Facing expansive soil in engineering projects

• Grant number: 18/08376-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2018
• End date: August 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering
• Agreement: Texas A&M University
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Antônio Medeiros Marinho
• Grantee: Fernando Antônio Medeiros Marinho
• Principal researcher abroad: Marcelo Sanchez
• Institution abroad: Texas A&M University, United States
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/22505-5 - Geotechnical behaviour of a stiff sedimentary clay, AP.R

Abstract

Soils with potentially expansive characteristics pose a problem in many engineering works worldwide. When not detected or inappropriately considered, they can cause severe damage to buildings and civil infrastructure. Stress relieve of soil and/or suction change triggered by climatic or anthropogenic actions may induce volumetric variations in this type of soil. These volumetric changes generally cause cracking and other damages in rigid structures built on them, leading to their failure (either structural or functional). In addition, cuts in expansive soils can generate instability problems of various types. Although there is a large bibliography on expansive soils, the proper approach to tackle them in engineering works is still a subject of discussions, current practices generally lead to oversized projects (with the corresponding unnecessary additional costs) or undersized them (with the potential to failures). The present proposal of mobility between researchers from the Universities of São Paulo and Texas A&M, will facilitate that experts with the complementary expertise work together in this very important topic sharing their experiences and efforts to define optimal approaches for engineering projects involving potentially expansive soils. The underlying goal of this initiative is to stablish a long-lasting collaboration between the PIs (and their respective research groups), exploring potential source of funding to maintain a sustainable long-term research interaction. This project also aims at conducting advanced research (taking advantage of the ongoing investigations in this area at both Universities) that will lead to joint publication. The training of students as well the involvement of the industry and stakeholders through the planned seminars and workshops are other important components of this project. (AU)