Investigation of piled foundations in swelling clays

This paper presents the results of element testing and centrifuge modelling to investigate behaviour piled foundations in swelling clays. The study revealed that preparation procedure implemented, was able retain key hydromechanical properties when compared with undisturbed specimens. Furthermore, method utilised create an artificially ‘fissured’ fabric allowed for significant swell magnitudes be achieved within a reasonable timeframe. Centrifugetesting illustrated that, at lower swell, increases lateral pressure against pile shaft can increase capacity. However, if is continue large magnitudes, effects swellinduced softening tend dominate, thus resulting reduction are more prominent close clay surface where occur freely. greater depths restricted, so too swell-induced softening, local capacity depths.