What is the main concern with expansive clays in soils?
The biggest problem in expansive soil areas is that of differential water content. Sources of water in developed areas are not limited to temporal weather cycles, but can be introduced by people. A frequent source of damage is the differential swelling caused by pockets of moist soil adjacent to dry soil.
What are the problems with expansive soils?
Because of this swelling and shrinking behaviour, expansive soils may cause the following problems in structures or construction projects: Structural damage to lightweight structures such as sidewalks and driveways. Lifting of buildings, damage to basements, and building settlement. Cracks in walls and ceilings.
Can you build on blue clay?
George, Utah and Blue Clay – Building On Bad Soil. Specifically, it refers to a bluish purple layer of clay called the Chinle formation. These clays are made up of ultra fine sediments left by ancient lakes and rivers, even volcanic ash.
How do you fix expansive soil?
Traditionally, ineffective & costly methods have been utilized in treating expansive soil. Methods such as removing it completely and replacing it with fill dirt, pre-wetting and pre-swelling the soil and injecting or mixing of lime or other solutions into existing soils.
What causes expansive soils?
Expansive soils swell when exposed to large amounts of water and shrink when the water evaporates. This continuous cycle of wet to dry soil keeps the soil in perpetual motion causing structures built on this soil to sink or rise unevenly, often requiring foundation repair.
Why was blue clay banned?
Blue clay courts at Madrid Open were more slippery than red clay courts. One of the prime reasons for finding fault in the blue clay courts was that it was more slippery than the red clay courts. Adding to the players’ woes, the bounce of the ball was highly uneven.
What is blue clay good for?
Natural Blue Clay also known as “Healing Clay” is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antitumoral, and has been used as a naturopathic remedy for various skin diseases, infections and other bodily ailments. VIDA Blue Clay can be used for: Facial Masks & Spot Treatments for Acne & Oily/Dry Skin.
What kind of soil is blue clay in Utah?
The term “Blue Clay” is most closely related to caliche or bentonite soil. It is more of a broad term referring to any one of a number of expansive soils and clays in Southern Utah.
What are the problems with a clay foundation?
The residential foundation problems are related to volume changes in the clay soils which underlie the house. These particular clay soils have what engineers call a ” high plasticity”.
What causes clay to swell like a sponge?
A change in the moisture content ofa soil can cause clay minerals to swell like a sponge or to lose cohesion and collapse. (Left) Large cracks in soil indicate extensive drying and shrink ingofexpansive clay. This type ofcrack appears during drysea sons. (Photo by RaymondC. Harris) tExpansive (Shrink/Swell) Soils
What happens to clay soil when it is dry?
Clay soils are also like sponges in that when they become wet, they become soft or softer. When dry, they become very hard. Place a heavy load on dry clay soil and it goes nowhere or settles very little. The ground will support a sky-scraper!