Premium
Evaluation of Soil Expansion Index from Routinely Determined Geotechnical Parameters
Author(s) -
Yitagesu Fekerte Arega,
Meer Freek,
Werff Harald,
Seged Hadush
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj2010.0420
Subject(s) - atterberg limits , multivariate statistics , mathematics , soil science , soil test , statistics , mean squared error , sieve (category theory) , regression analysis , environmental science , geotechnical engineering , soil water , geology , combinatorics
Correlations are essential to obtain information on soil geotechnical parameters, which are costly and time consuming to measure directly, such as expansion potential. A common procedure for evaluating and rating soil expansion potential is the expansion index (EI) test. The purpose in this study was to establish a multivariate regression model to predict soil EI, thereby classify and rate soil expansiveness. Soil samples were collected from the newly planned expressway connecting the city of Addis Ababa with the town of Nazret in Ethiopia. A regression equation was established from liquid limit (LL), plasticity index (PI), and soil fine fraction (percentage of material passing the ASTM 0.075‐mm sieve aperture), using a partial least squares (PLS) multivariate calibration method. A coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) of 0.92 accompanied with a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 9.87, standard error of performance (SEP) of 9.91, offset of 5.31 and bias of 0.04 was obtained. Response surface models showing three‐way relationships among the predictors (Atterberg limits and fine fraction) and response variable (EI) may serve as classification systems for evaluating soil expansion potential. Apart from its basic scientific value as a simple method for estimating and rating soil expansiveness, the approach has the advantage of employing easily and routinely determined soil properties, to get information on soil expansion potential at minimal cost and time requirements.