Repair of Distressed Slab-on-Grade Foundation

We know black cotton soil is a problem soil as it has destructive properties of expanding and shrinkage. It has great affinity to moisture. When it found moisture, it expands to cause enough foundation problems to building structures.

Our aim of this post is to provide a repair method to make serviceable a slab on grade foundation, distressed by black cotton soil, with constructing and designing and properly connecting a structural slab.

This discussion are completed in five consecutive parts. These are:

Source: http://civil-engg-world.blogspot.com

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Part-1	Part-2	Part-3	Part-4         Part-5

HEAVING MECHANISM OF BLACK COTTON SOIL

Clay minerals in black cotton soil expands and seeks more space as the soil mass get saturated with moisture. This process generates pressure exerted in all directions. The direction and magnitude of soil movement will depend upon the magnitude of the confining pressure at any particular point of resistance. Soil movement will be minimized where confining pressures are the largest while movement will be greatest where the magnitude of the confining pressure is the smallest. Molecular structure of black cotton soil is explained in previous post.

Read More: HEAVE VS CONFINING PRESSURE IN BLACK COTTON SOIL