Abstract: The split tensile tests were performed on four (4) different remolded expansive soil samples. The relationships of the measured tensile strength varying with dry densities and moisture contents. With the increase of moisture content, the measured strength values of all four types of expansive soils increase and then decrease with moisture contents. At a moisture content of 13% and a dry density of 1.7 g/cm3, the tensile strength of all four types of expansive soil samples reaches the peak value. The fissure development in the samples is found to be related to the number of dryingwetting cycles. The tensile strength of the expansive soil is an important index of evaluating the fissure development in the soil samples.

Key words: expansive soils, split tensile tests, tensile strength, fissures