Modelling of expansive clay interaction with skeleton structures considering the effect of replacement permeability

• Main Authors: Dalia Abdelmoneim, Mohammed El-Taher, Sherif A.Y. Akl, Hussein H. El-Mamlouk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-06-01
• Series: Ain Shams Engineering Journal
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090447920302550

The present work investigates the interplay between building stiffness and replacement soil thickness and permeability, when an underlying swelling clay layer is subjected to continuous moisture using 3D numerical analysis. Simulations are done using the commercial finite element software ABAQUS, and data of a reference clay (Regina Clay). The swelling of the clay is simulated as a result of water inundation, and not applied as assumed volume strains. An approximate method is used and validated in the analyses to represent dual constitutive variable data of the unsaturated clay in numerical analysis using single constitutive variable formulation available in the software. Results show the effects of replacement thickness and permeability. High permeability replacement is shown to transfer moistening uniformly to underlying clay while at the same time replacing effective clay thickness. Hence, high permeability is better at improving differential deformations; especially when the building is subjected to non-uniform inundation.