Case History: Sulfate-Induced Heave of Lime-Treated Soils beneath a Structure in Western Colorado
by Aaron D. Bagley, P.E., (Senior Engineer, Joseph A. Cesare and Associates, Inc./Construction Technical Services, 7108 South Alton Way, Building B, Centennial, Colorado 80112 E-mail: abagley@jacesare.com) and Joseph A. Cesare, P.E., (President/Senior Principal, Joseph A. Cesare and Associates, Inc./Construction Technical Services, 7108 South Alton Way, Building B, Centennial, Colorado 80112 E-mail: joecesare@jacesare.com)
pp. 234-243, (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/41082(362)24)
Access full text
Purchase Subscription
Permissions for Reuse 
| Document type: |
Conference Proceeding Paper |
| Part of: |
Forensic Engineering 2009: Pathology of the Built Environment |
| Abstract: |
A commercial structure in western Colorado constructed circa 2001/2002 began to exhibit drywall distress within a few months of completion. The foundation consisted of a monolithic, cast-in-place footing and structurally connected slab-on-grade bearing on 0.3 to 0.8 meters of lime-treated, clay soils. The clay soils were documented to have low expansion potential and high sulfate contents. A survey of the building in 2004 showed an elevation difference of 27.9 centimeters over 15.2 meters. A Scanning Electron Microscope showed the presence of ettringite beneath the foundation. Sulfate induced heave is caused by the volume change associated with the formation of ettringite. Water entered the lime-treated soils beneath the foundation and was the catalyst for soluble sulfates to react with calcium in the lime to form ettringite. This reaction resulted in the structure’s distress. |
|
