Absorption limit of kaolinitic and montmorillonitic soils

ABSTRACT

Engineering behaviour of soils depends on the water present in it, which in turn depends on its capacity to absorb water. This property of soils may specifically be useful in predicting the performance of highways pavements. A simple method to predict water absorption capacity of soils through any of their index properties considering the factors influencing it would be beneficial, not only for preliminary assessment of its influence on soil behaviour and performance of structure, but also aid to take preventive measures to alter this property of soil before use. From the results of this study, it was found that both types of clay minerals as well as drying have an influence on their water absorption limit. It also has a good relation with their respective liquid limits, being lesser for kaolinitic soils than the montmorillonitic soils; and it is more for air-dried samples than the oven-dried samples, irrespective of the type of clay mineral.

KEYWORDS:

• Absorption
• clays
• mineralogy
• pavements

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This part of the experimental work was self-supported by the authors.