Characterization of the High Swelling Green Clay in the Vicinity of Amman Area

Jordan is awarded huge areas in the north and western part of the country in which brown and green clay is dominant. This research focuses on the problems and behaviour of the green clay only. The main problem of the green clay is its high swelling pressure which is the main cause of excessive settlement and wall cracks in buildings, especially during the wet season.

This study aims to investigate the engineering properties and behaviour of the green clay deposits in the Amman area, which will serve as a guide for both geotechnical and structural engineers when preparing the foundation design.

Based on the consolidation test, the investigated green clay showed high swelling pressure of 3.11 kg/cm², liquid limit (LL) of 73%, plasticity index (PI) of 40%, the shrinkage limit (SL) of 12%, and liquidity index (LI) of 0.125. The moisture content at saturation is 35.14%, while the natural moisture content is 28%, dry density is 1407 kg/m3, cohesion (C) is 0.20 kg/cm² and unconfined compressive strength is 1.05 kg/cm². The XRD results of the clay size fraction have confirmed the presence of the expansive clay mineral smectite as the essential clay mineral together with kaolinite. Results provide a general understanding of the behaviour and properties of the green clay, and the regression analysis showed good correlations between the liquid limit and initial moisture content with the compression index and also between the initial void ratios with the swelling index.

Changes in the volume are due to the unsaturation level of clay when provided with initial water content.