Testing research into practicability of constructing embankment with medium expansive soil

The compaction tests, CBR tests, shrinkage test and swell capacity tests of 50kPa pressure for the medium expansive soil were carried out under the different compactive efforts and water content The aim is to know the influence of water content, dry density, expansibility and shrinkage on the CBR values The results have shown that the CBR values of medium expansive soil are mainly determined by the water content and dry density The CBR values are lower than 3 0 % while the compaction is carried out near its optimum water content The CBR values increase by raising the compaction water content that is more than its optimum water content, but the degree of compaction often falls short of 90% It is suggested that the medium expansive soil is unfit to be used for constructing embankment directly