oSIST prEN 17542-5:2025
(Main)Earthworks - Geotechnical laboratory tests - Part 5: Test method for measurement of one-dimensional swelling of soils under oedometric condition
Earthworks - Geotechnical laboratory tests - Part 5: Test method for measurement of one-dimensional swelling of soils under oedometric condition
This document describes the reference methods for the determination of swelling, swelling pressure, magnitude or potential of one-dimensional swelling of a soil when subjected, in the presence of water, to vertical stresses under oedometric conditions.
It is used to assess the behaviour of earthwork platform that may be affected by the presence of swelling soils.
These methods are used to determine three parameters related with the swelling of a soil: the swelling pressure, the swelling index and the constrained swelling pressure.
These test methods specify the technique for specimen preparation, apparatus and procedure for quantifying the amount of height change associated with swelling and procedures for reporting test results.
The procedures given in these test methods are applicable to undisturbed, remoulded, recompacted or reconstituted specimens.
Erdarbeiten - Geotechnische Laborversuche - Teil 5: Prüfverfahren zur Messung der eindimensionalen Quellung von Böden
Dieses Dokument beschreibt die Referenzverfahren zur Bestimmung des Schwellens, des Schwelldrucks, der Größenordnung oder des Potentials des Schwellens eines Bodens, wenn dieser bei Anwesenheit von Wasser unter Vertikalspannungen unter ödometrischen Bedingungen einem eindimensionalen Schwellen ausgesetzt wird.
Es wird verwendet, um das Verhalten von Plattformen für Erdarbeiten zu bewerten, die durch das Vorhandensein schwellfähiger Böden möglicherweise beeinträchtigt werden.
Diese Verfahren dienen zur Bestimmung von drei Kenngrößen, die mit dem Schwellen eines Bodens zusammenhängen: dem Schwelldruck, dem Schwellbeiwert und dem beschränkten Schwelldruck.
Diese Prüfverfahren legen die Technik für die Vorbereitung der Probekörper, die Prüfgeräte und das Verfahren zur Quantifizierung der mit dem Schwellen einhergehenden Höhenänderung sowie die Verfahren zur Angabe der Prüfergebnisse fest.
Die in diesen Prüfverfahren angegebenen Verfahren sind auf ungestörte, wiederaufbereitete, wiederverdichtete oder wiederhergestellte Probekörper anwendbar.
Terrassements - Essais géotechniques en laboratoire - Partie 5: Méthode d'essai pour le mesurage du gonflement unidimensionnel des sols en condition œdométrique
Zemeljska dela - Geotehnični laboratorijski preskusi - 5. del: Preskusna metoda za merjenje enodimenzionalnega nabrekanja tal v edometričnih pogojih
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2025
Zemeljska dela - Geotehnični laboratorijski preskusi - 5. del: Preskusna metoda za
merjenje enodimenzionalnega nabrekanja tal v edometričnih pogojih
Earthworks - Geotechnical laboratory tests - Part 5: Test method for measurement of
one-dimensional swelling of soils under oedometric condition
Erdarbeiten - Geotechnische Laborversuche - Teil 5: Prüfverfahren zur Messung der
eindimensionalen Quellung von Böden
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17542-5
ICS:
93.020 Zemeljska dela. Izkopavanja. Earthworks. Excavations.
Gradnja temeljev. Dela pod Foundation construction.
zemljo Underground works
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2025
ICS 93.020
English Version
Earthworks - Geotechnical laboratory tests - Part 5: Test
method for measurement of one-dimensional swelling of
soils under oedometric condition
Erdarbeiten - Geotechnische Laborversuche - Teil 5:
Prüfverfahren zur Messung der eindimensionalen
Quellung von Böden
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 396.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 17542-5:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms . 5
3.1 Terms and definitions . 5
3.2 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 6
4 Tests principle . 7
4.1 Method A: One dimensional wetting-induced swelling pressure of a soil . 7
4.2 Method B: Axial swelling index of a specimen under a defined vertical stress . 7
4.3 Method C: Constrained swelling pressure of a specimen after wetting . 8
5 Equipment and test material . 8
6 Operating procedures . 8
6.1 General. 8
6.2 Specimen preparation . 8
6.2.1 Reconstituted specimen . 8
6.2.2 Undisturbed sample . 9
6.3 Conduct of the tests . 9
6.3.1 Method A: One dimensional wetting-induced swelling pressure of a soil . 9
6.3.2 Method B: Axial swelling index of a specimen under a defined vertical stress . 10
6.3.3 Method C: Constrained swelling pressure of a specimen after wetting . 11
7 Test report . 13
Annex A (informative) Measurement of swelling pressure according to prEN 17542-5 —
Test report . 14
Annex B (informative) Measurement of axial swelling index according to prEN 17542-5 —
Test report . 18
Annex C (informative) Measurement of constrained swelling pressure according to
Bibliography . 23
European foreword
This document (prEN 17542-5:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 396
“Earthworks”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
Introduction
This document defines the terminology, specifies the characteristics of the apparatus, lays down the
procedure for carrying out a swelling potential test for soil by loading and wetting some specimens and
specifies the presentation of the results.
1 Scope
This document describes the reference methods for the determination of swelling, swelling pressure,
magnitude or potential of one-dimensional swelling of a soil when subjected, in the presence of water, to
vertical stresses under oedometric conditions.
It is used to assess the behaviour of earthwork platform that may be affected by the presence of swelling
soils.
These methods are used to determine three parameters related with the swelling of a soil: the swelling
pressure, the swelling index and the constrained swelling pressure.
These test methods specify the technique for specimen preparation, apparatus and procedure for
quantifying the amount of height change associated with swelling and procedures for reporting test
results.
The procedures given in these test methods are applicable to undisturbed, remoulded, recompacted or
reconstituted specimens.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN ISO 17892-1, Geotechnical investigation and testing — Laboratory testing of soil — Part 1:
Determination of water content (ISO 17892-1)
EN ISO 17892-5, Geotechnical investigation and testing - Laboratory testing of soil - Part 5: Incremental
loading oedometer test (ISO 17892-5)
EN ISO 22475-1, Geotechnical investigation and testing - Sampling methods and groundwater
measurements - Part 1: Technical principles for the sampling of soil, rock and groundwater (ISO 22475-1)
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1.1
oedometer
apparatus for axially loading a cylindrical-shaped specimen placed in a rigid cylinder and measuring its
variation (ΔH) of height (H)
Note 1 to entry: The upper and lower faces of the specimen, which may be submerged, are in contact with porous
or draining discs.
3.1.2
loading stress
σ
average total stress (σ) obtained by dividing the vertical axial force (N) by the cross-sectional area of the
cylindrical specimen, identical to that inside the oedometer
3.1.3
axial deformation
ΔH/H
deformation that occurs when an axial stress σ is applied to a specimen of laterally shrink-wrapped
material
3.1.4
swelling pressure
σ
sw
pressure that must be applied to the swelling soil so that when brought into contact with water at
atmospheric pressure, its corresponding vertical deformation is zero
3.1.5
constrained swelling pressure
σ
csw
pressure required to maintain constant volume to a swelling soil brought into contact with water
3.1.6
axial swelling index
I
sw
relative height increase of a laterally confined swelling soil, when brought into contact with water, under
a given axial loading stress
3.2 Symbols and abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this document, the following symbols and abbreviations apply:
A cross-sectional area of the specimen (mm )
D mean diameter of the oedometer ring (mm)
H height of the specimen before it is placed in water (mm)
i
H initial height of the specimen after placement in the oedometer and when subjected to
o
vertical stress due solely to the dead weight of the loading device (mm)
N axial force applied to the specimen (N)
Rsw swelling ratio (%)
e initial void ratio of the specimen at the start of the test
o
w water content of the specimen (%)
w water content of the specimen after unloading (%)
f
w initial water content of the specimen (%)
i
ΔH variation in height of the specimen under loading stress during the soaking phase
f
ΔH variation in height of the specimen under loading stress before any water is added
i
ρ dry density of the soil (Mg/m )
d
ρ dry density of the specimen after soaking (Mg/m )
df
ρ dry density of the test specimen before soaking (Mg/m )
di
σ loading stress applied to the specimen (kPa)
σ swelling pressure of the soil (kPa)
sw
σ’ vertical effective stress of the soil in situ (kPa)
v0
σ constrained swelling pressure of the soil (kPa)
csw
I axial swelling index, calculated as the relative increase in height of a specimen subjected to
sw
a vertical stress after wetting (%)
4 Tests principle
4.1 Method A: One dimensional wetting-induced swelling pressure of a soil
This test is carried out on at least four similar specimens. These may be prepared by the following
method, depending on the type of sample available:
— trimming from an undisturbed sample extruded from its sampling tube or from a block sample for
undisturbed soils,
— recompaction, remoulding, reconstitution or reconsolidation of disturbed soil, to specified conditions
in terms of water content, dry density and method of compaction (kneading, moist-tamping, or static).
Each soil sample is placed in a rigid cylindrical cell and a vertical constant stress is applied using
oedometric equipment in accordance with EN ISO 17892-5.
The test consists of applying a different vertical stress to each specimen, submerging them and measuring
the resulting variations in height.
This procedure is carried out to determine the swelling pressure σsw that is the stress corresponding to
zero deformation determined by a logarithmic representation of the variations in height ΔH/H according
the loading stresses applied.
4.2 Method B: Axial swelling index of a specimen under a defined vertical stress
This method is carried out to determine the swelling index of a soil, defined as the height increase
expressed as the percentage of the initial height of a specimen that is laterally confined and with a vertical
pressure.
The test is conducted to measure the one-dimensional wetting-induced swell strain of a single intact
specimen of natural soil, a reconstituted sample or a single intact specimen of compacted soil derived
from disturbed soil or an existing fill or embankment.
The specimen is loaded to a vertical stress of 10 kPa, for measuring the initial axial strain. Subsequently,
it is immersed to measure the wetting induced strain u
...
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