Variability
and characteristics of eastern Saudi Sabkha soils
O. S. B.AI-Amoudi, S.A.Aiban & H.
I.AI-Abdul Wahhab
ABSTRACT:
Sabkha soils
constitute relatively a large proportion of the eastern Saudi surficial soils. These soils possess low density and
strength in their natural state. Many geotechnical problems are associated with
these soils due to their high salt content and their susceptibility to strength
loss and collapse upon wetting. Further, the heterogeneity of sabkha soils is
reflected by their variable characteristics and layering of different
constituents, even within the same site. Accordingly, the retrieval of
representative samples tends to be a fundamental problem facing the
geotechnical society. In order
to study the variability of sabkha soils and their engineering characteristics,
samples were collected from 20 pits distributed all over the