ABSTRACT
Severe and widespread damage in residential buildings, sidewalks, and pavements can be caused by the development of heave and swelling pressure in expansive shale. This chapter presents the problems and the geotechnical and physicochemical properties of expansive shale using the middle region of Saudi Arabia as the case study area. Swell tests were conducted under different loading conditions and following different procedures to quantify the amount of vertical swell and swelling pressure. Conventional one-dimensional oedometer swell tests were performed using three different procedures, namely, free swell, constant volume swell, and swell overburden. In addition, swell tests were performed using a stress path triaxial apparatus. Tests under different vertical stresses and confinements were conducted. Vertical swell and swelling pressure obtained from the various methods were compared. The reliability of the different methods for estimation of swelling potential was discussed.
