A Novel Field Device for the Measurement of Soil Collapsibility

Soil collapsibility or soil swelling is typically measured in the laboratory by using a single or double consolidation test. Such a test requires time and is costly: its stages include preparing the samples, transferring them to the laboratory, and conducting related tests. In most cases, geotechnical engineers have to carry out experiments during the stage of site investigation to evaluate the soil in terms of collapsibility. However, soil collapsibility might be easily estimated by a simple desert test. The device designed, developed, and used by the authors of the present study has the ability to determine the soil’s collapsibility and offers its primary percentage. The experiments that were conducted on the downstream alluvium of Seevand Dam, with high collapsibility, to assess the performance of the device indicated that the device is able to appropriately evaluate the collapsibility of soil. Furthermore, comparing the results of these experiments with those of experiments using the consolidation method confirm the accuracy of the findings present study, with a high percentage. Given the probability of disturbing soils in laboratories, it might be contended that this device obtains results that are more valid than laboratory results.