Foundations on Expansive Soils - 1st Edition | Elsevier Shop
: Typical issues include diagonal cracks in exterior walls, floor slab heaving, and failure of door frames or utility connections.
Expansive soils, often containing minerals like , undergo significant volume changes with varying moisture levels. These soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, exerting massive "uplift pressure" that can easily exceed the dead load of light structures.
Chen’s work outlines several primary methods to mitigate the risks of building on expansive soil: