ABSTRACT
Classification of dry soils into collapsible and swelling soils, and identifying the undesirable deformation will help in avoiding possible damage for the structure. In this study charts were constructed using data from 72 prepared soil samples to relate sand-clay and silt-clay unsaturated soils to collapsible and swelling behaviour upon wetting, and to evaluate the swelling pressure if any. Ten undisturbed soil samples taken from five different geographic locations were chosen to investigate the validity of the proposed charts for predicting the soil behaviour upon wetting. The study emphasises the importance of soil fabric on the swelling and collapsible behaviour of arid soils.
