SUSCEPTIBILITY TO COLLAPSE OF PODZOLIZED SANDS IN THE EAST OF SANTA CATARINA STATE – BRAZIL

Susceptibilidade ao colapso de areias podzolizadas no leste do Estado de Santa Catarina - Brasil

Resumen

Podzolized sands are poorly developed soils with an abundant sandy profile with predominance of quartz grains. They have reddish color and do not present more than 15% of clay. The podzolized sands are distributed throughout the eastern coastal region of the Santa Catarina state, Brazil. The aim of this work was to identify the susceptibility to collapse and explain the mechanical behavior of these soils, since these characteristics should be considered when carrying out projects of occupation in the region. Tests were carried out for the physical and chemical characterization of the soils, as well as for the determination of their geotechnical parameters. For the determination of collapse potential were performed oedometric tests and trials for the evaluation of the influence of the soils’ degree of saturation on the potential for collapse. The soils were classified as the severity of potential collapse as “none”, “moderate” or “problematic”. According to the results obtained in this work, the degree of saturation and the natural suction of podzolized sands are determining factors in the collapse processes.