SHRINKAGE GEOMETRY OF A HEAVY CLAY SOIL AT VARIOUS STRESSES

The shrinkage geometry of a clay soil drying from saturation to oven dryness was investigated. Undisturbed samples were taken in the field at various depths and overburden pressures were determined by wet bulk-density determination. Samples were oven dried with various loads applied on top. It appeared that, for each soil layer, shrinkage at overburden pressures equal to or larger than field pressures was isotropic. When the load was removed during drying, subsoil samples showed relatively large cracking in comparison with surface subsidence. -from Author