Expansive soils have been responsible for many structural damages that result in greatrnfinancial losses in many parts of the world including Ethiopia. Proper understanding of thernproperties of the soil helps to understand the actual causes of failure of structure.rnThe main objective of this research work is to examine Atterberg limits by giving emphasisrnon the range at which a reduction of water content will not cause a decrease in the volume ofrnthe soil mass, i.e. shrinkage limit. In addition to this an attempt has been made to define thernmaximum moisture content corresponding to the maximum swelling and the effect of initialrnmoisture content on the swell pressure of expansive soils.rnTo achieve the research objective, disturbed and undisturbed samples of both Expansive andrnred clay soils were collected from Addis Ababa. The red clay soil was used as a methodologyrncontrol of Atterberg limits .The following laboratory and field test were conducted to attainrnthe purpose of this workrn Free swell and linear shrinkagern Atterberg limitsrn Swelling measurement with and without seating loadrn Artificial flooding of test pit and moisture contentrn Measuring of volume at various stages of desiccation ( Drying process)rn Re wetting of the completely dry patrn Swell pressure measurement by varying initial moisture contentrnLaboratory test results on both clay samples show that the volume change of expansive soil isrnmore significant than that of red clay soil. The volume change on expansive soil is mainly duernto the swell property of the soil and this volume change is sufficient enough to developrndistress on structures.rnThe investigation of swell measurement and moisture content of undisturbed soil samplesrnshowed that the moisture content after a complete swelling is found with in the range of liquidrnxrnlimit and plastic limit. In addition to this high moisture content soils experience less uplift,rnbut the pressure required to maintain a constant volume is not altered.