Effect of Liquid Acrylic Polymer on Geotechnical Properties of Fine-Grained Soils

Abstract

The present paper investigates the effect of liquid polymer on the geotechnical properties of fine-grained soil. Commercially available liquid polymer (acrylic polymer) was used to stabilize natural Carbondale soil (Soil A) and commercially available soil (Soil B). The polymer was mixed at various percentages (i.e., 2, 3, 4, and 5 %) of the dry weight of both soils. Tap water was added corresponding to its OMC (optimum moisture content) for a particular soil-polymer mixture and compacted to achieve its maximum dry unit weight. The compacted samples were allowed to cure for 7, 14, and 28 days under confined and open air environment. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test was performed to evaluate the strength of polymer stabilized soil. The results show that with the addition of polymer; UCS value for Soil B samples prepared at OMC increases from 30 to 75 % in open air environment and the UCS value increases from 12 to 14 % in confined air environment. Soil A samples prepared at OMC (i.e., 23.50 %) show cracks while curing in open air environment and there is no significant change (i.e., 1.2–13.8 %) of strength in confined air environment. For the Soil A samples prepared with reduced moisture contents (less than OMC i.e., 12.50 %) and cured in open air environment shows increase in UCS strength from 7 to 10 %. Also, California bearing ratio (CBR) test was performed for both soils and there was marginal increase (i.e., 14 %) in CBR value for Soil A but a significant increase (i.e., 340 %) in CBR value for Soil B.