Engineering Properties Of Expansive Soil Research Articles

Modifying Expansive Soil Characteristics with Xanthan Biopolymer Integration

Abstract: Expansive soils pose significant challenges in various engineering projects due to their tendency to swell and shrink with changes in moisture content. Traditional stabilization methods often come with environmental and economic drawbacks. This research paper explores the potential of xanthan biopolymer, a polysaccharide of microbial origin (Xanthomonas Campestris), as a sustainable and effective alternative for altering the engineering properties of expansive soils. Through laboratory experiments and analysis, the paper investigates the influence of xanthan biopolymer on key soil properties such as swelling behaviour, shear strength, and permeability. The findings provide insights into the feasibility and efficacy of using xanthan biopolymer for soil stabilization, offering a promising avenue for sustainable geotechnical engineering practices.

Evaluation of Locally Available Calcined Clay-Based Geopolymer for the Stabilization of Expansive Soils

Geopolymers (GPs) have been effectively used as an alternative to traditional calcium-based stabilizers for treating problematic expansive soils over the last decade. However, the high cost of precursors and limited availability of traditionally manufactured GPs pose significant challenges for commercial implementation. Utilizing locally available sources to manufacture GPs could address such limitations and promote sustainable development. A research study was designed and implemented to evaluate the efficacy of locally available calcined clay-based GP stabilizers to improve the performance of expansive soils and the results were compared with lime-treated and untreated soils. An array of laboratory studies was conducted using two natural clayey soils and two types of GPs to assess improvements in several engineering properties, including unconfined compressive strength before and after capillary soaking, resilient moduli, and moisture-induced strains. Supplemental microstructural studies using X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscope imaging were conducted to identify the mineralogical changes and detect the precipitation of new reaction products. The engineering studies demonstrated that the application of GP significantly enhanced the strength, durability, and stiffness while reducing the swelling and shrinkage strains in the GP-treated soils. Microstructural analysis revealed that the precipitated GP gels effectively coated the soil particles and provided a uniformly bonded GP–soil matrix that enhanced the engineering performance. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding with respect to the potential of using locally available calcined clay-based GPs as a sustainable and durable alternative in enhancing the engineering properties of expansive soils for the long-term performance of transportation infrastructures.

Pine cone ash stabilization of expansive soils

<p>The use of appropriate waste materials to stabilize problematic soils, such as expansive soils that are responsible for geotechnical damage, is a common practice in geotechnical engineering. This study presents the use of pulverized ash from the combustion of pine cone (PC) waste as a stabilizing agent to improve the engineering properties of expansive soils. A series of laboratory tests were carried out to examine the effect of different percentages of pine cone ash (PCA) content (3%, 5%, 7%, and 10%) on the Atterberg limits, swelling potential (Sp), linear shrinkage, compressibility, and unconfined compressive strength (qu) of naturally occurring swelling soils and the PC ash-treated soils. The results showed that PC ash contents of 5% and 7% contributed to a significant reduction in the swelling and shrinkage potential and an improvement in the coarsest texture, brittleness behavior, compaction properties, and compressive strength of the treated soils. Conversely, PC ash contents below 3% and above 7% showed minimal changes in the index and engineering properties of the PC ash-treated soils. In particular, the PC ash content of 5% resulted in optimal mitigation of the poor properties of the treated soils. The use of pine cone ash as a stabilizing agent represents a suitable and complementary subgrade soil material for expansive soils on which lightweight structures are built.</p>

A Study on Stabilization of Black Cotton Soil using Fly Ash and Rice Husk Ash

Stabilization of soil is important to enhance the engineering properties of expansive soil like strength, volume stability and durability the black cotton soil has very low bearing capacity and high swelling and shrinkage characteristics due it has very poor foundation material for civil engineering construction .The main objective of the work is to upgrade the expansive soil as a construction materials by using fly ash and rice husk ash which are waste materials to be used in black cotton soil to stable the soil and to resists from shrinkage or swelling . It can test by using some laboratory test like liquid limit , plastic limit and standard proctor test ( light compaction) , CBR test , Soil sample is mixing of fly ash as percentage of 5% , 10% , 15% , 20%and rice husk ash of 10%, 15% ,20% ,25% and the study of the work was to evaluate the effect of fly ash and rice husk ash to improve the performances of black cotton soil .

Mechanism and Engineering Characteristics of Expansive Soil Reinforced by Industrial Solid Waste: A Review

Expansive soils exhibit detrimental swelling and shrinking characteristics in response to variations in water content, posing a threat to engineering safety. Utilizing industrial solid waste for improving the engineering properties of expansive soil presents a promising solution due to its low pollution and high recoverability. This paper reviews the progress of research on various industrial solid wastes in stabilizing expansive soil. The review comprehensively discusses the microscopic characteristics and mechanism of industrial solid waste-stabilized soils, as well as their impact on the compressive strength, shear, compaction characteristics, consistency, swelling and shrinkage properties, and durability of expansive soils. The addition of appropriate curing agents or the combination with other stabilizing materials can enhance the strength of expansive soil, mitigate volume changes, and improve the durability and stability of expansive soils. The mechanisms of stabilization of expansive soils by industrial solid waste involve cation exchange, flocculation-agglomeration, pozzolanic reaction, and carbonation. Additionally, microscopic characterization analysis reveals that the formation of C-S-H and C-A-H is the primary contributor to the improvement of soil geotechnical properties.

Enhancement of Muscat’s Expansive Soil Using Waste Gypsum

Expansive soils are known to show significant volumetric changes in response to changes in the moisture content. Such soils swell when the moisture content is increased and shrink when the moisture content is decreased, thereby causing distress and damages to structures founded on them. Construction developments on naturally occurring expansive soils are usually problematic. This study examines the properties of expansive soil obtained from the city of Muscat in Oman. The expansive soil samples were further treated with gypsum, which was obtained from waste plasterboards, at varying quantities of 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% by mass in an attempt to stabilize the soil. Based on USCS classification system, the expansive soil was identified a poorly clay with high plasticity (CH) with AASHTO classification of A-6. The pH test confirms the reaction between expansive and gypsum, while both the compaction and unconfined compression strength (UCS) tests revealed the optimum percentage of gypsum required to enhance the properties of expansive soil to be 9% by mass. The unconfined compression strength (UCS) test yielded a 37.7% increase over that of untreated expansive soil at 28 days of curing. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test of the treated soil yielded a 57% increase in CBR value for expansive soil treated with 9% of waste gypsum over untreated expansive at the unsoaked state and 70% at soaked state. Overall, a solid understanding of the physical and engineering properties of expansive soil, and the confirmation of the potential use of gypsum for its stabilization, was achieved in this study.

The Effect of Pore Solution on the Hysteretic Curve of Expansive Soil under Cyclic Loading

A dynamic triaxial instrument was used to study the effects of different concentrations of sodium chloride and stress amplitudes on the dynamic properties of an expansive soil under cyclic loading. In particular, four parameters were considered in such a parametric investigation, namely, hysteresis curve morphology characteristic non-closure degree εp, the ratio of the short and long axis α, the slope of the long axis k and the enclosed area S. The results show that with an increase in the sodium chloride concentration, the soil particle double electric layer becomes thinner, the distance between soil particles decreases, and the whole sample becomes denser. The εp-N, α-N and S–N relation curves all show a decreasing trend. The ratio of plastic deformation to total deformation grows with increasing the dynamic stress amplitude, and the curves show an upwards trend. The k-N relationship curve displays an increasing trend with the concentration and a general downwards trend as the dynamic stress amplitude is made higher. This also indicates that sodium chloride solutions can improve the engineering properties of expansive soil to a certain extent. With an increase in the vibration times N, the shape of the hysteretic curve becomes narrower, and the whole soil exhibits a cyclic strain hardening. With the help of an exponential function, a model is introduced to predict the relationship between the concentration and the hysteretic curve.

Experimental Study on Black Cotton Soil Stabilized with Human Hair and Recron Fiber

The black cotton soil is known as expansive type of soil which expands suddenly and start swelling when it comes in contact with moisture. Due to this property of soil the strength and other properties of soil are very poor. To improve its properties it is necessary to stabilize he soil by different stabilizers. Expansive type of soil shows unpredictable behavior with different kind of stabilizers. Soil stabilization is a process to treat a soil to maintain, alter or improve the performance of soil. In this study, the potential of Recron fiber and human hair as stabilizing additive to expansive soil is evaluated for the improving engineering properties of expansive soil. The varying proportion of Recron fiber and human hair were added to enhance the strength properties and make them more suitable to use and noted that there will be Change in various soil properties such as plastic limit, liquid limit, Shrinkage limit, Maximum dry density, Optimum Moisture Content and Unconfined Compression Strength, of soil were studied

Improvement of Geo-engineering Properties of Expansive Clayey Soil by using Sodium Chloride and Bagasse Ash

Expansive soils contain minerals such as smectite clays that are capable of absorbing water accompanied by shrink and swell behavior and thus change in volume. The swell–shrink behavior of these soils could lead to instability of the structures found on them, specifically the light-weight structures and pavements. Expansive clay soil is encountered in most parts of Egypt. A comprehensive study was made in Sixth of October city to investigate the impact of lime sludge and bagasse ash as an industrial solid waste from sugar-cane factory and sodium chloride salt on geotechnical engineering properties of expansive soil. The macrostructural properties are quantified through laboratory testing for Free swell index, Plasticity index and infiltration tests. The microstructural aspects of the treated soil are observed through X-ray diffraction studies and SEM micrographs. The laboratory results showed that by increasing the lime sludge, Bagasse ash and NaCl concentrations the liquid limit decreased from 100% to 60% while the plastic limit increased from 100% to 90% respectively. In addition, the infiltration tests showed an increase in the infiltration rate from 10% to 80% when LS and Bagasse ash were added to the soil also the free swell decreased from 100% to 70 % sufficiently. XRD patterns showed the formation of new kaolin cementitious compound as the change of montmorillonite to kaolinite mineral took place due to the reaction of high amount of calcium ions produced from the stabilizer, the cation exchange took place between the calcium cation of the lime associated with the surfaces of the clay particles. The effect of cation exchange and attraction causes clay particles to became close to each other, this process is called flocculation which is accompanied by a series of pozzolanic reactions resulting in the formation of clay aggregates that are bound together by the new cementitious products such as calcium aluminate. Scanning Electron Microscopic images (SEM) and SEM micrographs determined the formation of organized dense clay matrices of aggregations that showed the reduction of Montmorillonite clay mineral peak intensities and an increase in kaolinite clay mineral peak intensities due to the change of expansive soil texture and reduction of interplanar spacing of the treated soil.

Engineering Properties of Cement Stabilized Expansive Clay Soil

Abstract This study was to evaluate the engineering properties of cement stabilized expansive clay soils. This study considered an experimental program to determine Atterberg limits, free swell index, compaction characteristics, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), and swell of the mixtures. The collected expansive soils were stabilized using 10, 12, 14, and 16 % of cement by weight. The laboratory results showed that the soils have low shear strength and high swelling potential, which indicates the soils are weak for subgrade without improvement. The improvement of some of the engineering properties of expansive soil stabilized by 14 % cement was 15 % for liquid limit, 23 % for plastic limit, 73 % for plasticity index, 9 % for optimum moisture content, 6 % for maximum dry density, 55 % for the free swell index, 1332 % for California Bearing Ratio, and 88 % for swell. The analysis results indicated that 14 % cement stabilization is very effective for the improvement of expansive soil strength.

Mechanical Behavior of Plastic Strips-Reinforced Expansive Soils Stabilized with Waste Marble Dust

Expansive soil needs to undergo treatment to be used as safe foundation soil for roads and buildings. From an environmental conservation and economical point of view, the usage of agricultural and industrial wastes is the best option. In this study, the effects of utilizing plastic waste and marble waste dust on the engineering properties of expansive soils were examined. Various laboratory tests were carried out on sampled expansive soil by adding 10, 15, and 20% of marble and 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75% of 5 × 8 mm2 plastic strips. The laboratory test results showed that there are good enhancements on strength parameters due to the addition of marble dust and plastic strips. With an increase in percentages of marble dust and plastic strips, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values rise. With the addition of marble dust, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values increase linearly, while they increase only up to 0.5% with the addition of plastic strips. As the proportions of marble dust and plastic strips increase, the soil’s free swell and CBR swell are decreased significantly. This shows that environmental pollution waste marble dust and plastic strips can be utilized to strengthen the weak subgrade soil and minimize its swelling properties. Therefore, this study found out that the expansive soil treated with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and marble dust can be used as a subgrade material since it fulfills the minimum requirement needed by standards.

Effect of RBI Grade 81 on Strength Characteristics of Expansive Soil

Expansive soils, which are generally termed as problematic soils, cause swelling and shrinkage resulting in significant damage to the structures constructed on them. In this study, an attempt is made to know the effect of Road Building International Grade 81 (RBI Grade 81) on strength characteristics of expansive soil. RBI Grade 81 has a wide range of response spectrum. Response spectrum is the range of soils for which a particular stabilizer can be used. A wide range of tests, such as Atterberg limits, compaction, unconfined compressive strength, and California bearing ratio, were conducted on expansive soil and expansive soil treated with various percentages of RBI Grade 81. The results indicate that RBI Grade 81 is effective in improving engineering properties of expansive soil.

Experimental Study on the Influence of Microbial Content on Engineering Characteristics of Improved Expansive Soil

In order to study the influence of microbial content on the engineering properties of expansive soil im-proved by microbially induced calcium carbonate (MICP) method, and to clarify its influence law and mechanism of action, and to provide some theoretical reference for the application of MICP method to expansive soil treatment. Microbial reproduction and their mineralization in expansive soils have been studied. The problems such as moisture content controlling and low calcium content in the process of treating expansive soil with MICP method have been solved by means of adding calcium salt and using optimum moisture content as the control standard of the total amount of bacterial solution and cementation solution. The tests such as compaction, swelling rates and triaxial shear are carried out. The hydrophilicity, compaction, expansibility and strength characteristics of improved expansive soil under different microbial content are analyzed. The results demonstrate that with the increasing of microbial content, the dry density and shear strength of the improved soil are first increased significantly and then tend to be stable gradually. At the same time, the hydrophilicity and expansibility of improved soil are all decreased significantly. The microstructures of improved expansive soil are imaged by scanning electron microscope. Analytic results show that soil particles have been cemented and the pores in the soil have been filled due to microbially induced calcite precipitation. As a result, microstructure characteristics of the soil have been improved. From the microscopic point of view, the improvement mechanism of MICP method on expansive soil has been revealed. The conclusions above laid a theoretical foundation for in-tensive study on the improvement of expansive soil by MICP method. It also provides a new idea for perfecting and expanding the engineering application of expansive soil improvement technology.

Discussion: The Impact of Variation of Gypsum and Water Content on the Engineering Properties of Expansive Soil [DOI: 10.1007/s40515-021–00192-5

Discussion: The Impact of Variation of Gypsum and Water Content on the Engineering Properties of Expansive Soil [DOI: 10.1007/s40515-021–00192-5

Reply to the Discussion: The Impact of Variation of Gypsum and Water Content on the Engineering Properties of Expansive Soil [DOI: 10.1007/s40515-021–00,192-5

Reply to the Discussion: The Impact of Variation of Gypsum and Water Content on the Engineering Properties of Expansive Soil [DOI: 10.1007/s40515-021–00,192-5

Stabilization of black cotton soil with coal bottom ash

Expansive soils are problematic due to the performances of their clay constituent usually have the potential to show their undesirable engineering properties such as low bearing capacity, high shrinkage and swell characteristics. The shrink-swell behaviour makes the soil inappropriate for direct engineering application in its natural form and in order to enhance its engineering quality to make them more feasible for usage, stabilization soil can be done physically or chemically. The main aim of this is study is the strength properties of black cotton soil like unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR), & Maximum Dry Density, and Optimum Moisture Content with a stabilizing agent CBA. Being a cementitious material, CBA improves the strength of the expansive soil and reduces the shrinkage and swelling properties due to the existence of silica & alumina. The objective of this study is the analysis of the effect of coal bottom on black cotton soil. Index properties and engineering properties of expansive soil (black cotton soil) were tested in the laboratory. The sample for the test was prepared by CBA addition @ 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% as a stabilizing agent with soil, respectively. The results show that up to 30% CBA addition, values of strength parameter increase, and fall afterward.

Effect of optimum utilization of silica fume and eggshell ash to the engineering properties of expansive soil

The utilization of substance stabilizer in soil improvement can diminish the obstructive ecological effect in the development business, and respond as the soil stabilizers to the kaolin clay soils. In any case, the improvement of kaolin clay stays a test because of the significant expense and non-eco-accommodating materials like concrete and lime. This examination exhibits the capacity of SF in the mix with ESA in stabilizing the delicate kaolin clay soils, by means of particle size distribution (PSD), specific gravity, Atterberg limits, compaction parameters and undrained shear strength (USS) parameters. Its impact on the undrained shear strength upgrade was concentrated through the concrete substitution material in kaolin clay soil at the replacement degree of 2%, 4% and 6% (by dry weight of kaolin clay soil) of SF and ESA replacements of 3%, 6% and 9% (by dry weight of kaolin clay and SF content). The consideration of SF with ESA shows a lower specific gravity (4.9% decrease), lower plasticity index (PI) (48.4% decrease), diminished maximum dry density (MDD) (5.5% decrease), expanded in optimum moisture content (OMC) (8.7% increase), and higher USS (68.8%) when contrasted with the untreated kaolin clay soils and those treated with SF. The blends of SF and ESA as soil adjustment specialists effectively upgrade the undrained shear strength of the kaolin clay soils up to 68.8% strength improvement with the best percentage of 6% SF and 6% ESA for optimum enhancement of the expansive soil, which minimizing the expenses and as an eco-accommodating materials in soil improvement.

Stabilizing black cotton soil in subgrade with municipal solid waste incineration ash for lowering greenhouse gas emission: A review

The construction of bituminous pavement causes greenhouse gas emissions which can be reduced significantly by using municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) ash in the subgrade. The present study is the review of work carried out by various researchers on the improvement of engineering properties of expansive soils, namely black cotton soil (BCS), after the addition of MSWI ash to the soil in varying proportions. The study findings indicate that the optimum content of MSWI ash to be added to expansive soils for improvement in strength characteristics varies between 10% and 30%, with the best results at 25% of MSWI ash proportion. This content of MSWI ash increases the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of expansive black cotton soil from 28.8 kPa to 53.4 kPa and an increase in CBR value from 3.38% to 9.38%. Therefore, the review suggests using MSWI ash, keeping in view the enormous increase in volumes of municipal solid waste (MSW) due to fast urbanization in the country. Most of the past studies on soil stabilization through ashes are based on ashes of thermal power projects. Still, the present research focuses on using MSWI ash for the dual purpose of stabilization of black cotton soil to be used as subgrade material and to minimize greenhouse emissions. This is the novelty of the present study.

Engineering properties of expansive soil stabilized by physically amended titanium gypsum

The deposition of large amounts of industrial solid waste titanium gypsum via weathering causes wastage of land resources and environmental pollution. The resource utilization of titanium gypsum is mainly limited by its low reaction rate. This paper presents a simple physical modification to improve the performance of titanium gypsum for use in the stabilization of expansive soils. The engineering properties and mechanisms of stabilized soils were investigated by combining the evaluation of stabilized soil properties including physical properties, deformation characteristics, mechanical capacity, microstructure, and mineral evolution on a macroscopic and microscopic scale. The results showed that the coarse particles of the soil increased and the plasticity index, swelling potential shrinkage, and compression index decreased while the strength characteristics of unconfined compressive strength, cohesion and internal friction angle of the stabilized soil were significantly improved. Furthermore, a curing time of 7 d was recommended for stabilizing the expansive soil. Microcosmic experiment results revealed the densification process of the internal structure and reflected the ion exchange, coagulation, and agglomeration of the stabilized soil. Moreover, stabilized soil at 25% titanium gypsum admixture can satisfy the requirements of the Chinese standard for subgrades below Grade II. This study suggests that titanium gypsum has broad application prospects as a stabilizer for expansive soils.

The Impact of Variation of Gypsum and Water Content on the Engineering Properties of Expansive Soil

The Impact of Variation of Gypsum and Water Content on the Engineering Properties of Expansive Soil