INTERNATIONALJOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, VOL.

17, 745-746 (1993)

BOOK REVIEW

EXPANSIVE SOILS-PROBLEMS AND PRACTICE IN FOUNDATION

Expansive Soils is the result of a survey of the familiar with both the soil types and testing meth-
literature pertaining to expansive soils. This survey ods used to develop the classifications.
was sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foun- Heave prediction is one of the primary topics of
dation and was conducted at Colorado State Uni- this book. The chapter on heave prediction is
versity by the authors. The preparation of the divided between discussions of constitutive rela-
text included interviewing practicing engineers in tionships for partially saturated soils, soil suction,
the western and midwestern United States and measurements of soil suction, heave prediction
Canada and visits to many of the organizations using oedometer tests and soil suction tests, empir-
mentioned in the book. ical procedures, and finally a discussion of heave
Expansive Soils is divided into seven chapters. prediction. The discussion of constitutive relation-
These chapters are organized to follow the ships is begun by examining the components of
chronology of events and stages of investigation, stress due to soil moisture and air pressure and
design and construction of a structure founded on introducing the constitutive relationship for ex-
expansive soils. The titles of the principal chapters pansive soils proposed by Fredlund. The discus-
are ‘Site Characterization’, ‘Identification and sion of measurement techniques in the field and
Classification of Expansive Soils’, ‘Heave Predic- laboratory for soil suction covers use of high-
tion’, ‘Design Alternatives’, ‘Treatment of Expan- air-entry pressure stones, tensiometers, axis trans-
sive Soils’ and ‘Remedial Measures’. lation techniques, pressure plates, filter paper
The chapter on site characterization introduces methods, thermocouple psychrometers, osmotic
factors that affect and contribute to volume change tensiometers and thermal moisture sensors. Use of
in soils. These factors are discussed in terms of soil the oedometer test for prediction of heave is dis-
properties, environmental conditions and effects, cussed and several sample calculations are pre-
and pre-existing conditions of the soil. The discus- sented. The authors state that proper use of the
sion on site exploration includes investigation oedometer test is believed to provide the most
planning, drilling and sampling procedures, and accurate prediction of heave. Methods discussed
field testing. for heave prediction using soil suction tests are the
The chapter on identification and classification U.S. Army Corps of Engineers method and the
of expansive soils is divided between discussion of CLOD test method developed by the New Mexico
identification tests and classification schemes. Engineering Research Institute. Lastly, empirical
Identification tests discussed include mineralogical procedures for heave prediction are discussed.
methods, cation exchange, free swell, potential vol- The chapter on design alternatives is the longest
ume change, expansion index, CBR and coefficient chapter in the book at 63 pages. The discussion in
of linear extensibility (COLE). Classification this chapter is divided between alternatives for
schemes discussed include engineering index prop- structural foundation design, moisture control and
erties and COLE classification. The authors warn soil stabilization, and design and soil treatment for
that use of the classification schemes as quantitat- highway and airfield pavements. The section on
ive classifications is of little value unless one is structural foundation design is subdivided between

0363-9061/93/100745-02$06.00 Received 15 December 1992

drilled pier and beam foundations, stiffened slabs- Some engineering readers may be disappointed
on-grade foundations and shallow footing founda- that some background material is omitted and that
tions. Important sections of this chapter are the other points are stated vaguely. This is largely the
discussions of construction techniques and quality result of trying to produce a text that is com-
control. The section on design and treatment of prehensible to a broad audience. All readers
soils for airfield and highway pavements is some- should remember the comments made by Fu Hua
what limited, consisting primarily of reports on Chen at the 4th International Conference on Ex-
experimental test sections. These reports are Iim- pansive Soils in 1980.
ited to comments on the efficacy of the methods ‘In a way, one can compare cancer research with
tried, but in general, they do not identify the the expansive soil problem. It appears that ex-
conditions under which efficacy is or is not achiev- pansive soil is the cancer in soil mechanics. Similar
ed. The section on moisture control and stabil- to cancer, the seriousness of the problem has only
ization for foundations is brief in this chapter been discovered in recent years, and the gravity of
because this topic is the subject of the following the problems has increased at an alarming rate.
chapter on treatment of expansive soils. . . . The chance of a cancer patient recovering
The chapter on treatment of expansive soils depends on early detection of the symptoms, the
covers the following general topics: site prepar- co-operation of the patient with the doctor, the
ation; removal, replacement, remolding and com- physical condition of the patient and others. So is
paction of soils; surcharge loading; pre-wetting; the problem of expansive soil problem. The chance
stabilization with lime, cement, salt, fly ash and of a building free of problems depends on good
organic compounds; moisture control with mem- foundation recommendations, a contractor who
brane barriers; and electrochemical treatment. follows closely the recommendations of the soil
The final chapter discusses remedial measures and structural engineer and the owner’s diligent
for buildings and pavements. Foundation types for maintenance to keep excessive moisture away from
which remedial measures are discussed are drilled the building. It is grossly unfair in today’s justice
pier and beam foundations, underpinning, and that a soil engineer should be blamed for what
slabs-on-grade. Additional alternatives discussed happens to the structure when he has little control
are mud-jacking, epoxy treatments of cracks, over its construction and when knowledge of this
moisture stabilization and moisture barriers. Re- field is still in darkness.’
medial measures for pavements discussed are This text does not contain the solution to all
remedial maintenance, use of moisture barriers, problems related to expansive soils, but it is one
removal and replacement of soil, compaction den- more progression in the education of the building
sity and moisture control and proper drainage. professions and public about expansive soils.
The NSF survey that was the basis for this book
also included the teaching of seminars in 14 cities
in the US. for engineers, contractors, real estate WILLIAMM. ISENHOWER
personnel, lawyers and other professionals inter- Department of Civil Engineering
ested in expansive soils. Accordingly, the reader and Engineering Mechanics
should recognize that this audience is the one for University of Arizona
whom this text was prepared. It strives to show the Tucson, AZ 85721, U.S.A.
primary problems encountered and to discuss
practical treatments for the problems.