Volume 1, Issue 1 — Year 2024 — Article e100007

ISSN (Online): 3115-8129 Biannually

Physicomechanical Analysis of Swelling Clay Formations in the Southern Region of Urmia Lake, Iran

Article Type: Research
Pages: e100007
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22034/CGEL.1.1.e100007
Crossmark
Open Access
Authors
Affiliations
  1. Soil Science Department, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
Corresponding author
Email: maryamgolnezad@gmail.com
Received: 2 July 2024 / Accepted: 15 July 2024 / Published: 25 August 2024
Abstract

The swelling potential of fine-grained soils is a critical factor influencing the engineering and agricultural design of foundations, as it can cause significant expansion-related issues. This study investigates the swelling potential of clayey soils in the southern region of Urmia Lake, located in East Azerbaijan Province, NW Iran. A comprehensive set of laboratory tests was conducted on 125 soil samples collected from 25 distinct locations. The analyses included assessments of physicochemical properties, soil classification according to the USDA system, and clay mineralogical composition. Regression analysis was employed to develop predictive formulas for swelling potential based on laboratory indices, including water absorption, porosity, density, specific gravity (Gs), sulfate (SO4-) and chloride (Cl-) concentrations, pH, Casagrande limits, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, and clay content. The results revealed that the studied soils, classified as clay, clay loam, and silty clay, exhibit swelling potentials ranging from moderate to high. This research provides valuable insights for designing stable structures and optimizing land use in the region.

Keywords

Swelling clay, Urmia Lake, Physicomechanical properties, Soil stability, Land-use

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available within article. No publicly archived dataset was generated.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Highlights
  • Clay soils show moderate to high swelling potential
  • Regression models predict swelling from soil properties
  • Results support stable design and land-use planning
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How to cite
Golnezhad, M. (2024). Physicomechanical Analysis of Swelling Clay Formations in the Southern Region of Urmia Lake, Iran. Civil and Geoengineering Letters, 1(1), e100007. https://doi.org/10.22034/CGEL.1.1.e100007
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