Study of the swelling properties of marl samples of the "Morne Delmas" geological formation using indirect and direct methods: Some effects of waste water on these properties

Several cases of cracks in buildings recorded in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince (Haiti) are due to the presenceof swelling clays in calcareous marls of the "Morne Delmas" formation which is a geological formationof the Pliocene. In addition, gaps in the sanitation system due to uncontrolled appropriation of land by a growing population have lead to pollution of soil by domestic and industrial sewage which accentuates the problem of swelling. This article presents the mineralogical and geotechnical methods to character ize the swelling of "Morne Delmas" marl and the impact of wastewater on it.