Dear Colleagues,

Clay and clay soils are some of the most important geological materials, and they have a great influence on the engineering geology properties of soils. Problems related to a specific clay composition or clay amount in a large area of engineering works (foundations, landslides, tunnels), occasionally producing large, destructive hazards that cost billions of dollars, have been documented elsewhere. The main engineering geological problems associated with clay-bearing soils are their low strength, high compressibility, high level of volumetric changes, low permeability, settlement, and extreme affinity to water. Some mechanical and hydraulic properties also are controlled significantly by way of individual, or groups of, clay particle arrangements (microfabrics). On the other hand, clay is desirable in many cases due to its properties, which may be used to benefit a geotechnical engineer’s design, for example, for impermeability in fill dams and waste landfills or as a binding material when combined with coarse-grained soils at a certain ratio. The study of the mechanical and hydraulic properties of compacted clays and their long-term stability under a range of temperatures in engineered barriers (high-level radioactive waste) has also been an important area of engineering geological experimental research work during the last few decades.

The type of clay mineral, mineralogical and chemical composition, and fundamental properties (large specific surface area, high isomorphic substitution, cation exchange capacity, negative unbalanced charge) are very important factors controlling the physical and geotechnical behavior of clay soils.

A complete understanding of the mineralogy, specific properties, interaction with water, strength and rheology, soil stabilization, microfabric and microstructure, and water content of clay and clay soils, including the broad relation of these to one another, as well as applied aspects and problems of clays and clay minerals helped by case histories, will be of great interest in the advancement of engineering geology, including evaluation of hazards for planning and protection purposes.

Dr. Meaza Tsige
Guest Editor

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• Engineering geology
• Clay minerals
• Clay soils
• Microfabric