Reply: a Fuzzy Classification Process for Swelling Soils

• Published in: Transportation infrastructure geotechnology Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 2114 - 2116
• Main Authors: Toksöz Hozatlıoğlu, Derya, Yılmaz, Işık
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-08-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Building Materials; Charts; Classification; Classification (sedimentation); Engineering; Foundations; Geoengineering; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Hydraulics; Liquid limits; Parameters; Soil; Soil classification; Soil swelling; Soils; Swell; Technical Paper; Uncertainty; Fuzzification; Uncertainty; Swell potential; Liquid limit
• ISSN: 2196-7202; 2196-7210
• DOI: 10.1007/s40515-023-00358-3

This paper is a reply to the discussion written by Soltani et al. (2023) (the Discussers) to the study of Toksoz Hozatlıoğlu and Yilmaz (2023) (the Authors) which suggests a fuzzification process for Dakshanamurthy and Raman’s swell potential chart. The Discussers point out that without considering soil mineralogical activity, the sole reliance on LL parameter to assess soil expansivity is not reliable. And they mention that the Authors adopted LL (liquid limit) parameter as a sole reliable basis for performing soil expansivity assessment. Nevertheless, the aim of the Authors’ study is not to suggest a LL-based classification method. The prime purpose of their study is to minimize the uncertainties on Dakshanamurthy and Raman’s swell potential chart which classifies the swell potential of soils on the basis of LL value. The Authors do not claim that this chart is a reliable method for assessing the swell potential of soils. In their paper, the Discussers propose a classification framework for swelling soils based on equilibrium sediment volume measurements, which is applicable, and the Authors do not have any critics about it, except that there was no need to make this suggestion by creating a discussion about the Authors’ study. Because their study presents only a fuzzification process of an existing classification chart. The Authors do not assert that this chart is a reliable method for assessing the swell potential of soils. On the contrary, they try to minimize the uncertainties on the related chart.