ACTIVE SOILS OF TRINIDAD: THEIR IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION By KV. Ramanat ‘ABSTRACT Soils which exhibit volume changes with variation in thelr motsture content are termed active soll. The 6s 365 >50 <3 <2 Low 50-70 2-5 Median 70-50 5-10 High >90 >10 ery High ‘Alt ie of er parents Sl presen dere of pin *seagenoe= ge at seage . “Taba 9: MoaliegVosion of USBR Ciasanton sedimentation tests, for quick assessment in (qualtaive tems, a modified platy chan (Fig. 7) Isalso presented which involves detemnination of only lig Limit and plasticity index. This chat isexpected to have promising aplication in the local content ‘The modified form of Vander Merwe's chart is presented in Fig 8. The histograms resulting fom the application of the modified versions of the (wo classification sytems chosen, show a good agreement ‘withthe loca lasification (Fig. 6 and Fig 8) 6.0 CONCLUSION From the foregoing analysis, the following eonclusions are drawn 1. The classification systems reported in Iiterature are applicable 10 reglons of a pancular climatic condition and geological ‘environment. Perhaps they are also pertinent to a particular structure in view, AS was revealed in this analysis, these systems if applied to other repions of diferent climatic and geological conditions, the results may be erratic and deceive. Therefore theres need 10 develop rational systems of eusificaton ‘of expansive soils based onthe regional basis taking ino account the eompastion of ois, cxpecially the type of clay. mineral, Inydrlogical condons and soll profile evelopment ‘A selected system ofclasiicaton from the ‘erature can be adpted in te local context provided its validity is tested. withthe local, data as is dove’ in the eae of USBR and ‘Vander Merwe chars. 10 3. Amouified plasticity chan is presented a 2 ‘Semple and Useful tol for local expansive soils, Since swell measurements a Iaborstoris are ot guided by a common standard procedure, variations in the tst procedure and eiteria used may bringin several uncenainies. 9 view of this, the laboratory swell messure- ments comlated with Index and other roperies should be intespreted only 35 more ‘uidelins or indices of potential expasiveness. Hence they are useful only ss preliminary assessment procedures. ‘Systems that predict penal expaniveness fare based on soil volume changes from ‘nsitu moisture content to saturated conditions. Ans moisture content likely to vary from time to time, such systems can underestimate or overesimate_ expansive. ness depending onthe nikal moistr conten. ‘A more rational approach would be to asest ‘on the basis of maximum swell that the soi ‘wouldexperience stating at the minimum value of te in-situ molsure content 10 saturated conditions. For less important structures such as residential buildings, wherein a small buldet cannot resor toa comprebensive analysis, 2 ‘quinitative method, based on index properties and consolidometer swell ets may ‘be quite useful. However, the design of ‘ructure should stil be deemed nly a8 semi ‘empirical, because these test results donot‘West ncn Journal of Engineering, Volume 1, No 5, uy 195 i 2 (P1y00.21(44)-13. Beg al aed 20 y Figwe 7: Medios Panicly Ghat 8 Plasticity Index.4 cloy fraction,& ‘Fig &: Moca Vrson ot Vander Merwe Gar17 tocei criteria [IE roeitiea van b= tow Ro Hign gure 6: Horan comparing Degree ot Expansion ‘tea Sie ah ostos Vander Merwe Chat se 10 the actual active depth, sil profile, ec. If the structure is of imponance, & ‘comprehensive evaluation if required fora ‘more relible design procedure. This approach