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Abstract

Expansive soils stimulate serious problems for infrastructures and the near surface facilities due to volume change patterns it experiences during the wet and dry seasons. This research study is intended to implement Gene Expression Programming (GEP) scheme and the Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) method in order to assess the swelling aspects and deformability parameters of moderately expansive soils based on a comprehensive exploration and testing program for the Northeastern areas of Zarqa Governate in Jordan. Representative soil samples have been collected from twenty different locations in the area. The soil has been tested for free swelling, matric suction, permeability, consolidation, water content, hydrometer, and soil index properties. The free swelling index and critical state deformability parameters, obtained from the consolidation test, are the primary focus of this research. Several models that account for different situations based on opportunities of the data availability using an extensive GEP modeling scheme have been successfully developed. MLP method has been managed to develop one reasonable formula with less efficiency than the ones schemed by GEP procedure. The successful models have been validated using test results and error analysis procedures. The models have been ordered according to their according to a proposed ranking procedure. GEP method has showed higher performance for the given conditions.​