DESICCATED

SOIL

SEMINER PRESENTATION
NAME :- PARYANYA DEV GOSWAMI
CLASS :- BCE III

JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY

ROLL :- 000910401053

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING &

TECHNOLOGY

CONCERNED SUPERVISOR
& GUIDE :- PROF. R. B. SAHU

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING

PRESENTATION PLAN :i.

Introduction .

ii.

What is desiccation ?

iii.

Driscolls formula (Clay Desiccation) .

iv.

Causes of Desiccation .

v.

Swelling behaviour of desiccated clay .

vi.

Damages by Soil Desiccation .

vii. Remedial Measures .

viii. Conclusion .

Introduction: Public knowledge of subsidence .

Concept of desiccation .
1975 drought .
The influence of vegetation on the swelling and

shrinking of desiccated soils (RICHARD

DRISCOLL , 1980).
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What is desiccation ?

Desiccant - a hygroscopic (attracts and holds water)

substance .

Desiccation , is the state of extreme dryness, or the

process of extreme drying (that is drier than in its
natural state).
A lower moisture
content than the soils natural / equilibrium moisture
content.
BRE Digest 412 ( w < 0.4wL ) .
Significant desiccation.
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Driscolls formula :i.

If the moisture content of clay soil exceeds 50% of its

liquid limit then there is no desiccation.

ii.

At 50% natural moisture content the onset of desiccation

occurs and below 40% the soil sample attains significant
desiccation.

iii.

Significant desiccation can also be identified if the

actual moisture content is less than the plastic limit
plus 2 % , although this is a less reliable indicator
with increasing unreliability for soils with higher plastic
limits .
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Causes of desiccation :i. Effect of vegetation :A line of trees, or a single tree, is likely to affect the
water content of the soil ,clearly showing the
persistent desiccation of the soil around the trees
and vegetal covers.

ii.

Natural Moisture Content :-

Desiccation and the associated clay shrinkage

process occurs due to any reduction in the clays
natural moisture content .
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Swelling behaviour of desiccated clay : Vertical and Volumetric Swell Potentials of Desiccated

Specimens .
vertical swell potential = (h /
hshrunken )
volumetric swell potential = e/
(1+eshrunken)
For as compacted soil specimens vertical and volumetric

swell potentials are equal .

The dry densities of all desiccated specimens vary within

a narrow range of 1.6 to 1.8 Mg/m3.

(Pre-inundation dry densityswell potential relations for

compacted and desiccated.
specimens: Compaction water
content = hygroscopic water
content )

Damages by Soil Desiccation :

Damages in
domestic
properties .

Soils are subjected to very high shrinkage

stresses , often of the order of 1000 kPa .

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DESICCATION CRACKS
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Subsidence as it affects buildings is usually

the
result of soil desiccation or drying out.

Subsidence of soil
in ARIZONA

subsidence crack
in structure

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Remedial Measures : Remote boreholes

SHORTCOMINGS

Removal of trees

Underpinning

SHORTCOMINGS
Inundation in water
Discussion with household insurer
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Conclusion : The volumetric swell potentials .

The vertical swell potentials .
Subsidence .
Other Damages .

This is a serious issue.

But as it is a natural phenomena we cant stop it . So we
must have to control it.
Because Prevention

than cure..

is better
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REFERENCES: Clay Desiccation Demystified -COURTESY (CILA).

Desiccation of soil by vegetation and potential interaction with

buildings a field study.- by G. E. Blight .

LABORATORY AND FIELD DETERMINATION OF

PRECONSOLIDATION PRESSURES AT GLOUCESTER by S.

LEROUEILL , SAMSONA , N. D. M. BOZOZUK.
Prediction of Consolidation Properties of Partially Saturated Clays

by M. D Sarma & D. Sarma

Swelling Behavior of a Desiccated Clay - by K. S. Subba Rao,

Sudhakar M. Rao and S. Gangadhar.

TREES and SUBSIDENCE COURESY (Countryside Advisory

Note .)
Structural Development in Surficial Heavy Clay Soils : A Synthesis of

Mechanics by J . K. Kodikara , S.L.Barbour , D.G.Fredlund .

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THANK
YOU
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