Author(s)

A. Fouda, T. Lewis & G. Khan

Abstract

Loessail soil is a collapsing soil type, sometimes referred to as metastable soil, which undergoes a structural collapse if saturated. The collapse is due to the loss of strength in the clay binders between the silt size particles, leading to construction and design problems for highways and buildings. Use of sand drains is one of the methods used, to facilitate the pre-wetting of the soil in order to induce collapse and thus improve its characteristics and strength parameters. Challenges facing the contractor and the design engineer include predicting the total settlement associated with the soil collapse, and estimating the water volume and time needed to complete the soil collapse program. In addition, a monitoring program employing settlement plates and moisture sensors is required to monitor change is soil moisture content

Keywords