Effect of external hydraulic head on swelling of unsaturated clay

Laboratory testing of the one-dimensional swell of soil (usually unsaturated clay) is generally performed according to ASTM standard D4546. The standard procedure requires that "the specimen is inundated with test water and the one-dimensional wetting-induced swell or collapse strain is measured". This procedure undoubtedly provides an upper limit to the swell which may be expected under field conditions, and may be relevant to cases in which low lying areas are expected to be inundated as a result of a wetting episode. However, in other cases, wetting of the soil may result from less extreme conditions - for example absorption of water from underlying, wetted layers, or soaking of the lower portion of a swelling layer and resultant upward wetting due to suction forces. The present paper describes a laboratory investigation of the effect of external hydraulic head on swell. The results demonstrate the importance of applying test conditions consistent with those expected in the field situation.