A Numerical-Hierarchical Framework for Predicting Volume Changes in Expansive Soils under Variable Surface and Weather Conditions

Qihang Huang and Shahid Azam ()
Additional contact information
Qihang Huang: Environmental Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
Shahid Azam: Environmental Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: This research developed a numerical-hierarchical framework that captured surface conditions and climate parameters. Volume changes under distinct scenarios of surface boundary, antecedent moisture, and meteorological parameters were predicted using a coupled seepage-deformation model. Risk was hierarchically based on expert judgment for surface scenarios (Stage-I indices) and normal distribution for antecedent moisture and atmospheric parameters scenarios (Stage-II indices). Results indicated seasonal volumetric changes with minor variations of −5 mm from January to April, a steady settlement of −17 mm by June, and a gradual heave of +8 mm by December. All Stage-I indices showed similar trends such that the fluctuations were highest for vegetation, followed by slope, then by cover, and lowest for loading. Volume changes gradually reduced with depth and diminished at 3.1 m. Similar seasonal and profile trends were generally found for most Stage-II indices. Nonetheless, different trends under wet and dry conditions were observed for initial water content, precipitation, and air temperature. For the datum scenario, risk was non-existent till February, increased to 2.3 by June, diminished by October, and rose back to 1.0 by December. Similar values of cyclic variations in risk were found in most urban facilities. Volume changes were found to be two times higher in parks, insignificant for roads, half for five story buildings, and one-fourth for pipes under roads. Among the Stage-II indices, risk for the initial water content inhibited seasonal variations whereas that for precipitation was about half with a wider distribution; all the other indices showed about one-third the values. Under a higher occurrence probability of 0.129, a magnified risk was observed for all the indices such that the most critical were the initial water content and precipitation.

Keywords: risk assessment; numerical model; hierarchical approach; volumetric changes; expansive soil; surface conditions; seasonal weather (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/5/4200/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/5/4200/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4200-:d:1080799

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().