Preliminary Investigation Regarding Swelling Behaviour of Soil of Southern Region of KPK, Pakistan

This study is focused on the preliminary investigations of soil of southern district Bannu, KPK, Pakistan in the form of geotechnical and mineralogical details, obtained by performing various kinds of tests on soil samples collected from selected spots, where the unusual cracks were observed to have been appeared in the pavements, boundary walls and some other parts of the buildings. Similar cracks were observed in most parts of the world where the soil was found to be expansive which depends on clay mineralogy, binding agents, migration of water beneath the surface and the ability of soil to absorb water. X-Ray diffraction analysis was used to study the minerals present in the soil and its fabric was studied with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy and those minerals were explored which are not involved in the swelling phenomenon such as kaolinites, chlorites, quartz and poligorskite. Geotechnical investigation was performed by digging the trial pits and collecting soil samples in polythene bags for determining its Atterberg, s limits and studying different geotechnical reports prepared by soil mechanics lab, UET Peshawar. The soil was found to lie within the range termed as low plasticity clay whose swelling potential is moderate to medium.