Rehabilitation of existing building structure in expansive soils: A case study in Laghouat, Algeria

Abstract

This work presents results obtained from a case study conducted on M’kam neighborhood (600 housing social city) in Laghouat, Algeria. The bloc (J) in this location, suffering from damages that are attributed to the expansive clayey soil interaction with sewage disposal under foundations was the subject of rehabilitation in this study.The principal causes of observed structural damages were studied through diagnostic expertise (inspection-evaluation process) of the cracks and sewage disposal system of bloc (J). The results of this diagnostic investigation show that the main damages were mainly due to swelling of soil in presence of losses from sewage disposal. Remedial actions were suggested to revise and repair all the sewage disposal system and strengthen the foundations of the building to avoid further damages.