Analysis of shear strength of the expansive soil stabilized with kaolin at various soaking times

Expansive clay soils are high shrinkage soils that have low bearing capacity. So an effort is needed to reduce the nature of its swelling. One effort that can be done is the method of soil stabilization, where the soil is mixed with materials that can reduce soil swelling and increase the shear strength of the soil. One of the materials that can be used is kaolin powder. Kaolin is a stabilizing agent found in nature so it is easy to obtain. The purpose of this research is to analyse the decrease of expansive soil swelling and the value of its unconfined compression strength at various soaking times. The test was carried out by mixing 9% kaolin powder against dry soil weight. The stabilized soils were then compacted as samples to be soaked with time variations of 0 days, 3 days, 7 days, 10 days, and 14 days. The results of the test after soaking 14 days is a decrease of the stabilized soil swelling value up to 67.78%. The unconfined compression strength is increase up to 77.28% compared to its natural condition.

Variation in strength owing to solidification treatment of weathered granite soil

Recently, soil-cement is being increasingly used in various applications such as road pavements, slope protection, backfilling of earth walls, and improving soft ground, in order to increase the strength of the raw material soil. Therefore, in this study, the characteristics of changes in the unconfined compression strength of soil-cement were analyzed by adding a solidifying agent targeting granite soil, which is representatively distributed in Korea. Laboratory tests were conducted to analyze the changes in strength according to 1) curing conditions and fine contents, 2) inorganic solidifying agent, and 3) repeated effects of dry and wet conditions. The unconfined compression strength of soil-cement increased as the curing period and mixing ratio increased, and it was constant after 14 days of curing. In addition, weathered granite soil with relatively low fine contents showed a large increase in the unconfined compression strength. In addition, the strength increased with an increase in the solidifying agent added. X-ray-diffraction analysis showed that vermiculite was generated by adding cement and admixtures, and the strength was increased by filling the gap between the particles. Considering the results of this study, a relationship between the unconfined compression strength and the elastic modulus of soil-cement by treatment with a solidifying agent was proposed.

Performance of soils enhanced with eco-friendly biopolymers in unconfined compression strength tests and fatigue loading tests

Recently, biopolymers have emerged in soil stabilisation. The efficiency of biopolymers in groundimprovement is mainly dependent on biopolymer types, soil types, biopolymer contents, curing periods,thermal treatment and mixing methods. However, the effect of the initial moisture content during samplepreparation stages, on the mechanical behaviours of biopolymer-treated soils, has not been fullyunderstood. The first part of this study probed the role of initial moisture content, in treating Shanghaiclay with the xanthan gum by performing standard proctor compaction tests, Atterberg limit tests,unconfined compression strength (UCS) tests and microstructural analysis, while the second part contributedto capture the fatigue behaviours of the samples treated with an ideal moisture content by performingconstant-amplitude and stepping-amplitude fatigue loading tests. Our results showed that theimprovement appeared to occur from an average optimum moisture content for the treated soils (treatedoptimum), which was 3% wet of the untreated optimum. As the initial moisture content increased, theUCS values were elevated. However, there existed an ideal initial moisture content leading to the maximumstrengthening efficiency. For xanthan gum content (i.e., the mass of xanthan gum with respect tothe mass of dry soil) ranging from 1.0% to 5.0%, this ideal value was between 1.1 and 1.2 times the treatedoptimum. Our results also indicated that xanthan gum, as a biopolymer soil strengthener, was efficient inincreasing either fatigue life or bearing capacity, under repeated loading for xanthan gum-soil matrices,when compared to untreated soils. While the untreated soils failed at the stress level of only half the UCS,the xanthan gum-treated soils with a 3.0% xanthan gum content sustained at the end of the tests. Thesedata imply the potential use of xanthan gum in soil stabilisation, under repeated loads.

Stabilization of black cotton soil using coconut fiber

Black cotton soil is a soil with low bearing capacity, swelling and shrinkage characteristics. Due to its peculiar characteristics, it forms a very poor foundation material. As black cotton soil is an expansive soil; it creates problem for lightly loaded structure than moderately loaded structure. Through this project, we are trying to study the improvements in the properties of soil by adding coconut fiber of varying percentages. Tests will be conducted to determine liquid limit and unconfined compression strength. Stabilization of soil is an effective method for improving the properties of soil. It has great significance in the future projects. Keywords: Soil stabilization, CBR, Atterberg limits

Studi Pengaruh Abu Batu Bata terhadap SifatFisik dan Mekanik Lempung Terstabilisasi Kapur dari Kecamatan Tenayan Raya

Tenayan Raya Subdistrict is an area that has a thickness of soft clay layer. Some cases of building failure were cracks and tilts due to high shrinkage of soil. Nearby is also a brick home industry center, where ashes are produced from bricks burning. Soil Improvement of Tenayan-Raya's Clay and utilization of brick ash will be carried out in this research. This study aims to stabilize the soil with lime and utilize the brick ash to improve shear strength and bearing capacity of the soil. The study was conducted in the laboratory by making several combinations of content clay, lime, and Brick Ash (BA), for the soil mixture which will be added with 10% ash brick. The effect of curing and soaked will also be seen for its rising on soil properties of Unconfined Compression Strength, and CBR laboratories. The influence of water will also be reviewed on the dry side, optimal moisture content, and wet side. The test results show that the Soil has Low Plasticity soil type category CL-ML symbols, according to the Unified classification. Increasing of strength due to stabilization with lime is obtained in conditions of water in optimal moisture content, where the addition of lime is 10% and 10% brick ash, was produced to increase the maximum value of Unconfined Compression Strength and CBR laboratory value. Curing setup time and saturation (soaked) also had affect the value of Unconfined Compressive Strength and CBR laboratory test. At longer time for curing, shear strength will rise proved by the value of UCS Test andbearing capacity value also increase that can be seen of the laboratory CBR test. Curing will make the shrinkage of clay reduced, this can be proven from differences value of Unconfined Compressive strength test between samples with and without soaked, are relatively small.