur en eau in situ, en été, correspondait à la limite de plasticité. Le sol argileux présentait un potentiel de gonflement moyen à élevé qui était bien prévu par la relation SP = 0,16 (Ip)1,188. Le sol argileux contenait 51 % de minéraux argileux dont des smectites (32 %), de l’illite (7 %), de la kaolinite (5 %) et de la chlorite (3 %). Avec une CEC de 40 cmol(+)/kg, les ions Ca2+ et Mg2+ se sont révélés être les principaux cations échangeables. La surface spécifique était de 50 m2/g. Le potentiel de gonflement et la pression de gonflement pour un échantillon prélevé à 1,2 m de profondeur donnaient respectivement 12 % et 260 kPa. Le soulèvement de surface était estimé à 180 mm pour diminuer progressivement à 3,6 m de profondeur. Ces valeurs correspondaient bien aux relations établies.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the logistic support from the City of Regina and the National Research Council and the financial assistance from the Communities of Tomorrow. Thanks to the University of Regina for providing laboratory space and computing facilities. Thanks to the Advanced Separation Technologies Division of Natural Resources Canada and the International Test Centre of the University of Regina for conducting soil composition analysis.
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Azam, S., Shah, I., Raghunandan, M.E. et al. Study on swelling properties of an expansive soil deposit in Saskatchewan, Canada. Bull Eng Geol Environ 72, 25–35 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-012-0457-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-012-0457-0