THE EFFECT OF VARYING DEGREE OF SATURATION ON SETTLEMENT RATE OF COLLAPSIBLE SOILS

Collapsible soil is broadly classified as a loose and cemented soil with low moisture content that is susceptible to a large and sudden reduction in volume upon wetting, with no increase in vertical stress. The rapid collapse of soils damages the structures which have built on such soils. Collapsible soils are one of many problematic soils. Many foundation failure problems that occurred in the world are associated with percolation of water; the change in the degree of saturation can affect the stability of these soils and may encounter large volumetric change. In this study, the derivation of new equations describing the settlement rate of collapsible soil upon inundation with no external loading; with varying degrees of saturations, simulating capillary water rise from the subsurface water Table. The theoretical equations were verified through a series of experimental tests where the modified odometer apparatus was used.