Effects of Electro Osmotic Consolidation in South West of Johor: Small Laboratory Scale

Abstract

Clay soil is one of the problematic soils due to its natural states which have low bearing capacity and high compressibility. The effect and problem of the clay soil characteristic creates a problem for construction especially excessive settlement and this can lead to unstable and potential cracks of engineering structures. At presents, there are few of soil improvement types can be carried out to overcome these problems, and electro osmotic consolidation is one of the options. This method has been applied many years ago especially in european countries. The study encompasses the determination of water content, atterberg’s limits and undrained shear strength after electro osmotic consolidation treatment of clay soils taken from 0.5 m and 1.5 m at southwest part of johor. All the samples were tested according to BS1377:1990. An experimental study was implemented in a pvc cylinder tube having dimensions of 300 mm height and 100 mm diameter. In the results of electro osmotic consolidation tests by installing copper spring electrodes, the measured undrained shear strength was increased considerably at the anodes especially compared to the initial undrained shear strength due to electro osmosis process and consolidation. As laboratory studies of its measurement have shown, the application of electro osmotic consolidation after the application of a direct current applied voltage of 10 volts, at the anodes especially: (i) a decrease by approximately 35% in water content; (ii) an increase around 29% in undrained shear strength; and (iii) a decrease about 21% in index plasticity. The results obtained in this study shows that the electro osmotic enhanced 15 kpa vertical loading consolidation is a feasible approach in strengthening of south west soft clay in johor. It can be clearly suggested that the higher the voltage applied in the system, the higher readings of undrained shear strength and the lower of water content especially at the anodes.