Prediction of Swell Pressure of Black

Cotton Soil of North-eastern Nigeria

Adejumo T. Elisha
Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering and Engineering
Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
elisha4exploit@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
This paper presents the results of recent study on the prediction of swell pressure of
black cotton soil in north-eastern Nigeria. Bentonite-Kaolinite black cotton soil
mixtures were prepared to obtain soils in a wide range of plasticity indices. Constant
volume One-Dimensional swell tests in oedometers were performed on statically
compacted specimens with varying properties. The inter relationships between swell
pressure and plasticity index, water content and dry density were examined. Swell
pressure is then predicted in relation to plasticity index, liquidity index, water content
and dry density, using multiple regression analyses. The prediction confirmed a
simple regression equation for prediction of swell pressures from these determined
soil properties of black cotton soils.

KEYWORDS: Prediction, swell pressure, black cotton soil, vertisols, soil

properties, plasticity index, collapsible soil.

INTRODUCTION
Vertisols are heavy black clays associated with calcium rich parent rocks found in the
relatively dry savannah climate. They are also known as black cotton soils. Characteristically they
have a black upper (200mm) horizon. The black color is due to the presence of black color humus
- clay complex. The organic matter content of the soils is characteristically low (usually below
5%) They have a heavy texture and a dominant montmorillonite clay fraction. They are highly
plastic, expand considerably on wetting and shrink on drying (Malomo, 1983).

The engineering properties of vertisols are dominated by its small particle sizes and the
presence of clay mineral montmorillonite. These properties impose the low permeability, high

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 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. L 1732

plasticity, expansiveness and shrinkages on the soils. The black cotton soils of north-eastern
Nigeria up to the Chad basin areas fall into this category (Ola, 1978).

The composition of the black cotton soils of Maiduguri, north-east Nigeria, Figure
1(Malomo, 1983) has been reported to be; sand (0-39%), silt (0-47%), and clay fraction (13-
100%). The liquid limits range from 23-78% and plasticity index 6-36%. The AASHTO
classification is either A -7 -5 or A -7 6 and in the Unified soil classification system, the soil
falls into CL and CH group (Ola, 1987). The free swell is 30-140%, and it rises with clay fraction,
plasticity index and liquid limit (Omange et al, 1988).

It is also a purpose of this paper to ascertain the equation for a quick prediction of swell pressures
of clayey soils from easily determined some soil properties (Erzin and Erol, 2004). Hence,
Bentonite-Kaolinite vertisols mixtures were prepared to obtain soils in a wide range of plasticity
indices. Constant volume swell tests performed on statically compacted specimens with varying
properties and swell pressures were measured directly. The relationship between swell pressure
and soil properties such as water content, plasticity index and dry density were examined. Swell
pressure was then correlated to the soil properties, using multiple regression analyses for the
prediction.

Ferruginous soils Weakly developed soils

Ferrallitic soils Vertisols

Figure 1: Soil groups in Nigeria

 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. L 1733

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION
In order to obtain vertisols (black cotton soils) possessing a wide range of plasticity index,
processed kaolinite and bentonite minerals were mixed with it in preselected proportions. Table 1
shows the composition and consistency limits of ten black cotton (black clay) soils mixtures.

Standard constant volume One-Dimensional swell tests (ASTM D4546-04) were performed
on statically compacted samples of the black cotton soil mixtures with initial water contents of
20, 25, 30, 35 and 40% and having initial dry densities of 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2 and 2.4 g/cm3 in
standard oedometer cells. The swell pressures of each specimen with known plasticity indices,
initial water contents and initial dry densities, were then measured.

Table 1: The composition and the consistency limits of

the ten black cotton soil mixtures used

Soil mixture Kaolinite % Bentonite % by Liquid Limit Plastic Limit Plasticity

type by weight weight (WL) (%) (WP) (%) Index (IP) (%)
1 97.15 2.85 23 17 6
2 96.10 3.90 24 17 7
3 94.50 5.50 31 19 12
4 92.16 7.84 36 20 16
5 88.85 11.15 42 22 20
6 85.96 14.04 44 22 22
7 82.15 17.85 50 24 26
8 80.12 19.88 54 26 28
9 78.45 21.55 60 28 32
10 75.97 24.03 64 30 34
The old metric system unit of kg/cm2 which is equal to approximately 100 kPa in SI was used.

The influence of both the initial dry density and the plasticity index on the swell pressure is
shown in Table 1 for mixture samples at an initial water content of 20%. The trends were similar
for the chosen range of initial water contents (25%, 30%, 35% and 40%), indicating that an
increase in the plasticity index or initial dry density results in a higher swell pressure value for
samples having the same initial water content. Similar results were observed by (El-Sohby and
El-Sayed, 1981), (Erol and Dhowian, 1990) and (Erzin and Erol, 2004).

Figures 2 (a), (b) and (c) show the relationship between the initial water content and swell
pressure for the black cotton soil mixture with the plasticity index (PI or IP) of 6%, 20% and 34%
respectively. For black cotton soils like m996ost black clays, the initial water content has a little
or no effect on the swell pressure for samples at initial water content less than the plastic limits of
17%, 22% and 30% for the black cotton mixture in the figure. It further shows that, at initial
water content above the plastic limit the swell pressure on the samples decreased with an increase
in the water content. This corroborates the idea of optimum moisture content in relation with
engineering properties of soils.
Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. L 1734

Table 2: Swell pressure of black cotton soil mixtures and initial dry density
at a given water content.
Black cotton Initial dry density (g/cb.cm)

Swell Pressure (kg/sq.cm) at 15% initial

soil mixture
1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4
type
Soil mixture 1 0.07 0.09 0.3 0.5 0.6
Soil mixture 2 0.08 0.1 0.4 0.7 0.9

water content
Soil mixture 3 0.09 0.2 0.6 0.9 1.0
Soil mixture 4 0.1 0.3 0,7 1.0 1.1
Soil mixture 5 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.3
Soil mixture 6 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4
Soil mixture 7 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.5
Soil mixture 8 0.8 1.0 1.3 1.5 1.6
Soil mixture 9 0.9 1.1 1.4 1.6 1.7
Soil mixture 10 1.0 1,2 1.5 1.7 1.9

(a) PI or (IP) of 6%

(Figure 2 continues on the next page).

 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. L 1735

(b) PI or (IP) of 20%

Figure 2: The Influence of initial water content on swell pressure for the black cotton soil
mixture with plasticity index of (a) 6%, (b) 20%, and (c) 34%

(c) PI or (IP) of 34%

Figure 2: The Influence of initial water content on swell pressure for the black cotton soil
mixture with plasticity index of (a) 6%, (b) 20%, and (c) 34%.
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. L 1736

DISCUSSION OF TEST RESULTS

Multiple regression analyses were carried out to correlate the logarithm of the measured swell
pressures to the initial water content and initial dry density of the black cotton soil mixtures. The
generated equations are shown in Table 3. Quantities used in Table 3 and their denotations are:
PS is the swell pressure in kg/cm2; w is the initial water content in %; dry is the initial dry
density in g/cm3; R is the coefficient of multiple determination; and Std. Dev. is the standard
deviation. The results revealed high coefficients of multiple determinations which confirm the
existence of strong correlations between the logarithm of swell pressure and IP, w and dry (Erzin
and Erol, 2004).
Table 3: The influence of initial water content and initial dry density on swell pressure

Ip (%) Equation R (%) Std. Dev. (%)

6 log Ps = -6.224 + 4.184 dry - 0.0357 w 84.3 15.9

7 log Ps = -5.782 + 4.062 dry - 0.0315 w 86.9 14.2

12 log Ps = -4.624 + 3.805 dry - 0.0301 w 88.3 12.3

16 log Ps = -4.345 + 3.232 dry - 0.0284 w 90.8 9.9

20 log Ps = -3.482 + 2.955 dry - 0.0225 w 93.2 6.9

22 log Ps = -3.143 + 2.562 dry - 0.0145 w 94.8 5.5

26 log Ps = -2.724 + 2.211 dry - 0.0068 w 95.3 4.7
28 log Ps = -2.369 + 1.955 dry - 0.0025 w 96.6 4.1

32 log Ps = -2.005 + 1.804 dry - 0.0012 w 97.5 3.4

34 log Ps = -1.969 + 2.955 dry - 0.0005 w 98.7 2.6

The liquidity index (IL) value of each specimen was calculated. The dependence of the swell
pressure on the soil properties IL and dry was investigated thereafter. The multiple regression
analyses carried out to correlate the logarithm of the swell pressures to the two soil properties IL
and dry revealed the results as shown in Table 4.
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. L 1737

Table 4: The influence of initial dry density and liquidity index on swell pressure.

Ip (%) Equation (IL = liquidity index) R (%) Std. Dev. (%)

6 log Ps = -6.314 + 4.181 dry - 0.752 IL 85.1 15.4

7 log Ps = -5.310 + 3.859 dry - 0.977 IL 87.4 13.1

12 log Ps = -5.195 + 3.215 dry - 1.112IL 88.7 11.3

16 log Ps = -4.327 + 2.845 dry - 1.052 IL 92.0 9.9

20 log Ps = -3.449 + 2.544 dry -0.872 IL 94.6 7.3

22 log Ps = -2.961 + 2.123 dry -1.114 IL 95.6 5.7

26 log Ps = -2.592 + 2.061 dry -1.110 IL 96.6 4.6

28 log Ps = -2.196 + 1.804 dry -1.766 IL 97.6 3.4

32 log Ps = -1.987 + 1.546 dry -0.083 IL 98.4 2.6

34 log Ps = -1.722 + 1.094 dry -1.115 IL 98.8 2.0

Combination of analyses for the entire range of the plasticity indices yielded:

log Ps = -5.423 + 0.01458 PI + 2.563 dry - 0.0168 w R2 = 95.3% Std. Dev. = 8.7% (1)

log Ps = -5.741 + 0.01462 PI + 2.608 dry - 0.824 IL R2 = 94.4% Std. Dev. = 9.6% (2)

These results with high coefficients of multiple determinations confirm the existence of
strong correlations between the logarithm swell pressure and the soil properties. Measured swell
pressures and those obtained from Equation 1 are compared in Figure 3. The data trends in the
figure indicate that there is a good agreement between the measured and predicted swell
pressures.

The logarithm of the swell pressures was further correlated with plasticity index (IP) and dry
density (dry) using multiple regression analyses. It yielded:
log Ps = -5.402 + 0.01393 PI + 2.461 dry R2 = 87.9% Std. Dev. = 15.1% (3)

Equations 1, 2 and 3 reveal high coefficients of multiple correlation of R2 = 95.3%, R2 =

94.4% and R2 = 87.9%, respectively, indicating strong correlations between the swell pressure
and soil properties. As the R2 values are very high for these tests, the correlations for the
prediction are found to be highly efficient.
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. L 1738

Predicted swelling pressure(kg/sq.cm)

y = 1.0684x - 0.2992
R = 0.9706

S/P 5@ Density=2.4
Measured 0.3 0.25
sw. press.(kg/sq.cm)

Predicted swelling pressure

(kg/sq.cm
Linear (Predicted swelling
pressure (kg/sq.cm)

Measured sw. press (kg/sq.cm)

Figure 3: Comparison of measured/predicted swell pressures.

CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions are drawn from the tests conducted:

Significant correlations exist between the swell pressure and the soil properties, which
revealed a simple regression equation for prediction of swell pressures from easily
determined properties of black cotton soil.

The initial dry density and plasticity index have stronger influence on the swell pressure,
whereas initial water content has little effect on it.

Analyses with high coefficients of multiple determinations confirmed the existence of

strong correlations between the logarithm of swell pressure and the black cotton soil
properties IP, IL and dry.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author is thankful to the following organizations for makings their data available for use
in this study: Kips Engineering, Abuja; In-Depth Engineering Limited, Kaduna.

REFERENCES
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2. ASTM (2008) Test methods for one-dimensional swell or collapse of cohesive soils.
ASTM D4546-08.
Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. L 1739

3. El- Sohby, M.A. and A. R. El-Sayed (1981) Some factors affecting swelling of clayey
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2012 ejge