Free swell of compacted plastic soils

Compacted soils are used in engineering practice due to their higher strength and low permeability. However, when they come in contact with water, such soils may swell and pose significant threats to structures. This paper presents and discusses the data from a series of oedometer tests, in which the potential swell of 26 natural soils compacted to their maximum dry density, and optimum water content was studied. The obtained results were analysed to establish the relationships between the swelling characteristics and geotechnical properties of soils. Drawing on the experimental outcomes and available literature, a new chart and expansion criteria, which would allow engineers to quickly estimate the swelling potential of compacted soils based on their field placement conditions, were proposed and discussed.