Geotechnical Investigation and Experimental Analysis of Alluvial and Black Cotton Soil

Abstract

Swelling soil always create problems more for lightly loaded structures than moderately loaded structures. By consolidating under load and changing volumetrically along with seasonal moisture variation, these problems are manifested through swelling, shrinkage and unequal settlement. As a result, damage to foundation systems, structural elements and architectural features defeat the purpose for which the structures are erected. An attempt is made to study such unpredictable behavior through its geotechnical characteristics and comparing the properties with standard alluvial soil. During this work, various physical properties like determination of specific gravity, particle size, liquid limit, plastic limit, free swell index were conducted on both the varieties of soil samples taken from two different locations and engineering properties like Standard Proctor test, California bearing ratio, unconfined compression strength of soil tests was also conducted. Finally, a comparative study was done taking all those parameters to find a suitable suggestions basing on the technical limitations.