Heave prediction with filter paper soil suction testing 1

[soils212]

We are starting to see more interest in heave prediction using the filter paper soil suction test. Are there papers or spreadsheets out there which present the procedure? Taking the lab data to predicted numbers.

 

[TDAA]

Get ready to spend some serious money. I worked for a firm that had the set up in one lab. It takes a very controlled environment and a very accurate scale. We had found that it was more useful in forensic work than for day to day investigations, since a 1D test result told you what you needed for design work.

The advantage to the suction test is that you could get a sense of how much more a soil might swell, AND the time it might take; thus you can estimate when it might be appropriate to perform repairs (if not underpinning).

Perko, H. A. (1996). “Predicting Remaining Heave and the Time Rate of Heave by the Hyperbolic Method”, Colorado State University Technical Report, Fort Collins, CO.

 

[soils212]

Thanks do you know if the Perko technical report is available? I did a quick search and did not get good results. I agree the set up for testing is expensive. We will need to have a big demand before we set up in our lab.