MEASURES TO PREVENT DAMAGES IN BLACK COTTON SOIL AREAS

Dr. K.M. Soni

Superintending Engineer, CPWD, Bhopal

Black cotton soil, a cohesive soil, is considered a problematic soil for civil engineers. It
has characteristics of swelling during rains and shrinking during summer. In both the
conditions, it poses problems. During swelling, structure has uplift pressure and produces
heave in the foundations, plinth beams, bottom of floors of buildings and canals, roads
surfaces etc. and on shrinkage, cracks develop in walls, slabs, plinth protection, floors etc.
Though, local construction technology has been developed traditionally in the places where
such type of soil is found, still cracks are observed in the structures as sufficient precautions
are not taken during construction and maintenance period of the buildings.

INDEX PROPERTIES
Black cotton soil of India has a liquid limit between 60-90%, plastic limit between 30-
50% and shrinkage limit about 8-18% as given in Table 1.

Table 1: Index Properties of Index Properties of Black Cotton Soils in India

Liquid limit Plasticity index Shrinkage index Free swell (%) Degree of severity.
20-35 Less than 12 Less than 5 Less than 50 Non critical.
35-50 12-23 15-30 50-100 Marginal.
50-70 23-32 30-60 100-200 Critical.
70-90 More than 32 More than 60 More than 200 Severe.

Black cotton soils having high plasticity index more than 23 described as critical and
severe having free swell more than 100 % are to be taken special care to avoid cracks in the
structures.

IN SITU PROPERTIES
Black cotton soil is very hard on drying but becomes slippery and slushy during rains.
Its density varies along the depth. On the surface, density is about 1.6 g/cc and reduces to
about 1.4 g/cc in dry state along the depth while on saturation, it is almost constant along the
depth. When soil is dry, shear strength is quite high on the surface and reduces marginally
along the depth while during rains shear strength reduces and is very low near the surface.
Thus, saturated state also has effect on its shear strength. However, properties change up to a
certain depth only and then become constant.
Black cotton soil consists of montmorillonite which has swelling characteristics. On its
surface and internal layers, it has an electric charge. When the particles come into contact
with water, a film is formed around clay particles and the water reaching into layers uplifts
the layers and produces heave into the soil. If heave is prevented, say by floorings, it
produces uplift pressure. Therefore, to avoid uplift pressure, important consideration is to
avoid water coming into contact with black cotton soil.
DAMAGES TO BUILDINGS

Various types of damages can occur in the buildings due to up lift forces and settlement
caused by the expansive soils such as
i. Diagonal and vertical cracks in smaller direction of slab.
ii. Vertical cracks in internal and external walls.
iii. Horizontal cracks in slab as cantilever action is created in slab.
iv. Detachment of slab in outer walls towards outside.
v. Bending action in outer walls towards outside.
vi. Detachment of plinth protection.
vii. Heave & settlement in floors.

REMEDIAL MEASURES TO PREVENT DAMAGES

It is known that black cotton soil cannot damage the structure if there is no change in
its moisture content. The damages are caused by up heaving or settlement due to change in
moisture content of the black cotton soil. It is the water which creates the uplift pressure
which cause up heaving and when again it is the water which on removal from the soil causes
settlement due to drying. Thus without water, even the black cotton soil cannot cause the
damages to the buildings. There are two ways of preventing damages due to black cotton
soils, one: replacement of black cotton soil and two: by prevention of water coming in contact
with black cotton soil as given below.
Replacement of Black Cotton Soil
This is the easiest method in which black cotton soil is replaced with some other
suitable soil. R K Katti and his co-workers suggested Cohesive Non Swelling (CNS) and
Mechanically Stabilised Mix (MSM) layers, particularly when they are used in large quantum
like in canals. CNS soil was prepared by mixing largely moorum and sand with cohesive soil
to avoid shrinkage characteristics and MSM was like water bound macadam mix. These soils
were compacted at OMC to achieve the density near or equivalent to virgin soils. The depth
of the layers varied from 0.5m to 1m.
Traditionally also, black cotton soils were replaced with non expansive soils available
locally. These soils included moorum, locally available sand, and a mix of coarse grained
materials and fine grained soils available locally.
 It is often asked up to what depth, black cotton soil should be replaced? Simple
answer to this question is – replace all the black cotton soil up to whatever depth it occurs.
But there are two issues over this answer, one, whether it is economically feasible and two,
whether it is technically required? Mostly black cotton soil is available up to a certain depth.
This depth varies from about 1.5 m in Pune and 3.5 to 5 m in Madhya Pradesh though it may
vary from site to site. The soil of this depth or zone has the characteristics of swelling and
shrinking depending upon the properties of the expansive soils. This zone is called active
zone. The soil of this zone only swells and shrinks. In case, this soil is replaced with other
type of suitable soil and the replaced soil is suitably compacted, the soil would not have
swelling/shrinking characteristics and would have sufficient bearing capacity.
Preventing Water Coming in Contact with Black Cotton Soil
It is not always economically viable to replace all the black cotton soil. Hence,
damages need to be avoided by preventing water coming into contact with foundation soil or
soil below floors. It is known that the soil which is 1.5 to 2 times of the width of foundation
below footing level takes the load. Therefore, if width of foundation is 1.2m and depth is
1.2m, effect of pressure would be between 3m to 3.6m. Normally depth of black cotton soil is
also up to a depth of 4m. The zone up to which the soil gets affected for swelling and drying
is called active zone.
Water table in the areas of black cotton soils is deep and beyond 5m. Hence, it is the rain
water and storm water which is to be prevented from coming into contact with black cotton
soil of the active zone. Rain water can come in contact with black cotton soil of the
foundation from the followings:
i. Water from rain water pipes.
ii. Water from open courtyards.
iii. Water from broken drains constructed near foundation of the buildings
iv. Water from broken road side drains
v. Water entered through joint between plinth protection and the walls
vi. Water coming into contact from the outside unpaved area
vii. From the roots of plants/tress planted near foundation
Hence, it is essential that the water coming on the surface and percolating into the soil
below foundation or floors from above points is taken care in such a way that either water
does not enter into the black cotton soil or flow path of the water is lengthened in a way that
water does not enter into the active zone.
The water flow and length of flow path depends on various parameters like intensity of
rain, quantity of water, permeability of the soil above footing level, length of horizontal flow
path of water, length of vertical path of flow and the vegetation in the vicinity etc. Following
are the measures by which water ingress into the soil can be avoided or length of flow path
can be increased through following measures.

Plinth Protection
Plinth protection in the buildings is provided for preventing water entering into the
foundation. In normal cases, 0.9m to 1.2m wide plinth protection is provided with brick bats.
But in case of black cotton soils, due to expansion and drying characteristics of soil, such
plinth protection gets damaged within a short time. Rain water pipes are also left on plinth
protection. Plinth protection acts as very important barrier in the areas of black cotton soil to
prevent water coming into contact with black cotton soils. Thus plinth protection should be
impervious and as wide as feasible. 2 to 3m wide plinth protection in such conditions is
recommended considering site requirements, space availability and depth of black cotton soil.
RCC plinth protection with lime concrete as base concrete is recommended. No space should
be left for planting trees or plants near plinth protection as the plantation requires water and
such water is harmful to the structures. It should also be ensured that in no case, level of
plinth protection is lower than the adjoining ground as there is a possibility of a crack
between wall and plinth protection from where water can seep through. It is also better to cast
RCC horizontal plinth with drain and vertical plinth.

Vertical Plinth
Vertical plinth along with horizontal one is more effective in preventing water into the
foundation as minor cracks develop at the junction of wall and horizontal plinth protection
due to construction sequence and different materials. Thus, the water flowing along the wall
enters into the foundation. Also in case of flooding around the building, and even due to
splashes during heavy rains, there is a likelihood of water entering into the foundation
through brickwork. Vertical plinth in such conditions also keeps water away. Such plinth can
be provided in the form of stone cladding supported on plinth protection. RCC wall
connected with plinth beams overlapped over plinth protection is very helpful as it works like
an umbrella over junction of plinth and the wall. It is to be ensured that no flooding occurs
around the building.

Vertical Barrier and Drains

Vertical barrier on the outer edge of the plinth monolithically cast with the plinth also
lengthens the flow path and keeps moisture away from the foundation. Though, the depth of
vertical barrier depends upon active zone but more the depth, higher the length of the flow
path. Since the drain also helps in keeping the moisture away, vertical barrier can be used as a
part of the drain. Inner wall of the drain can be constructed monolithic to the plinth
protection. More the depth of the drain, higher the length of the flow path and better to keep
moisture away from the foundation. If geo membranes are used vertically, they will also be
effective but it is to be ensured that they do not get punctured from the pressure of filling
material and have leak proof joints. In case, wide horizontal plinth cannot be provided due to
site constraints, long vertical barriers should be provided to lengthen the flow path.

Damp Proof Course (DPC)

Normally, DPC is provided with cement concrete over which a bitumen coating is
done. During continuous rains, water flows along the surface and enters the foundation along
the external surface. Therefore, it is recommended that RCC damp proof course should be
provided to make it impervious compared to ordinary cement concrete and vertical plinth
provided up to DPC.

Road and Plinth Protection

If the road/pavement surface is near the building, no space should be left between
plinth protection and the road/pavement surface. The space should be paved to avoid water to
seep through by continuing the road/pavement surface up to plinth protection. Leaving no
space between the plinth protection/building and road lengthens the flow path.
Rain Water Pipes
Normally rain water pipes are left on plinth protection. When plinth protection gets
damaged, water percolates into the foundation soil. Therefore, rain water pipes should be
connected into chambers and chambers to the drain. In internal courtyards, rain water pipes
are to be connected to outside drains. If these pipes are left inside and water is not properly
taken outside, this leads to heave of floors, cracks in walls and other damages to the structure.
It is always better to pave all the internal courtyards so that water is kept away from the
foundation as well as floors.

Horticulture Works
Horticulture works are undertaken in the buildings for the beautification and also for
better environment. It must be understood that the horticulture works require water
throughout the year. Hence, water comes into contact with adjoining soil. Since in case of
black cotton soil, water is to be kept away from the structure, it is better to plant trees away
from the structures. Therefore, plantation is to be carried out in consultation with civil
engineers else the plantation helps in damaging the structure in such soils due to moisture
attraction. Trees should be planted away from the buildings and on other side of the road.

Base Concrete and Filling Under floors

Normally cement concrete is provided as base concrete. In black cotton soil, lime
concrete is effective as it alters the characteristics of the expansive soil. Hence, lime concrete
should be provided as base concrete in place of cement concrete. It is said that 2-6% lime
prevents swelling characteristics of expansive soil. Below footing level and floors, CNS and
MSM layers are effective and are better than sand filing. Thus in place of sand filling, MSM
layer can be provided.
A combination of RCC damp proof course, vertical plinth, and monolithically
constructed RCC horizontal plinth with RCC drain helps in preventing water entering into the
black cotton soil (Fig. 1). Wide horizontal plinth protection large depth of monolithically
casted drains help in lengthening the flow path to avoid water entering into active zone.

Figure 1: An arrangement of plinth, drain and road

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated approach is essential in case of construction of buildings in black cotton

soils. Plinth, vertical barriers, road pavement near buildings, inner courtyards, discharge of
rain water, drains, specification of base concrete and plantation are to be given special
treatment considering the site and the building layout to keep water away from the active
zone. Thus, architects and civil engineers should choose the specifications of such structures
according to the nature of soil, site requirements and availability of black cotton soils.

REFERENCES

The articles of R.K. Katti and A. R. Katti, R. K. Katti and S.V. Ramaswamy, compiled in the
proceedings of Partially Saturated Soils and Expansive Soils, 1996, Kakinada and IGS annual
lecture of 1978 delivered by Prof. R.K. Katti.