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You are here: Home / Research / Testing Facilities and Equipments / Consolidation and Swell Testing Systems / 1D – Free Swell Test

1D – Free Swell Test

Description

The one-dimensional free swell test (ASTM D4546-14) is used to measure the free 1-D swell of cohesive soils using a conventional consolidation cell setup. Tests are performed on a compacted specimen in the consolidation cell and then the seating pressure of 1 kPa is applied. During the swell test, the compacted specimen is fully submerged with distilled water in the consolidation cell with a seating load of 1 kPa until the swelling is completed. Results from the test predict the swell characteristics of the soils.

The 1-D free swell test (ASTM D4546-14) is routinely employed in geotechnical engineering practice to assess quantitatively the swelling potential of undisturbed or remolded clays, and to guide the design of surface structures on these soils.

Test Specifications

  • Common Dimensions of Soil Specimens: H 1-inch x D 2.5 inch
  • Seating Pressure: 1 kPa (20lbf/ft 2 )
  • Typical deformation measurement time: 24 to 72 hours (sometimes a few weeks)

Material Properties

The free 1-D swell of cohesive soils

Field Application

  • Design and analysis of soft ground
  • Design of road pavement for expansive soils

Publications

  • Pedarla, Aravind, Anand J. Puppala, Laureano R. Hoyos, and Bhaskar Chittoori. “Evaluation of swell behavior of expansive clays from internal specific surface and pore size distribution.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering142, no. 2 (2016): 04015080.

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