Laboratory modeling of thermal and temporal cracking in swelling clays

Crack development in a changing environment is the controlling factor for stability and strength of expansive soils. Expansive soils exhibit large volumetric changes with their moisture conditions that may occasionally lead to reduced bearing capacity foundation failures. This study purports model crack initiation its spatial progression relation content drying period, respectively. Volumetric soil shrinkage determined using high-definition digital camera imaging Vernier scale methods, while settlement under vertical deformation could be captured through tensile stress It was revealed small change suction trigger initiation, which would propagate further different environmental conditions. Furthermore, it observed volume increased rapidly at specific penetrate as deep 1 m after nearly 1.5 months fully consistent current predictions. A comparison between performance proposed this two existing models shows former predicts strain values closer agreement those experimentally less conservative than predicted by both models. Nevertheless, findings from used quantify detrimental behavior present pavement subgrades shallow foundations lightweight structures.