A laboratory model study related with the determination of gypsum column performance in treatment of expansive soils

The most important soil behaviour in order to consider in foundation designs of specially light structures built on clay soils is swelling properties of the soil and accordingly soils heave which occurs on soil surface. For this reason, in surveys related to this kind of soils, it is quite important to determine the swelling properties of soils and appropriate stabilisation methods. Literature contains a vast number of stabilising techniques such as; lime, cement, fly ash, bitume and resin for treatment of expansive soils. Financial perspective of these techniques is very important. Therefore, the primary purpose is low cost for the best treatment. In this study, a laboratory model study was conducted in order to determine the performance of gypsum column technique on treatment of clay soils. For this purpose, gypsum column was built in a field model which built in the laboratory and the changes on swelling of the soil was determined depending on the distance from the column. By using the obtained model data, the performance of gypsum column technique was analyzed and discussed.