Much of the soil and rock thrown out and up by ancient volcanoes has been weathered and causes the normal problems in determining properties for design and construction of foundations. An interesting artifact from the ancient volcanoes that surround the Valley of Mexico is that lakes in the Valley were filled to a considerable depth with volcanic dust thrown up over long periods of time. The resulting soil has extremely high water contents and void ratios.
Figure 2.2 Desiccation cracking in expansive clay.
Dr. Leonardo Zeevaert (1975) described to one of the authors an experience early in his professional life when he sent data on the results of laboratory testing to his professor in the United States and got the following reply: ‘‘Son, you have misplaced the decimal point.’’ Zeevaert (1972) has written extensively on the design of foundations in the Valley of Mexico and elsewhere, particularly with respect to designing to
accommodate the effects of earthquakes.
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