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Expansion Index and Its Relationship with Other Index Properties

Conference Paper · March 2006

DOI: 10.1061/40802(189)180

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 Expansion Index and Its Relationship with Other Index Properties

C. E. Zapata1, S. L. Houston2, W. N. Houston3, H. Dye4

1
Faculty Research Associate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Arizona State University, P.O. Box 875306, Tempe, AZ 85287-5306; PH (480) 727-
8514; FAX (480) 965-0557; e-mail: [email protected]
2
Professor and Chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arizona
State University, P.O. Box 875306, Tempe, AZ 85287-5306; PH (480) 965-3589;
FAX (480) 965-0557; e-mail: [email protected]
3
Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arizona
State University, P.O. Box 875306, Tempe, AZ 85287-5306; PH (480) 965-3589;
FAX (480) 965-0557; e-mail: [email protected]
4
Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arizona
State University, P.O. Box 875306, Tempe, AZ 85287-5306; PH (480) 965-3589;
FAX (480) 965-0557; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Relationships between swell potential and soil index properties are commonly
used in soil design. It was found that the Expansion Index as determined by the
modified Arizona method, EIAZ, correlates very poorly to both Plasticity Index, PI,
and percent passing US sieve number 200, P200, when considered separately. The
product of these two parameters, however, wPI, improves the correlation from R2
values of 0.41 and 0.27, respectively, to 0.67.

Introduction

Several changes have been introduced in going from the 2nd Edition
(PTI, 1996) to the 3rd Edition of the PTI procedure (PTI, 2004) for the design of
slabs-on-grade on expansive soils. One of the important changes deals with the
applicability criteria. While the 2nd Edition is applicable to ribbed and uniform
thickness foundations on expansive soils with Plasticity Index, PI, equal to or greater
than 15 %, the 3rd Edition is applicable to soils with Expansion Index, EI, greater than
20 as determined per ASTM standard D 4829 or where the following three
requirements are met: PI is equal to or greater than 15%; more than 10 % of soil
passes US sieve #200, P200; and more than 10 % of soil is smaller than 0.005 mm in
size. The PI criterion suggests that soils with PI smaller than 15% will experience
negligible swell while soils with PI larger than 15% will undergo significant volume
change upon wetting. Research done by Chen (1988), however, indicates that
although high swell potential always correlates to high PI, the inverse is not always
true.

Data and Discussion

In order to evaluate the relationship of EI to index properties, the EI was

correlated with Plasticity Index (ASTM D 4318) and percent soil passing US sieve
number 200 for about 452 measurements collected in the Phoenix area and provided
by consultants. The Expansion Index commonly used in Arizona, EIAZ, is obtained as
a percent swell measure of a reconstituted soil sample of 2.54-cm height by 6.1-cm
diameter at the following properties:

w = wopt – 2% and
d = 0.95 d max

where, w is water content [%], wopt is the optimum water content [%], d is dry
density, and d max is maximum dry density. The optimum water content and the
maximum dry density of soil are determined using the ASTM D 698 standard. The
EIAZ is obtained by performing a swell test on the specimen confined under 100 psf.
The observed 1-D swell is divided by the initial specimen height and expressed as a
percentage.

Figure 1 shows the best correlation that could be derived for the relationship of EIAZ
to PI. Notice that the R2 of 0.41 is rather poor. Further research shows that Percent
passing no. #200 sieve does not lead to a better correlation. In this case the R2 is 0.27
(See Figure 2).

The authors and other researchers at ASU have been using the weighted plasticity
Index, wPI, for a number of years (Perera et al., 2004). It is defined as the product of
P200 in decimal times the PI in %. Although researches at ASU were probably not the
first to use this product, they were the first to coin the phrase “weighted plasticity
index”, wPI, and to explain the logic behind its use. The PI is a measurement on the
minus No. 40 fraction but its value is governed primarily by the activity of the minus
No. 200 fraction, where most of the surface area resides. A soil with high PI and high
P200 would be expected to exhibit high specific surface area and high swell potential,
for example. However, for a second soil with equal PI and comparable activity, but
very low P200, the swell potential may be expected to be lower. For the second soil
the factors contributing to high PI are present, but there is simply not enough of the
highly active material present in the total soil matrix to cause very high swell
potential for the total soil. Thus, use of a weighting factor, such as P200, shows
promise for more accurately indicating the behavior of the total soil.
 EI (AZ) versus PI
12
Expansion Index(AZ) (%)
10

2 EI = 0.1434PI + 1.3759
R 2 = 0.41
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Plasticity Index (%)
Figure 1. Correlation between Expansion Index (AZ method) and Plasticity
Index

EI (AZ) versus Pass #200

12
Expansion Index(AZ) (%)

EI = 0.0458P 200 + 1.6064

10 R 2 = 0.27
8

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Percent Passing Sieve #200 (%)
Figure 2. Correlation between Expansion Index (AZ method) and % Passing
#200
Figure 3 shows a correlation between Expansion Index and wPI. The improvement in
the correlation is high as it yields an acceptable R2 = 0.67. From the analysis, it can
be concluded that perhaps PI information alone is not adequate to define the swell
potential of clay, nor is the % passing #200, alone. The wPI parameter seems to be a
better indicator of swell potential.

EI (AZ) versus wPI

12
EI = 0.2014wPI + 1.682
Expansion Index(AZ) (%)

10
R 2 = 0.67
8

0
0 10 20 30 40
wPI = P 200 *PI/100

Figure 3. Correlation between Expansion Index (AZ method) and wPI

Conclusions

In this study the relationship of Expansion Index as determined by the

modified Arizona method, EIAZ to index soil properties was examined. It was found
that EIAZ correlates rather poorly to Plasticity Index yielding R2 of 0.41. Similarly, EI
correlates poorly to percent soil passing sieve #200 producing R2 of 0.27. A
significantly improved relationship was obtained with wPI, the product of PI and
P200. The statistical analysis yielded R2 of 0.67. From the analysis it can be
concluded that neither PI nor P200 are good indicators of soil swell potential. On the
other hand, the product of these two parameters, wPI produces a statistically strong
correlation for EIAZ smaller than 10%. Furthermore, the equation derived from the
correlation can be utilized in estimating Expansion Index in preliminary assessment
of swell potential for sites when limited information is available. To date this
correlation is limited to soils found in Arizona although the correlation could be
reasonably valid for other soils. Readers with appropriate data for other soils are
invited to add their data to our database.
 Acknowledgments

This work is based upon research supported by Construction, Inspection & Testing
(CIT) and The Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA). This
support is gratefully acknowledged.

References

American Society for Testing and Materials. (2005). “D 698: Standard Test Methods
for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort.”
Book of ASTM Standards, West Conshohocken, PA.
American Society for Testing and Materials. (2005). “D 4318: Test Method for
Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, Plasticity Index of Soils.” Book of ASTM
Standards, West Conshohocken, PA.
American Society for Testing and Materials. (2005). “D 4829: Standard Test
Method for Expansion Index of Soils.” Book of ASTM Standards, West
Conshohocken, PA.
Chen, F. H. (1988). Foundations on Expansive Soils, Development in Geotechnical
Engineering, v. 54, Elsevier Science Publishers.
Perera, Y. Y., Zapata, C. E., Houston, S.L., Houston W.N. (2004). “Long-Term
Moisture Conditions under Highway Pavements.” Proceeding of Geo-Trans
2004, Geotechnical Special Publication No. 126, Geotechnical Engineering
for Transportation Projects. ASCE Geo-institute. Los Angeles, CA, Vol. 1, pp.
1132-1143. July 27-31.
Post-Tensioning Institute. (1996). Design and Construction of Post-Tensioned Slabs-
on-Ground, 2nd Edition, Post-Tensioning Institute, Phoenix, AZ.
Post-Tensioning Institute. (2004). Design and Construction of Post-Tensioned Slabs-
on-Ground, 3rd Edition, Post Tensioning Institute, Phoenix, AZ.

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