| dc.description.abstract | The swelling pressure of a black cotton soil is investigated :n the
project carried out for this thesis.
Soil as one of the materials on the earths crust is introduced; its
mineralogy and atomic properties are discussed. The solid phase in soil
consist of crystals whose properties are discussed paying particular
attention to the structure part of it. The minerals in soils could be
non-clay or clay, their difference with respect to structure and behaviour
are considered in the thesis.
The classification of clay minerals into groups and the structural
differences existing between the groups are also considered.
Problems encountered in the building industry, from black cotton soil
due its swelling properties are outlined in this thesis.The various factors that influence the swelling characteristics of
soil
black cotton are considered, and their interrelation and influence
on each other are also discussed.
When an engineer undertakes to design a project, there are field and
laboratory investigations ,. to be carried out before construction starts.The absence of standard apparatus to measure swelling pressure
of black cotton soil in the field called for the design and testing
of appropriate equipment. The requirements for such equipment vary
from site to site depending on both physical and environmental conditions.
For this project a design was carried out to suit the local conditions.
The equipments were fabricated, tested and calibrated as part of the
research work, Laboratory swelling pressure of black cotton soil was
measured on soil samples obtained from all the five identified sites.
In order to carry out the laboratory swelling pressure tests and
be able to relate the results obtained to those from the field data,
sampling apparatus had to be designed and the laboratory swelling pressure
apparatus had to be modified. The pressure obtained both in the field and
in the laboratory were compared and it was found that the field swelling
pressure were much less than the laboratory swelling pressures, regardless
of whether the laboratory soil sample was disturbed or undisturbed. | en |
