This paper reports the results of the analysis of the damage undergone by a school building constructed on a clayey slope at S. Arcangelo (Southern Italy). Differential uplift due to swelling of the foundation clay soil was hypothesized to be the cause of the observed damage. Actually, to build the school, the slope was excavated for about 11 m, thus producing both a decrease in stress and exposure to rain of the inner clay formation. Consequently, swelling pressure of the foundation soil has probably increased, becoming higher than the normal stresses transmitted by the overlying building structure. This interpretation is consistent with the observed damage and with the results of laboratory tests carried out to evaluate swelling and swelling pressure of the clay due to exposure to a fluid simulating rain water.
Structural damage caused by swelling of the foundation soil: a case history
DI MAIO, Caterina;VASSALLO, ROBERTO;CAPUTO, Vincenzo
2015-01-01
Abstract
This paper reports the results of the analysis of the damage undergone by a school building constructed on a clayey slope at S. Arcangelo (Southern Italy). Differential uplift due to swelling of the foundation clay soil was hypothesized to be the cause of the observed damage. Actually, to build the school, the slope was excavated for about 11 m, thus producing both a decrease in stress and exposure to rain of the inner clay formation. Consequently, swelling pressure of the foundation soil has probably increased, becoming higher than the normal stresses transmitted by the overlying building structure. This interpretation is consistent with the observed damage and with the results of laboratory tests carried out to evaluate swelling and swelling pressure of the clay due to exposure to a fluid simulating rain water.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
