An investigation of the Nanyang swelling clays

Abstract

Swelling clays are widely distributed in the area to the south of the Fu-Niu Mountain Range, in the Nanyang Basin, Henan Province, PRC. The clays are damaging to buildings, railways, highways, and hydraulic structures, due to their unusual properties. This paper presents some results of studies on Nanyang Clays based on site investigation and engineering practice. It describes the formation and distribution, mineral composition and cation exchange, structural characteristics, the shrinking and swelling index, the Variation of strength related to dimension effects, anisotropy, gradual reduction, cycling of expansive and shrinking and time effect.