;J

,
~

.1

TECHNICAL

Puvvadi

NOTE

V. Sivapullaiah..l

REFERENCE:

Sivapullaiah,

Subba, "Modified
Journa/, GTJODJ.

F~
Vol,

Thallak

p, V"

Sitharam,

G. Sitharam,l

T. G"

and Kanakapura

The method suffers from certain limitations:

(1) it is difficult to
measure the volume of soil exactly to 10 cmJ (the volume is highly
sensitive to the hygroscopic moisture and the method of pouring ..

and Rao, K, S,

SweUlndex
for Clays," G..ot,'ch,,;clll
10, No_, 2, June 1987, pp. 80-85,

Test;"g

into the cylinder) and (2) kaolinitic clay has been observed to result
in a negative fJee swell percentage [121 because its volume in water
is less than in air. The differential
free swell test suggested in Indian Standard (IS) Code Determination
of Free Swell Index of
Soils (2720). Part (XU ( 1977). tries to eliminate the uncertainty in

ABSTRAcr:
Free swell tests are commonly used for identifying expansive clays and to predict the swelling potential. The method as proposed
by Holtz and Gibbs suffers from inaccuracies in volume measurement
of dry powder in air. In this paper. a nondimensional
modified free
swell index is proposed. which removes the uncertainties
prescnt in the
Hollz and Gibbs method. The modified free swell index is sho"n to bear
unique corTelations with liquid limit (volume basis) and percent s,,'ell of
oedometer

specimens

KEYWORDS:
tests.

pore

soil
fluids.

compacted
tests.

10 proctor

s"elling

laboratory

oplimum

index.

tests.

swell

expansive

measuring the volume of soil. In this test. two specimens of 10 9

each oven dried soil passing through a 425-jlm sieve are taken. One
specimen is poured into a loo-mL jar of kerosene or carbon te-

conditions.
solids.

free

S. Subba Raol

trachloride (CCI4). The other specimen is poured into a lOO-mL jar

of distilled water. The final volume of soil in each cylinder is noted
and the differential free swell index is given by

swell

potential

The free swell test is one of the most commonly used simple tests
in the field of geotechnical engineering for getting an estimate of
soil swelling potential [I]. This test is performed by pouring 10 cmJ
of dry soil through a sieve or aperture size 0.42 mm into a loo-cmJ
graduated jar filled with water. noting the s"'elled volume or the

differential

free swell index,

% =

v,,-

V,

x 100

V,
where

soil after it comes to rest. Then the free swell is given by

V d = the volume of the soil specimen read from the graduate

FS

:=

v-v
---!.

cylinder containing distilled water and

V, = the volume of the soil specimen read from the graduated

100

v-

cylinder

c;:ontaining kerosene or CCI..

where
Even this procedure yields negative values in the case of kaolin-

FS = the free swell, "!0,

V = the soil volume after swelling,

ite, because of the behavior of kaolinite when it occupies a higher

sediment volume in a nonpolar solvent than in polar solvent. This

cmJ, and

Vo = the volume of dry soil. 10 cmJ.

Several other methods of estimating

swelling potential

has also been reported by Sridharan et al. [121. Even the nonpolar
solvents are known to complex with clay minerals [13-/5],
and

have also

thus the base for volume measurement

been suggested by investigators [2-5]. This paper is concerned only

with the free swell test as suggested by Holtz and Gibbs 11] and
attempts to improve the test by eliminating its inherent limitations.
Though the free swell percentage is indicative of the expansive
nature of soil 11.6-9]. it has been observed to not be as reliable as
Atterberg

limits in indicating

the swelling characteristics

'Scientific officer. research scholar. and professor. respectively.

gineering Department.
Indian Institute
of Science. Bangalore

is not invarient.

The above ambiguities can be avoided if the swelling potential is

expressed as the swollen volume per gram of soil in any solvent
[12, 16, /71. Moreover, herein a nondimensional modified free swell
index is proposed. which removes the earlier mentioned uncertainties and also shows better correlations with engineering properties

110-11].

of soils.
The modified

Civil En560 012.

free swell index is given by

modified

free swell index =

v-

v.
v.

India.

@ 1987 by the American

0149-6115/87/00()6.0080$02.50

80

Society for Testing and Materials

SIVAPULLAIAH

V = the soil volume after swelling and

VI = the mlume of soil solids = WI/GI"(...
where

soils. Liquid limit tests with various pore fluids were determined
using the cone penetration method (British Standard (BS) Meth-

w, = the weight of dry soil,

ods of Tests for Soil for Civil Engineering

G, = the specific gravity of solids. and

"Yw= the unit weight of water .

ume of soil solids. SInce the densities of solvent and the soil solid
vary, these variations were taken into account by converting the
values from a weight basis to a volume basis.
In the second series of experiments, one-dimensional consolidation tests were co!1ducted on specimens 76 mm in diameter and 20
mm in height. The initial state of the consolidation specimens pre-

slowly to a lOO-mL jar containing

dis-

tilled water. If swelling in any other solvent is needed, that solvent

can be used in place of distilled water. For highly expansive clays,
like bentonite. a lesser weight of dry soil, say 3 to S g, may be used
to contain the swollen volume within

pared by static compaction corresponds to proctor optimum conditions. A moisture equilibrium

time of two weeks was allowed before the specimens were compacted. Table 3 gives the details of

I OO-mL jar. or else, the same

lO-g dry soil could be used with a higher capacity

measuring jar .

specimen conditions.

The testing procedure adopted for determining

swollen volume
was as follo..-s: IO-g oven dried clay powder was transferred into a
distilled

water or any other or-

determines

soils in different

experiments establishes correlations

dex with other soil properties.

recorded

I;hange in thickness
swell

X
:_,.,-,

the modified free swell

The modifted free swell index test as described

as

percent

100

.L'_'

The recorded values of percent swell {oedometer}

solvents. The second series of

of the modified

ring was coated

which generally took place in about 15 days, the percent swell was

ganic solvent. The suspensions were repeatedly stirred for thor.

ough mixing and allowed to settle. The cylinders were then stoppered and left undisturbed. At the end of 24 h. the sediment vol.
ume or swollen volume was measured against the graduations of
the jar, In the case of expansive bentonite. the initial dry weight of
the specimen was only J g,
The first series of experiments

The inside of consolidation

with silicone grease to minimize the side friction. Water or any

dther desired solvent was then poured into the cell, and the specimen was allowed to swell under a nominal surcharge of 6.1 kPa.
The solvents, other than water, used in this investigation replace
the water initially present in the pore spaces during the swelling
process. When the specimen reached its equilibrium
in swelling,

Experiments

IOO-mL graduated jar containing

Purposes (1377-1975).

The liquid limit in this investigation has been expressed on a volume basis, that is, as the ratio of volume of the solvent to the vol-

The method of obtaining the modified free swell index therefore

consists of fiDding the swollen volume of a known quantity of oven
dry soil. A dry weight of lO-g natural soil is suggested for the test.

index for different

61

gravities and the liquid limits are also shown. As mentioned earlier, kaolinite shows negative values of free swell percentage or differential free swell index (percent). Negative values are not possible
either in the free swell index or modified free swell index.
Table 2 summarizes the results of all the tests conducted on

where

The soil can be transferred

ET AL. ON A FREE SWELL INDEX

are listed in Ta-

ble 3.

free swell inResults and Discussion

abo\'e was per-

rormed on different soils. both natural and commercially available

clays. Aluminum hydroxide gel also has been !ncluded since it is
found invariwly
in all soils. Different solvents. water. benzene,

In Fig. 1, the liquid limit (volume basis 0/0) and percentage free
swell (Holtz and Gibbs) are plotted. No definite correlation is visible mainly on account of aluminum hydroxide gel (Tests 17, 18.

ethanol, methanol, dimethylsulfoxide

(DMSO),
dimethylforma.
mide (DMF). dioxane. and different concentrations
of sodium
chloride salt solutions. have been used. Table 1 summarizes the

and 19). In Fig. 2, the modified free swell index has be~n used instead of the percent free swell index. A clear and unique relation-

results of S\\-dJ tests in water. Free swell percentage. differential

free swell index (percent), free swell index, and the modified free
swell index ~

given in different

columns of the table. The specific

TABLE

Test

2
3
4
S
6
7

Type

of

Soil

Specific Gravity
of Solids

l-Resu/ts

of swell

Liquid Limit.
Volume basis .'0

tests

in

water.

Percent Free
Swell (Holtz)
and Gibbs)

2.61

133.5

2.78

95.0

0
9.5

2.58

152.0

2.56

330.0

2.50

535.0

10.5

2.85

295.0

110.0

2.87

968.0

Differential
Free Swell.

-31.00
-9.10
0

210.0

3650

Free

"1.

Swell

Index.

cmJ/g

1.25
1.0
1.2
4.0

1.82
91.00
2500.00

7.0
2.1
37.5

Modified
Free
Swell!ndex
2.26
1.78
1.90
6.70
17.80
5.00
106.60

,.
r

82

GEOTECHNICAL

TESTING JOURNAL

T ABLE

2-Resu/ts

of free swel/ tests conducted

with their liquid

Liquid

Test

Soil

I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

18
19
20
21
22
23

ii

1"

2.: ~6
S.! IS
2./ !0
2.; !6
2.' 13
2./ !0
2.; !6
3.' 10

bentonite
bentonite
bentonite
bentonite
bentonite
bentonite
beotonite
bentonite

water
DMSO
DMF
methanol
ethanol
acetone
benzene
dioxane

968.0
328.4
325.0
266.2
257.0
279.0
213.0
197.0

36S0.0
164.3
!7!.4
!7!.4
7!.4
50.0
50.0
78.6

106"/ )
S.<)4
5.1!2
5.1!2
3.: 10
2.. 77
2." 77
3.' '8

535
356.3
445.7
325.4
435.0
667.2
423.7

!0.5
-0.40
0.0
!iO.O
420.0
!300.0
3SS.0

17.' 75
9.( )
IS," 7
6.',75
13"~'3
39.1 18
10.' 18

353.3

264.0

8.20

121.2
124.6
125.3
136.8

0.0
0.0
4.0
20.0

2.26
2.26
2.40
2.92

134.6

16.0

2.78

110.0
0.0
9.5
209.0

5.0
1.78
1.90
6.70

hydroxide
hydroxide
hydroxide

gel
gel
gel

30

black cotton soil

red earth
chlorite
muscovite mica

32

10;. orthophosphoric
acid solution
4"/. orthophosphoric
acid solution
water
water
water
water

T ABLE

Test
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Type

of

Soil

kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite
bentonite
bentonite
bentonite
bentonite
black cotton soil

acid

10;. orthophosphoric
acid solution
40;. orthophosphoric
acid solution
I N NaCI solution
0.1 N NaCI solution
0.01 N NaCI solution

kaolinite

33

water
rormamide
1"/. orthophosphoric
I N NaCI solution
0.1 N NaCI solution
0.01 N NaCI solution

29

31

Modified Free
S~.ell Index

0.0
!!0.0
!0.0
0.0
5.0
!0.0
0.0
35.0

28

27

Percent F~
Swell
(Holtz and Gibbs)

133.5
314.5
165.7
152.2
155.3
160.4
160.3
170.4

kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite

26

solHnts.

water
DMSO
DMF
methanol
ethanol
acetone
dioxane
benzene

bentonite
25

"J.

Basis)

in different

kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite
kaolinite

aluminum
aluminum
aluminum
bentonite
bentonite
bentonite
bentonite

17

Limit.

(Volume

Solvent

limit

3-Results

Solvent

Optimum Water
Content, .'0

water
DMSO
DMF
ethanol
dioxane
DMSO
DMF
benzene
dioxane
water

26.4
26.4
26.4
26.4
26.4
31.0
31.0
31.0
31.0
33.0

295.0
95.0
152.0
330

of oedomeler

Optimum
Density.

Dry
(g/cmJ)

1.45
1.45
1.45
1.45
1.45
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.23

teStS.

Percent

Swell

(Oedometer)

4.2
36.8
6.0
2.5
5.1
34.0
37.6
11.2
16.2
30.0

Percent Free Swell

(Holtz Gibbs)

Modified
Free
Swell Index

0.0
110.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
164.3
171.4
50.0
78.6
110.0

2.26
5.85
2.60
2.43
2.26
5.6
5.8
2.8
3.5
5.0

;-

SIVAPULLAIAH

ET AL. ON A FREE SWELL INDEX

83

"""'-',--'--'
,...~.."'

.,~,-=r

laX>r
.9

!
8001

22
.

~ 6001
617

;~
e

.21

Figur~s
number

I LOOI .

.B~ntonlt

i~33
11.. r.30
13.

200

.12

A.lb
~

-100 O

.Red

l-Relationship

cotton

800

between

earth

1600

the percent

free

id~ gel

soil

Chlorite

.Muscovite
X I
Blac,k

Prrcent
FIG.

hydrox

Black

Mica
cotton, soi(

(Sa,xena

swell

SWRI(
(Holtz

( Holtz
and

Gibbs)

~tial.1977),

'000

3200

21.00
frer

test

..Aluminium

indicate

Kaolinit~

.15
,

closR to thR symbol5

shown
in table
2

Gibbs
and

the

)
liquid

limit.

% I

6;

84

GEOTECHNICAL

TESTING JOURNAL

1000 I

~~

8001

In
In
IG
.0

~ 600
E
"
0
~
~

17!

.E

j '001
f3

Figur~close
test

to

numbQr

the

symbols

shown

indicate

in table

.Bentonite
2001

Kaollnit~

&

Aluminium

Black

.Red
1001

20

2-R~lation.fhip

Chtorl

.I

Muscoyltvmic~

b~tween th~ modifi~d

weight volume relations as observed in the experiments.

For 10cmJ volume in air, the oven dry weights of kaolinite, bentonite, and
aluminum
hydroxide gel are 8, 10, and 1.6 g, respectively. The
also affects the volume of dry soil in air; for

example, it was observed in the experiment for the same 10-g dry
weight of bentonite, the poured volume varied from 8 to II cmJ. It
is precisely for this reason that the earlier definition of free swell in
terms of volume has been changed in this paper to weight basis.
Figure 3 shows the percentage free swell (Holtz and Gibbs) versus percent swell (oedometer) index. The initial conditions of all
the specimens corresponded to proctor optimum.
The scatter of
points in the figure only confirms

the earlier observation

[1,6] that

no correlations exists between the two. On the contrary, the modified free swell index is seen to bear a straight line relationship with
percent swell (oedometer) as shown in Fig. 4.
The reasons for the percentage free swell (Holtz and Gibbs) not
showing any correlation either with the liquid limit or with the perCf'nt swell (oedometer) can be attributed
to (I) the variations of
~eight and density of soil solids and solvents and (2) the inherent
difficulty in measuring the exact volume of dry soil powder, particularly since small quantities
r;

limit.

are involved.

% (volum~

ba.fisJ.

80 r-

FigurtS

-701
..
-;
~

~
0

clost

ttst

';
~
-

to

numbtr

tho

symbols

shown

in

cotton

soil

.,d,cott

tobIt

.Bontonitt
0

60

Kool,nlt.

.Block
X

method of pouring

I
100

ind~x

free .fwe// ind~x and th~ liquid

sis). This clearly establishes the soundness of the definition of the

modified free swell index. It is interesting to note the approximate

j
~

I
80

sw~11

ship becomes apparent, that is, over the entire range of soil types,
the liquid limit is from 30 to 4()()"!0 (on a conventional weight ba-

te

60
fr~c

g~1

soil

earth

'0
Modifi~d

FIG.

hydroxide

cotton

SO

So.tno

otol

.Mohon

(1911)

(1951)

c
~ '0

o
Q.

-~2

.6
.,.

301

201

) J
_0
0 ,"'
o

,
I

.x
x
Xx

x
x

~
100
P.rc.nt

I
200
fr..

sw.11 (Holtz

FIG. J-Re1ationship
between the percentj1ff
and the"
s..oell (oedometer).

I
JOO

I
LOO

t. G;bbS)
swell (Holtz

and Gibbs)

SIVAPULLAIAH
80
Figru.s
t.st

close
number

to th.
shown

symbols

TABLE

indicet.

in t abl.

Kaolinit.

Black

potential

based an tlr~ modifi~dfre~

Liquid Limit. %
(Volume Basis}

.B.ntonit.
0

4-Swelling

ET AL. ON A FREE SWELL INDEX

soil

~
~

200

to

400

400

to

550

swriI index.

Modified F~
.,SWell Index

SweJling
Potential

<2.5
2.5 to 10.0
10.0 to 20.0
>20.0

<200

cotton

>550

negligible
mlxierate
high
v~.

-;
E
o
."
~
0

Refe~nces

~
J
.

c
~
~
.
0.

1
0

[1]

Modili.d

FIG. 4-R..luliollsllip

b..I"

Ir..

--

Holtz,

W. G. and Gibbs:

H. J., "Engi~g

Properties

Cius,'.
Proceeding-s of IV ARC 011 S.\l GIld FE. Vol. I. Bangkok.
Thailand,
1971, pp. 391-395.
[51 Anderson,
J. N. and Lade. P. V., ..The Expansion
Indcx Test...
Geotechnical
Te-sting Journol. Vol. 4, No.2. June 1981, pp- 58-67.
(6] Mohan. D.. "Consolidation
and Strength Cbaracteristics
01 Indian
Black Cotton Soils," Proceeding-s of the IV Int"national
c-jerellce
on SM and FE. Vol. I. London. 1957. pp- ;4-76.

sw.11

1I III" modifi"d

10

12

ind.x

fr""

s"."l/ ind..x and pt'rc,,111

s-l/lo.edom""'r).

( 7] Kinsky. J., Frydmann.

ent Dielectric Liquids

S.. and Zaslavasky.

on the Engineering

ceeding-s of the IV A-sian Regional

Conf~

D.. ..The Effect of Diffcr.

Properties of ~...
Pro.
on SM and FE. Vol.

Bangkok. Thailand.
1971. pp. 367-372(81 Gromko. G. J., ..Review of Expansive Soils. ."Jourllal

I,

ofG~chIlicol

Engineering
Divi-sioll. Proceedillg-s of the ASCE. Vol. 100. ~o. GT6.
1974, pp. 667-687.
(91 Saxena. K. R., Venkatarao.
C.. and Nansimhan.
M. K.. ..F~
Swell
and Swell Pressure Test on Expansive Soils. -Proceeding-s of Fust Na.
tional Sympo-sium on Expan-sive Soils. V~
I. Kanpur,
I~.
Dec.

Soil Classlncatlon
Based on the modified free swell index. a system of classification
of the soil swelling potential is herein proposed. Table 4 shows classification

of Expansive

Clays,'. Tran-saction-s of the American Sociny of Civil Eng; r.s.

Vol.
121, 1956, pp. 641-677.
[2] Kruyt,
H. R., Colloid Science. Elsevie:r. Amsterdam,
The Nether.
lands, 1952.
[31 Norrish,
K., "The Swelling of Montrnorillonite,.'
Discum..,,-s
The
Faraday Society. Vol. 18, 1954. pp. 120-1J-1.
(4] Nishida. y ..Nakaga...a.
S., and Koike. H.. ..On Swelling Pn,ssure of

I
,

high

~-~

,~9

c::

85

into four groups between negligible

and very high swell-

(10]

III]

1977, pp. 5.1-5.6.

Dawson. R. F. , "Discussion
on .Engineering
Properties of Expansive
Clays' by Holtz and Gibbs.'.
Tran-sactioIU of the ASCE. ...01. 121,
1956, pp. 664-677.
Chen, F. H.. Foundation-s on E.rpansi~ Soils. Elsevier ScieDrifIC Pub.

ing potentials. The liquid limit on volume basis for different classifications is also shown. This classification
has been supported by
the other existing classifications based on liquid limit, free swell,

lishing Co., Amsterdam,

The Netherlands.
1975.
(12) Sridharan.
A., Sudhakar, M. R., and Munhy.
N. S., "F~
Swelllndex of Soils: A Need for Redefinition.l"diIJJI Grotechnical.lournal,
Voi. 15, No.2, April 1985, pp. 94-99.

differential free swell as per IS 2720, Part (XU,

index [/.12,181.

(131 MacEwan. D. M. C., "Complex Formafjoa Between Mont~llonite

and Holloysite and Certain Organic Compounds...
Tran-saCl
of the

and the free swell

(14]

Conclusions
I. The free swell test developed
greater usefulness if the definition
swell index.

[15]

by Holtz

and Gibbs provides

is changed into a modified

2. The modified definition eliminates the inaccuracies

ated with volume measurement of dry soil powder .

free
[16]

associ.

3. The modified free swell index bears a unique relationship

both with liquid limit (by volume basis) and percent swell (oedometer) for compacted specimens.

Faraday Society. Vol. 44, 1948, pp. 349-367.

Mackenzie.
R. C., "Complexes
of Cla)"S with Organic Compounds,..
Transactions of the Faraday Society. Vol. 44. 1948, pp. J68-375.
Green, W. J., Lee, G. F.. and Jones. R. A.. -Impact
of Organic Sol.
vents on the Integrity
of Clay Liners f(X" Industrial
Waste Disposal
Pits: Implication
for Ground Water ConW:lination,"
Repon to U.S.
EPA Robert S. Kerr Environmental
LabontOty.
Ada, OK. 1980.

Lambe,T.
W. and Whitman,
R. V ., Soil Mhanic-s.
John ~yand
Sons, Inc., New York, 1969.
[17) Murray,
R. S. and Quirk, J. P., .'The Pb.TSic:aJSwelling of Oays in
Solvents," Soil Science Society of AmeriCQ.1oIIrnal.
Vol. 46, 1982, pp.
865-868.
[18] Chen, F. H., Proceeding-s ofthe Fir-stlnlnKa1io/Ial
Resean:& and Engineering
Conference on Expan-sive ~
College Station, TX, 1%5, pp. 152-171.

Te~as A&M

Umversity,