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Expansive clay is a clay
Clay

Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained minerals, which show plasticity through a variable range of water content, and which can be hardened when dried and/or fired....
 that is prone to large volume changes that are directly related to changes in water content
Water content

Water content or moisture content is the quantity of water contained in a material, such as soil , Rock , ceramics, or wood on a volumetric or gravimetric basis....
. Mitigation of the effects of expansive clay on structures built in areas with expansive clays is a major challenge in geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering

Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering includes investigating existing subsurface conditions and materials; determining their physical/mechanical and chemical properties that are relevant to the project considered, assessing risks posed...
. Cities built on top of clay compact the clay beneath as groundwater is drawn down and water is wringed out of the clay. Rebound caused by heavy rain can destroy or crack buildings, and permanent land subsidence may occur in large cities with significant skylines.








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Expansive clay is a clay
Clay

Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained minerals, which show plasticity through a variable range of water content, and which can be hardened when dried and/or fired....
 that is prone to large volume changes that are directly related to changes in water content
Water content

Water content or moisture content is the quantity of water contained in a material, such as soil , Rock , ceramics, or wood on a volumetric or gravimetric basis....
. Mitigation of the effects of expansive clay on structures built in areas with expansive clays is a major challenge in geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering

Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering includes investigating existing subsurface conditions and materials; determining their physical/mechanical and chemical properties that are relevant to the project considered, assessing risks posed...
. Cities built on top of clay compact the clay beneath as groundwater is drawn down and water is wringed out of the clay. Rebound caused by heavy rain can destroy or crack buildings, and permanent land subsidence may occur in large cities with significant skylines.

See also

  • Vertisols
  • Montmorillonite
    Montmorillonite

    Montmorillonite is a very soft Silicate minerals mineral that typically forms in microscopic crystals, forming a Clay mineral. It is named after Montmorillon in France....