Field and laboratory investigation of an expansive soil site in Melbourne

Abstract

Expansive soils undergo heave and settlement due to soil moisture changes, causing differential movement to light weight structures built on them. These movements may be significant when extreme weather conditions such as prolonged droughts are encountered. Indeed, there have been major concerns regarding footing movements and cracks in houses in Victoria following the breaking of the last prolonged drought experienced in the late 90s to early 2000s. As part of an ongoing research project at Swinburne University of Technology on damage to residential structures due to ground movements, a field site was established in a western suburb of Melbourne. In situ soil moisture variation and correspo..