“Universities are conducting significant research on problematic soils”

Prof. Dr. Huriye Bilsel, from the Department of Civil Engineering of Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Engineering, stated that a new trend in soil mechanics has emerged in recent years, the most striking example of which are "problematic soils" that cause problems especially in semi-arid climates as in Cyprus.

Reminding that the problematic soils are composed of the swelling-shrinking of clays, fill or natural young formation of soil that suddenly collapse due to wetting, and  high compressibility of alluviums, Bilsel noted that it is also known that submerged sand or layers of silt, which may have a high liquefaction potential in a possible earthquake, can cause significant damage in a high-magnitude earthquake.

Bilsel said that the most important soil problem in the country is the liquefaction and slope slip behavior that may occur during a potential earthquake and said, "If retaining wall failures and slope stability sensitivity are not taken into account in certain engineering applications, the problems in Geotechnical Engineering applications in the country will reach a point where these cannot be underestimated."

Bilsel stated that the main purpose of soil surveys is to determine the static and dynamic parameters necessary for the design of foundations. She also said, "It is necessary to create data to be able to select the most suitable improvement techniques and foundation type for the project and ground conditions by determining possible mass movements such as slope slip and liquefaction in problematic soils."

Reminding that in large projects, special tests that would determine engineering behaviors should be conducted on an undisturbed sample on grounds where pile foundations must be used, Bilsel also added that, "The inadequacy of field tests is an important problem".

Bilsel pointed out that important studies have been carried out in universities in the country in recent years regarding the improvement methods of problematic soils, and stated that very effective methods have been developed regarding industrial and natural wastes, and quite a good number of theses and scientific publications have been published.

Bilsel pointed out that environmentally friendly methods are the most striking examples of these studies, however, she added, the usability of these academic studies in improving problematic soils should be reiterated by conducting joint projects in pilot areas starting with soils with high liquefaction capacity.