Abstract
The reversible shrink-swell behavior of the expansive soil imposes a serious challenge that threatens the safety and durability of the overlying structural systems, such as pavements, buildings, etc. Mineralogy of the expansive soil has been briefly discussed. In this paper, a treatment solution to reduce the swelling potential of the expansive soil was proposed. Different weight ratios of the polymeric stabilizing agents were studied and added to the bentonite samples. The proposed solution was examined in the free-swell soil test, and the efficiency of the hydrophobic closed-cell polyurethane foam in reducing the swelling potential of the high-swelling ability bentonite clay has been assessed. Results of those experimental tests showed promising enhancement in the behavior of the treated expansive soil.