Accession Number:

AD0872034

Title:

A Study of the Physico-Chemical, Mineralogical and Engineering Properties of Fine-Grained Soil in Relation to their Expansive Characteristics.

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept. Feb-May 69,

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE WEAPONS LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM

Personal Author(s):

• Holt, Jack H.

Report Date:

1970-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

128.0

Abstract:

A detailed study has been made of selected soils to establish data related to their basic, chemical, mineralogical, and engineering index properties. Five clay soils possessing high cation exchange capacities and large amounts of montmorillonite clay minerals were selected for this study. An investigation was made of their physico-chemical and mineralogical properties and was correlated with selected soil parameters that served as a basis for identifying dominant clay minerals and for predicting swell behavior. This study discloses that it may be possible to predict the swelling limits of a montmorillonite soil based upon its dominant cation and either its cation exchange activity or its activity ratio. This research also shows that the cation exchange activity and the activity ratio of a montmorillonite clay may be useful to identify a type of montmorillonite soil, i.e., sodium montmorillonite, etc. This research further reveals that an expansive soil may be identified by the use of a correlation graph and two basic soil parameters. The parameters needed for identification are the cation exchange activity and the activity ratio of the soil. Author

Descriptors:

• (*CLAY
• PHYSICAL PROPERTIES)
• MONTMORILLONITE
• WATER
• CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
• PARTICLE SIZE
• MINERALS
• TEST METHODS
• TEXAS

Subject Categories:

• Soil Mechanics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE