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Some engineering geological effects of drought: examples from the UK

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An Erratum to this article was published on 30 May 2013

Abstract

Most countries experience periodic dry spells/droughts and climatologists predict these may become more severe and of longer duration in the future. Whilst ground movement associated with shrink/swell is well known, other implications of changes in the general climatic conditions are less often considered by the construction industry. Having discussed the effect of shrink/swell in open field and wooded areas, the pressures involved in re-hydration, the significance of desiccation cracks for slope stability and the influence of dry and moist periods on road construction, the paper highlights how a change in ground water level and/or temperature can induce the development of ground sulphates and cause irreversible heave in lime-stabilised ground.

Résumé

La plupart des pays connaissent des périodes de sécheresse et les climatologues prévoient qu’elles pourraient devenir plus sévères et plus longues dans le futur. Alors que les mouvements des sols accompagnant les processus de retrait-gonflement sont bien connus, d’autres conséquences des modifications des conditions climatiques générales sont moins souvent considérées dans l’industrie du bâtiment. L’article présente les effets du retrait-gonflement en champ libre et sous couvert forestier, les pressions développées par la réhydratation des sols, le rôle des fissures de retrait dans la stabilité des pentes et l’influence des alternances de périodes sèches et humides pour la voirie. Puis l’attention est attirée sur le fait que des modifications du niveau des nappes phréatiques et/ou des températures peuvent entraîner la formation de sulphates dans les sols et des soulèvements de structures irréversibles dans un sol stabilisé chaux.

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Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to Marcus Hawkins for preparing the diagrams.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bristol, c/o Charlotte House, 22 Charlotte Street, Bristol, BS1 5PZ, UK

    A. Brian Hawkins

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  1. A. Brian Hawkins
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Correspondence to A. Brian Hawkins.

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Hawkins, A.B. Some engineering geological effects of drought: examples from the UK. Bull Eng Geol Environ 72, 37–59 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-013-0458-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-013-0458-7

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