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Unsaturated Soils: Theory and Practice 2011

Jotisankasa, Sawangsuriya, Soralump and Mairaing (Editors)


Kasetsart University, Thailand, ISBN 978-616-7522-77-7

Identification of potentially expansive soils causing longitudinal cracks


along pavement
Identification of shoulder in expansive
potentially central Thailand
soils causing longitudinal cracks
along pavement shoulder in central Thailand
Auckpath Sawangsuriya
Bureau of Road Research and Development, Department of Highways, Bangkok, Thailand,
sawangsuriya@gmail.com
A. Sawangsuriya
Apiniti
Bureau ofJotisankasa, Barames
Road Research Vadhanabhuti
and Development, & Krit
Department Lousuphap
of Highways, Bangkok, Thailand,
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand,
sawangsuriya@gmail.com
fengatj@ku.ac.th,
A. Jotisankasa, barames@hotmail.com,
B. Vadhanabhuti & K. lousuphap.k@hotmail.com
Lousuphap
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand,
fengatj@ku.ac.th, barames@hotmail.com, lousuphap.k@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT: A number of expansive soil classification methodologies have been available to identify the ex-
pansive potential. Different classification schemes have been practically developed in different locations. This
paper presents an alternative technique to classify the expansive soils in central Thailand based on the consti-
tutive parameters: (1) water content index with respect to total suction, and (2) suction index in terms of void
ratio and total suction. Several undisturbed subgrade samples were collected from highway route no. 357 lo-
cated in the central region of Thailand, which encountered severe longitudinal cracking along asphalt pave-
ment shoulder prior to trafficking. Results suggested that this technique agreed well with other classification
methodologies and also provided more definition of expansive potential.

KEYWORDS: expansive soils; total suction; constitutive parameters; longitudinal cracks; pavement shoulder

1 INTRODUCTION

Longitudinal cracks along the asphalt pavement


shoulder are one of the most common distresses in
the central region of Thailand. These cracks are typi-
cally longitudinal and located approximately 25-70
cm from the pavement edge. Causes of these cracks
are varied, yet can be classified into two categories.
The first category involves the construction activities
which can be considered as controllable factors, i.e.,
poor construction quality control, off-standard high-
way materials, or poor construction processes etc.
The second category is related to external and envi-
ronmental issues which can be considered as uncon-
trollable factors, i.e., traffic, climate, topography,
groundwater, drainage etc. Figure 1. Longitudinal cracking along pavement shoulder.
Recently, the Department of Highways, Thailand
has conducted a detailed investigation on several Factors influencing the shrink-swell potential of
highways constructed in the central region. The pre- expansive soils include soil properties (e.g. clay
liminary results indicated that most highways con- mineralogy, plasticity, density, void ratio etc.), envi-
structed on clay subgrades were subjected to pave- ronmental factors (e.g. climate, groundwater, vegeta-
ment shoulder cracking and frequent routine tion, drainage etc.), and state of stress (e.g. net nor-
maintenance. A national highway route no. 357 (Su- mal stress, suction stress etc.) (Nelson & Miller,
parnburi by-pass) was selected in this study. This 1992). Classification of shrinkage and swelling po-
highway encountered severe longitudinal cracking tential of soils provides an important step towards
along asphalt pavement shoulder prior to trafficking the engineering design and remedial measures of
(Figure 1). The construction was therefore delayed pavement structures in regions underlain by expan-
for the rehabilitation and repair works, which result- sive soils. The objective of this paper is to identify
ed in an increase in construction cost. an expansive soil that causes longitudinal cracks
along pavement shoulder on highway route no.

693
357.Several expansive soil classification methodolo- subsoils, which results in weaken of subsoils and
gies as suggested by Holtz & Gibbs (1956), Seed et loss of foundation support to pavements. Mainte-
al. (1962), Chen (1988), and McKeen (1992) were nance and repairs can be costly and often result in
used to evaluate swelling and shrinkage potential of excessive capitol costs.
soil specimens collected from highway route no.
357. An alternative method for assessing swelling
and shrinkage potential based on two constitutive
parameters was proposed to define the expansive
soil classification criteria for practicing engineers in
Thailand.

2 BACKGROUND

Longitudinal cracks along pavement shoulder are


currently one of the most common problems in many
highways located in the central region of Thailand.
Asphalt pavement shoulder tends to encounter such
damage problems. Six major causes of shoulder
damage include: (1) road embankment over soft sub-
soils, (2) fill materials consisting of potentially
swelling soils, (3) improper design of road embank-
ment, foundation, and drainage conditions, (4) poor
construction quality control and inspection of side
slope, (5) increase in traffic load and volume, and (6)
seasonal variations.
Expansive soil has a potential for shrinking or
swelling under changing moisture conditions. The
primary problem that arises with regard to expansive
soils is that deformations are significantly greater Figure 2. Potentially expansive soils in Thailand.
than elastic deformations and they cannot be predict-
ed by classical elastic or plastic theory (Nelson &
Miller 1992). Several countries in the world reported 2.2 Classification methodology
pavement damage problems caused by the move- As indicated by Nelson & Miller (1992), there was
ments of expansive soils. Such movement usually no standard identification and classification of ex-
causes extensive damage to the pavements resting on pansive soils. Different classification schemes have
them. A number of roads constructed on expansive been practically developed in different locations.
subgrades encountered severe pavement cracking Many classification schemes provide an expansive
with short serviceability life. In some cases, the costs rating for qualitative assessment of the degree of ex-
of maintenance and repairs were higher than those of pansion such as “low”, “medium”, “high”, or “very
construction. Therefore, the expansive subgrade soils high” and are traditionally correlated to basic soil
should be taken into account for both design and property tests including Atterberg limits, linear
construction of the roads. shrinkage, free swell, and colloid content etc. Some
of these expansive soil classification schemes are
2.1 Potentially expansive soils in Thailand provided in Tables 1 and 2.

According to the soil report, there exist some ex- Table 1. Holtz and Gibbs (1956) expansive soil classification
pansive soils in the northern part of the central re- Plasticity index Expansion index Degree of expansion
gion of Thailand as shown in Figure 2. Based on the >35 > 30 Very high
soil taxonomy, such soils are high plasticity clays 25-41 20-30 High
rich with Montmorillonite clay minerals, which ex- 15-28 10-20 Medium
hibit large volumetric change due to soil moisture <18 <10 Low
variations.
Table 2. Chen (1988) expansive soil classification
Past studies revealed that the wetting and drying
cycles of expansive soils often induce large shrink- Plasticity index Expansion index Degree of expansion
>35 >10 Very high
age and swelling strains, which result in volumetric 20-55 3-10 High
change and corresponding failures in form of crack- 10-35 1-5 Medium
ing and heaving. Those cracks developed in the <15 <1 Low
pavements can further allow intrusion of moisture to

694
McKeen (1992) also proposed an expansive soil 3.2 Material properties
classification methodology based on total suction Several undisturbed subgrade samples were collect-
measurement. McKeen’s methodology relies on a ed from two sections of highway route no. 357, e.g.
parameter “total suction-water content index”, which T-1 and T-2, and at varied depths. The physical
is defined as the slope of the relationship between properties and classification of these subgrade sam-
total suction and water content on a semilog plot ples are summarized in Table 4.
(i.e., the soil-water characteristic curve). The expan- The soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) for
sive potential is classified based on the magnitude of these subgrade samples were also determined using a
total suction-water content index according to Table series of suction measurements: a miniature tensi-
3. ometer (<90 kPa), pressure plate (100 to 1,000 kPa)
Table 3. McKeen (1992) expansive soil classification
and a relative humidity (RH) sensor (1,500 to 106
kPa). A miniature tensiometer was developed at Ka-
Total suction-water setsart University (Jotisankasa et al., 2010). It con-
Degree of expansion
content index
>-6 Very high sists of MEMs pressure sensor, 1-bar high-air-entry
-6 to -10 High porous ceramic, and transparent acrylic tube. The
-10 to -13 Moderate SWCC data were fitted with the Gitirana & Fredlund
-13 to -20 Low equation (Gitirana & Fredlund, 2004) as shown in
<-20 Nonexpansive Figure 4. Note that RH sensor measures total suc-
tion, whereas the pressure plate and tensiometer
measure matric suction. Only the RH sensor were
3 METHOD AND MATERIALS however used in the analysis part of this study.

Table 4. Properties of subgrade samples


Sample Depth % %
3.1 Description of test site ID (m)
USCS AASHTO LL PI
fines clay
Highway route no. 357 (Suparnburi by-pass) located T-1A 0.6 CL-CH A-7-6 49 30 79.1 41.2
in Suparnburi province, central region of Thailand T-1B 1.5 CL-CH A-7-6 49 30 79.1 41.2
T-1C 3.0 CH A-7-5 66 38 97.4 61.9
was selected as the test site where severe longitudi-
T-1D 3.0 CH A-7-5 66 38 97.4 61.9
nal cracking along asphalt pavement shoulder was T-2A 1.5 CL A-6 38 21 68.2 30.8
encountered prior to trafficking. The test sites con- T-2B 1.5 CL A-6 38 21 68.2 30.8
sisted of two adjacent sections: one section having T-2C 3.0 CL A-6 37 20 57.8 25.4
severe cracks (sta. 32+600 to sta. 33+100) designat- T-2D 3.0 CL A-6 37 20 57.8 25.4
ed as T-1 and another having minor cracks (sta.
31+600 to sta.32+100) designated as T-2. 106

This highway consists of two carriage lanes in


105
each direction. These carriage lanes were construct-
ed using the concrete pavement, while the shoulders 104
were constructed using the asphalt pavement. The
Suction (kPa)

width of inner and outer shoulders is 1.5 and 2.5 m, 103

respectively. The side slope is about 2 horizontal to 102


T-1A

1 vertical (2:1) and covered with grass on both sides T-1B


T-1C
of the slopes. Figure 3 illustrates a typical cross- 101
T-1D
T-2A
section of the test site. T-2B
100 T-2C
T-2D

10-1
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

Volumetric Water Content


Figure 4. Soil-water characteristic curves of subgrade samples.

3.3 Test method


In this study, the total suction and the corresponding
mass-volume change of undisturbed samples were
continuously monitored in the laboratory. By incre-
mentally allowing the specimen to air dry and meas-
uring the total suction with a RH sensor, at least four
total suction measurements were made for each
Figure 3. A typical cross-section of the test site. specimen. Concurrently, mass-volume changes asso-
ciated with suction changes were also determined us-

695
ing a veneer caliper and a digital scale. It is im- Table 5 Properties of the saturated salt solution (modified from
portant to note that during the RH measurement, the Lu & Likos, 2004)
RH within the space between the sensor and the soil Total
Saturated Tempera- % R h at d(R h )/dT
air must be at equilibrium. In this study, the RH sen- suction
R R

salt solution ture (oC) 25oC at 25 oC


sor took at least three to four days to achieve the to- (kPa)
P P

tal suction equilibration as shown in Figure 5. NaOH.H 2 O R R 15-25 7 365,183 0


105
NaCl 5-60 75.1 39,323 -0.02
9x104
Dry5
8x104
KCl 5-40 84.2 23,617 -0.16
7x104
Total suction (kPa)

6x104 BaCl 2 .2H 2 O R R R R 5-60 90.3 14,012 -0.08


Dry4
5x104
H 2 O (Dis-
- 0 0 -
R R

4x104 tilled water)


3x104
Dry3
2x104
Dry2
104
Dry1
0 120
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Sensor 2
100
Relative humidity, Rh (%)
Elapse time after curing (hr)

Figure 5. Total suction as measured with the RH sensor. 80

Figure 6 illustrates a RH sensor used in this study. 60


A device consists of the Honeywell polymer capaci-
tive RH sensor encased in an open-end transparent 40
tube. It was calibrated using salt solution in a tem-
perature controlled chamber (20±0.5oC) (Jotisankasa 20 y = 30.918x-25.031
et al., 2010). The properties of the salt solutions used R2 = 0.9981
for calibration of the RH sensor are summarized in 0
Table 5. An example of calibration curve is illustrat- 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5
ed in Figure 7. The total suction is related to the RH Voltage (volt)
of the ambient air close to the soil by the following Figure 7. Example of calibration curve for the RH sensor.
relationship:
It should be also noted that most desiccation
cracks in the clay subgrades are typically associated
 RT  with higher suctions (i.e., >1,000 kPa) during a pro-
ψ = −  ⋅ ln (Rh ) longed dry period. Hence, the range of suction
Vmol  (1) measured in this study would capture the behavior of
shrink-swell soils and their classification fairly well.
where R h is the relative humidity, R is the universal Figure 8 illustrates a subgrade sample after drying.
gas constant (8.314 J.mol-1.K-1), V mol is3 the molecu-
lar volume of water vapor
o (0.01802 m ), and T the
absolute temperature ( K).

Figure 8. Sample T-2D at a total suction of 145 MPa.


Figure 6. Relative humidity (RH) sensor.

696
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 6. Classification of expansive soils

Degree of expansion
Table 6 summarizes the expansive soil classification Sample Holtz &
Seed et al.
ID Gibbs Chen (1988) McKeen (1992)
results according to Holtz & Gibbs (1956), Seed et (1962)
(1956)
al. (1962), Chen (1988), and McKeen (1992). A plot Medium to Medium to
of total suction-water content index as suggested by T-1A High
high high
Moderate
McKeen (1992) vs. percent clay was also presented Medium to Medium to
T-1B High Low
in Figure 9. Results from Table 6 and Figure 9 sug- high high
gested that those classification methodologies pro- T-1C
High to very
High
High to very
Moderate
vided conflict expansion ratings for each subgrade high high
High to very High to very
sample. For instance, a sample T-1B was identified T-1D High High
high high
as high degree of expansion according to Holtz & Low to me- Medium to
Gibbs (1956), while it was identified as low degree T-2A Medium
dium high
Low
of expansion according to McKeen (1992) and me- Low to me- Medium to
T-2B Medium Moderate
dium to high degree of expansion according to Seed dium high
et al. (1962) and Chen (1988). T-2C Medium Low
Medium to
Nonexpansive
In this study, two additional relationships were high
Medium to
developed for the expansive soil classification. Fig- T-2D Medium Low
high
Nonexpansive
ures 10 and 11 show plots of gravimetric water con-
tent vs. total suction and void ratio vs. total suction, 0
respectively. The slope of the relationship in Figure I: Very High
10 is the water content index with respect to total
II: High
suction, whereas the slope of the relationship in Fig- -10
T-1D
Total suction-water content index

III: Moderate T-1A


ure 11 is the suction index in terms of void ratio and T-2B
T-1C
total suction. These two indices are commonly IV: Low
T-2A T-1B

known as the constitutive parameters. Note that an -20


inversion of the slope of the relationship in Figure T-2D
10 is essentially the total suction-water content index
as suggested by McKeen (1992). -30
T-2C
Such constitutive parameters were also plotted
against percent clay as shown in Figures 12 and 13. -40
V: Non-expansive

Both plots indicated that the subgrade samples T-2C


and T-2D were clearly separated from a sample T-
1D, while the samples T-1A, T-1B, T-1C, T-2A, and -50
T-2B formed a cluster within the same magnitude. 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
These results agreed well with those classification Percent clay (%)
methodologies aforementioned and also provided
more definition of expansive potential. Therefore in Figure 9. Total suction-water content index vs. percent clay.
this study, an alternative technique for the expansive
soil classification can be obtained according to the 0.30
two measured constitutive parameters. In addition, T-1A
both parameters e in Figure 12 and w in Figure 13 0.25
T-1B
T-1C
are interrelated through a basic volume-mass rela- T-1D
tionship for soils (i.e., Se = wG s ). T-2A
Gravimetric water content

T-2B
Figures 12 and 13 obviously indicated the effect 0.20 T-2C
of percent clay on water content index and suction T-2D

index. Soils with smaller percent clay tended to have 0.15


smaller water content index and suction index (i.e.,
flatten slopes in Figures 10 and 11). In other words, 0.10
soils become less sensitive to the change in the water
content and volume with respect to total suction.
0.05

0.00
2 3 4 5 6

ψ (log kPa)
t

Figure 10. Gravimetric water content vs. total suction.

697
0.80 5 CONCLUSIONS
0.70 An alternative technique for the expansive soil clas-
sification was developed in this paper. Two constitu-
0.60
tive parameters: (1) water content index with respect
0.50
to total suction, and (2) suction index in terms of
void ratio and total suction were employed to identi-
Void ratio (e)

0.40 fy the degree of expansion. The RH sensor was used


for total suction measurement, while the mass-
0.30 T-1A volume change for each suction was determined us-
T-1B
T-1C
ing a veneer caliper and a digital scale. Several un-
0.20 T-1D disturbed subgrade samples were collected from
T-2A
T-2B highway route no. 357 located in the central region
0.10 T-2C of Thailand which encountered severe longitudinal
T-2D
0.00
cracking along asphalt pavement shoulder prior to
2 3 4 5 6 trafficking. Results suggested that this technique
agreed well with other classification methodologies
ψ (log kPa)
t and also provided more definition of expansive po-
Figure 11. Void ratio vs. total suction. tential. More tests are still underway to verify this
0.00 classification technique.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
-0.03 T-2C

T-2D Financial support for this study was provided by the


Bureau of Road Research and Development, De-
-0.06
partment of Highways, Thailand. Authors also wish
∆w/∆log (ψ )
t

T-1B
T-2A
T-1C to thank John D. Nelson and Geoff Chao for their
T-1A
-0.09 T-2B invaluable comments and encouragement.

-0.12 T-1D REFERENCES

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