Abstract

Increase in the volume of rocks containing swelling minerals like montmorillonite and anhydrite due to physico-chemical reaction with water is defined as swelling. If increase in the volume is prevented, a swelling problem which harms engineering structures occurs. In the design of these structures the data obtained from swelling tests should be used. Triaxial swelling test is important in terms of the success of the design. In this study swelling problem caused by claystone containing smectite group clay mineral in Tire Lignite Enterprise (Izmir, Turkey) was investigated and triaxial swelling behavior of the claystone was determined.

Key words: Swelling, triaxial, stress, strain, claystone, smectite.