Research on the Shear Strength Properties of Expansive Soils

The shear strength of expansive soils is now a key geotechnical problem. The water content and dry density of expansive soils have deep effect on its shear strength. For analyzing the detail relationship of the water content, dry density and shear strength of this special soil, direct shear test was carried out with the samples from Xinxiang in middle line of South to North water diversion project. The results indicate that both of the cohesion and friction angle grow with dry density and decrease with initial water content. Applying the linear regression calculation, we obtained mathematical expressions which reveal the variation of shear strength with the dry density and initial water content of Xinxiang expansive soils.