Masters Theses

Keywords and Phrases

Clay; Expansive; Foundations; Illinois; Loess

Abstract

"The damage caused to shallow foundations and slabs on grade by the shrink-swell activity of clay soils is well documented across the United States. There are local and national resources available that delineate areas that are problematic and areas that are not. These resources paint Illinois as an undemanding foundation environment. However, our experience differs from this. Our experience tells us that damage related to the shrink-swell activity of clay soils is widespread, and commonly severe causing not only cosmetic damage to structures and hard improvements but also affecting the serviceability and longevity of structures. My goal is to accurately portray the shallow foundation conditions across Illinois as a demanding environment.,p/>

Volumes of information about expansive clay soils exist, from scores of sample sites across Illinois, from work over decades by the Illinois Geological Survey and others that have established the relative proportions of shrink-swell clay soils in large portions of Illinois.

What I propose is testing and measurement of the reaction of bearing soils and the structures resting on them. Estimates of soil and structure reaction are compared to their measured counterparts.

I would like to digest and summarize the known soil information and use new measurements to relate it to the reaction we routinely see in foundations and the damage associated with it"-- Abstract, p. iii

Advisor(s)

Maurer, Jeremy

Committee Member(s)

Grote, Katherine R.
Smith, Ryan G.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Geological Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

2026

Pagination

xi, 132 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes_bibliographical_references_(page 131)

Rights

© 2026 Greg James Gollaher , All Rights Reserved

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 12617

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