shrink-swell
Soil volume changes
Shrink-swell describes soil or clay that expands when wet and contracts when dry.
This property causes foundation cracks, heaving sidewalks, and structural damage as the ground shifts seasonally: The house was built on shrink-swell clay.
Engineers test for shrink-swell potential before construction in areas with expansive soils.
Moldable earth for ceramics
- bentoniteAsh-derived absorbent clay
- foundation damageHarm to building base
- crackingBreaking without separating completely
- heaveForceful lift or throw
subsidence · moisture content · plasticity · geotechnical · adobe · desiccation · saturation · subgrade
Underlying support structure
- structural damageHarm to supporting elements
- underpinningFoundational support beneath
- moisture barrierMaterial blocking water transfer
- drainageLiquid removal system
mitigation · risk assessment · retaining wall · infrastructure · construction
clay
Moldable earth for ceramics
- bentoniteAsh-derived absorbent clay
- foundation damageHarm to building base
- crackingBreaking without separating completely
heave · subsidence · moisture content · plasticity · geotechnical · adobe · desiccation · saturation · subgrade · pedology
foundation
Underlying support structure
- structural damageHarm to supporting elements
- underpinningFoundational support beneath
- moisture barrierMaterial blocking water transfer
drainage · mitigation · risk assessment · retaining wall · infrastructure · construction
polymer
Large repeated-unit molecule
- hydrogelWater-swollen polymer structure
- wood grainTimber's natural pattern
- timberWood for construction
lumber · absorption · cellulose · fiber · textile · leather · membrane · osmotic · collagen · starch
- soil sciencesoil, topsoil, subsoil, clay, sand
- Pedoturbationfrost heave, frost heaving
shrink-swellstable
Secure and unchanging
firm · solid · fixed · constant · unchanging
shrink-swellsandy soil
Coarse, granular earth
rocky ground · bedrock · gravel · loam
shrink-swellfirm ground
Stable, unyielding surface
solid ground · bedrock · sandy soil · rock
swell, shrink, swollen, swelling, shrinking, shrunken, shrunk, swells, shrinks