Heave-ho! A laboratory model of an underfloor environment incorporating pyritiferous fill

Damage to domestic dwellings in the greater Dublin area of Ireland caused by the expansion of underfloor fill material containing pyrite has become a prominent national problem in recent years. In this paper, a novel... [ view full abstract ]

Damage to domestic dwellings in the greater Dublin area of Ireland caused by the expansion of underfloor fill material containing pyrite has become a prominent national problem in recent years. In this paper, a novel experiment is described in which the succession of underfloor materials, with vertical dimensions at full scale, is modelled. The study has enabled the amount/rate of expansion and pressures generated, due to the expansion of the pyritiferous fill, to be ascertained over a period of 800 days, with and without imposed loading on the concrete slab. The rates of expansion are relatively consistent with those recorded from reference pipe experiments. These data are an important frame of reference for anticipating the time at which damage might begin to manifest in domestic dwellings. Pressures generated within the fill are low and consistent with the occurrence of significant expansion.