Mitigating Chemical Heave in Las Vegas Area

[moe333]

Hi all,

I am looking for mitigation measures to prevent chemical (water soluble sodium sulfate) heave of floor slab in Las Vegas. Local practice seems to be to provide a thickness of aggregate base below a floor slab if the subgrade soils have a high level of water soluble sodium sulfate. The recommended thickness of aggregate base required seems to vary with percent water soluble sodium sulfate in the subgrade soils.

Does anyone know of a rational method to determine the thickness of aggregate base required to prevent chemical heave based on the percent water soluble sodium sulfate in the subgrade soils?

Thanks