reducing effects of soil expansion

[construct100]

In order to prevent soil expansion have effect on structure, measures such as draining water away from the structure and locating foundations below the level of water fluctuation can be counted. Any other very common methods?

Also, the ones above answer how to prevent it. But what measures are there to reduce the effect of expansion, once it happened? In other words, what is included into the design, when the engineer assumes there that there will be inevitable expansion and he tries to reduce is effect, (rather than preventing as in the first paragraph)?

 

[oldestguy]

Do a Google search for lime injection. Lime treatment of expansive minerals is common in areas continuing expansive clays.

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

In addition to lime injection or mixing various types of dry lime with soil other options include removing some amount of the expansive material from beneath the building and replacing it with non expansive soil, or replacing it with crushed stone/sand (not really my favorite option, but it is done), a structural floor can be installed, a waffle floor can be installed.

As you can see, there are lots of options, some used in some areas and not in others. A lot depends on local practice, the amount of expansion, the building loads, and the amount of allowed movment.

Mike Lambert