A New Empirical Model for Evaluating the Swelling Rate Behaviour of Test Data Clay Soils Containing Different Amounts of NaCl and KCl Solutions

Sodium and Potassium Chloride are used in several places worldwide to melt snow covering the ground. The site soil section may include clayey soils that are potentially volume-changing due to variations in water content. This phenomenon can cause the uplifting and settlement of structures and roads, resulting in considerable damage. Sodium- or Potassium-Chloride solutions that penetrate the ground influence the swelling and swelling pressure of clayey soil. A new mathematical model for describing the swelling rate of clayey soils was developed from test data observations and expressed as a function of the logarithm of time. The model is divided into two different consecutive sub-models corresponding to two modes of adsorption: (i) a first mode, shorter and rapid, (ii) a second mode, longer and slower. Those two modes may be confirmed by the matric/osmotic theory of clay swelling. The two sub-models have two different mathematical expressions. The research included a comparison of the new model analysis with laboratory test results. The tests were performed using two clayey soils, Ariel and Senneck clays, containing different amounts of Sodium and Potassium Chloride solutions. For the Ariel and Senneck clays, Potassium Chloride solutions are more effective at reducing swelling than Sodium solutions. The research results demonstrate that the new model accurately represents the time-dependent swelling behavior of clayey soils under various Sodium and Potassium Chloride solutions.