ASSESSEMENT OF SOIL COLLAPSE PREDICTION METHODS

Expansive and collapsible soils are some of the most widely distributed and costly of geologic hazards. These soils are subject to changes in volume and settlement in response to wetting and drying, often resulting in severe damage to structures. Collapsing soils are generally characterized by sudden and large volume decrease at constant stress when inundated with water. A geotechnical engineer needs to be able to identify readily the soils that could collapse and to determine the amount of collapse that may occur. Various methods of predicting collapse from simple and rapidly-performed index have therefore been suggested by several workers in the field. In this investigation, most of the well known collapses identifying criteria are reviewed and evaluated. New interpretations and a new method that permits rapid and safe prediction of collapse have been put forward.