Determination of Unconfined Compressive Strength and Atterberg Limit of Soft Clay by Stabilizing with Sodium Silicate and Biomass Silica in Batu Pahat

Abstract

Soft clay soils can be considered as problematic soil with the characteristic of high compressibility, low permeability and low shear strength. Construction on soft clay deposit may causes problem such as insufficient bearing capacity, settlement problem and instability on excavation and embankment. Ground improvement methods were used as the aimed of this study is to determine the effect of non-traditional stabilizer on the compressive strength of soft clay soils. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine effect of compressive strength of untreated and treated soft clay soil with addition of non-traditional stabilizer at different curing periods. The soil properties of soft clay soil such as compaction, Atterberg limits, and unconfined compression strength (UCS) testing methods were used to observe the performance of treated and untreated samples. The test results from the UCS indicated that once Biomass Silica and Sodium Silicate in the form of SH-85 and TX-85 have been added to the clay soil, the strength of the sample will increase with increasing percent of sodium silicate and curing periods.