Abstract

The bearing capacity of soil is a critical factor in construction engineering, particularly for designing and constructing pavement foundations. It directly depends on the load intensity the soil can support. For Class AA loading conditions, a minimum bearing capacity of 20 t/m² is required. However, the presence of frequent rain and flash floods often reduces the soil's effectiveness due to water saturation. Saturated soil experiences a 50% decrease in bearing capacity, reducing it to approximately 10 t/m². This significant reduction makes the saturated soil unable to withstand the required loading intensity or resist the lateral thrust exerted by floodwaters. Water penetration typically occurs near the road edges, where exposed soil becomes saturated, compromising the foundation of the pavement. In construction engineering, it is well-known that clayey soils are unsuitable for foundational purposes due to their poor drainage characteristics. When exposed to water, clayey soils tend to retain moisture, causing a loss of strength and making them prone to scouring and erosion, which can lead to foundation failure. Therefore, sandy soils are preferred in pavement construction for their superior drainage properties, which allow for the effective removal of water and help maintain the foundation's stability.

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1. Das BM. Principles of Foundation Engineering. 9th ed. Cengage Learning; 2016.
2. Bowles JE. Foundation Analysis and Design. 5th ed. McGraw-Hill; 1996.
3. Coduto DP, Yeung MR, Kitch WA. Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall; 2010.
4. Terzaghi K, Peck RB, Mesri G. Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. 3rd ed. Wiley; 1996.
5. Petry TM, Little DN. Review of stabilization of clays and expansive soils in pavements and lightly loaded structures – History, practice, and future. J Mater Civ Eng. 2002;14(6):447–460.
6. Huang YH. Pavement Analysis and Design. 2nd ed. Pearson; 2003.
7. Moseley MP, Kirsch K. Ground Improvement. 2nd ed. Spon Press; 2004.
8. Broms BB. Foundation Engineering: Soil Mechanics and Foundation Design. Proc ICE Geotech Eng.
9. Guide to Pavement Technology Part 2: Pavement Structural Design. Austroads; 2008.
10. Sivakumar Babu GL, Vasudevan AK. Strength and stiffness response of coir fiber-reinforced tropical soil. J Mater Civ Eng. 2008;20(9):571–577.

Abstract

The bearing capacity of soil is a critical factor in construction engineering, particularly for designing and constructing pavement foundations. It directly depends on the load intensity the soil can support. For Class AA loading conditions, a minimum bearing capacity of 20 t/m² is required. However, the presence of frequent rain and flash floods often reduces the soil's effectiveness due to water saturation. Saturated soil experiences a 50% decrease in bearing capacity, reducing it to approximately 10 t/m². This significant reduction makes the saturated soil unable to withstand the required loading intensity or resist the lateral thrust exerted by floodwaters. Water penetration typically occurs near the road edges, where exposed soil becomes saturated, compromising the foundation of the pavement. In construction engineering, it is well-known that clayey soils are unsuitable for foundational purposes due to their poor drainage characteristics. When exposed to water, clayey soils tend to retain moisture, causing a loss of strength and making them prone to scouring and erosion, which can lead to foundation failure. Therefore, sandy soils are preferred in pavement construction for their superior drainage properties, which allow for the effective removal of water and help maintain the foundation's stability.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Das BM. Principles of Foundation Engineering. 9th ed. Cengage Learning; 2016.
2. Bowles JE. Foundation Analysis and Design. 5th ed. McGraw-Hill; 1996.
3. Coduto DP, Yeung MR, Kitch WA. Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall; 2010.
4. Terzaghi K, Peck RB, Mesri G. Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. 3rd ed. Wiley; 1996.
5. Petry TM, Little DN. Review of stabilization of clays and expansive soils in pavements and lightly loaded structures – History, practice, and future. J Mater Civ Eng. 2002;14(6):447–460.
6. Huang YH. Pavement Analysis and Design. 2nd ed. Pearson; 2003.
7. Moseley MP, Kirsch K. Ground Improvement. 2nd ed. Spon Press; 2004.
8. Broms BB. Foundation Engineering: Soil Mechanics and Foundation Design. Proc ICE Geotech Eng.
9. Guide to Pavement Technology Part 2: Pavement Structural Design. Austroads; 2008.
10. Sivakumar Babu GL, Vasudevan AK. Strength and stiffness response of coir fiber-reinforced tropical soil. J Mater Civ Eng. 2008;20(9):571–577.