SIMPLE TECHNIQUE FOR IDENTIFYING HEAVE POTENTIAL

IDENTIFYING SURFACE HEAVE OF AN EXPANSIVE CLAY IS OF CONSIDERABLE HELP IN SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE FOUNDATION SYSTEM TO AVOID COSTLY DAMAGES TO LIGHT STRUCTURES. A CORRELATION IS DEVELOPED BETWEEN PERCENT SWELL, LIQUID LIMIT, AND DRY UNIT WEIGHT FROM A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF MANY SWELL TESTS PERFORMED IN CONNECTION WITH ROUTINE FOUNDATION INVESTIGATIONS ALONG THE TREXAS-LOUISIANA GULF COAST AREA. EMPIRICAL CRITERIA ARE PRESENTED FOR RECOGNIZING HEAVE POTENTIAL OF THE BEAUMONT CLAY FROM ESTIMATED NEAR-SURFACE SWELL. HIGH HEAVE POTENTIAL SHOULD BE ANTICIPATED WHEN THE NEAR-SURFACE SWELL EXCEEDS ABOUT 4 PERCENT.