Geotechnical Properties of Clayey Soil Contaminated with Copper

Abstract

In this research, the effectsof coppersulfate contamination on the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of cohesive soil have been studied and compared with the properties of intact soil. Soil sampleswere obtained from Al-Ahdab oil field in Wasit governorate, located in the east of Iraq. In the laboratory, the soil specimens were contaminated artificiallywith three quantities of copper sulfate) CuSO4.5H2O) (100, 200 and 400) gm. The contaminantwas dissolved in 10 liters of distilled water and then added to the intact soil. The intact soil samplekept soaked with the contaminantfor 30 days. Several tests were conducted onthe soil samples (intact and contaminated) to measure the effects of copper sulfate on the geotechnical properties of clayey soil. The results of tests showed significant effectsfor copper on the studied soil properties. The copper sulfate causesdecreasing the percentage of fine particles in the soil, Atterberg s limits, permeability and optimum water content. Inaddition, the copper sulfate causes increasing thespecific gravity andmaximum dry density of soil. The shear strength parameters of soil are measured by using direct shear test, unconfined compression test and unconsolidated undrained triaxial test are decreased with increasing the concentration of copper sulfate in soil. Also, its noted increasing the initial void ratio, the compression index and recompression index with increasing concentration of contaminant in soil.