Engineering soil barriers to minimise annual shrinkage/swelling in plastic clays

Engineered soil barriers have been proposed to prevent rainwater infiltration into the underlying soil, thus improving stability of sloping ground. The use of engineered barriers on flat ground as means of preventing flooding has also been explored. This paper aims to provide proof-of-concept as to the potential efficiency of engineered barriers in minimising soil shrinkage and swelling arising from seasonal variations of water content and pore water pressures within the ground due to its interaction with the atmosphere. A series of 2-dimensional, hydro-mechanically coupled finite element analyses were conducted to this effect. Emphasis was placed on accurately modelling the stiffness of the underlying soil, accounting for its small-strain behaviour, as well as the hydraulic behaviour of all the layers involved. The results confirm that it is possible to engineer barriers to minimise shrinkage/swelling in greenfield, as well as urban, conditions and highlight the influence of barrier geometry and configuration, so that recommendations for the design of such barriers can be made.