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UNIT-IV
CHEMICAL MODIFICATION
Cement can be used to stabilize sandy and clayey soils. As in the case of lime, cement
helps decrease the liquid limit and increase the plasticity index and workability of clayey
soils. Cement stabilization is effective for clayey soils when the liquid limit is less than 45 to
50 and the plasticity index is less than about 25. The optimum requirements of cement by
volume for effective stabilization of various types of soil are given in like lime; cement helps
increase the strength of soils, and strength increases with curing time. Presents some typical
values of the unconfined compressive strength of various types of untreated soil and of soil–
cement mixtures made with approximately 10% cement by weight.
Granular soils and clayey soils with low plasticity obviously are most suitable for
cement stabilization. Calcium clays are more easily stabilized by the addition of cement,
whereas sodium and hydrogen clays, which are expansive in nature, respond better to lime
stabilization. For these reasons, proper care should be given in the selection of the stabilizing
material. For field compaction, the proper amount of cement can be mixed with soil either at
the site or at a mixing plant. The soil is compacted to the required unit weight with a
predetermined amount of water. Similar to lime injection, cement slurry made of Portland
cement and water (in a water– cement ratio of 0.5:5) can be used for pressure grouting of
poor soils under foundations of buildings and other structures. Grouting decreases the
hydraulic conductivity of soils and increases their strength and load-bearing capacity. For the
design of low-frequency machine foundations subjected to vibrating forces, stiffening the
foundation soil by grouting and thereby increasing the resonant frequency is sometimes
necessary.
3. Perform the Standard Proctor on soil-cement mixtures for the change in maximum dry unit
weight in accordance with AASTO T 134.
4. Perform the unconfined compression and CBR tests on the pair of specimens molded at
95% of the standard Proctor in case of stabilization. A gain of 100 psi of cement stabilization
is adequate enough for stabilization and % cement shall be adjusted. Although, there is no test
requirement for the optimum cement content when using cement to modify the sub grade. An
amount of cement 4% ± 0.50% by dry weight of the soil should be used for the modification
of the sub grade.
―Type C fly ash is obtained from the burning of coal primarily from the western United
States. This type of fly ash contains a fairly large proportion (up to about 25%) of free lime
that, with the addition of water, will react with other fly-ash compounds to form cementations
products. Its use may eliminate the need to add manufactured lime.
2. The soil can be mixed with the proper amount of lime and water at a plant and then hauled
back to the site for compaction.
3. Lime slurry can be pressure injected into the soil to a depth of 4 to 5 m. shows a vehicle
used for pressure injection of lime slurry. The slurry-injection mechanical unit is mounted to
the injection vehicle. A common injection unit is a hydraulic-lift mast with crossbeams that
contain the injection rods.
4. The rods are pushed into the ground by the action of the lift mast beams. The slurry is
generally mixed in a batching tank about 3 m in diameter and 12 m long and is pumped at
high pressure to the injection rods. Figure shows the lime slurry pressure injection process.
The ratio typically specified for the preparation of lime slurry is 1.13 kg of dry lime to a
gallon of water.
5. Because the addition of hydrated lime to soft clayey soils immediately increases the
plastic limit, thus changing the soil from plastic to solid and making it appear to dry up,
Limited amounts of the lime can be thrown on muddy and troublesome construction sites.
This action improves traffic ability and may save money and time. Quicklime‘s have also
been successfully used in drill holes having diameters of 100 to 150 mm for stabilization of
sub grades and slopes. For this type of work, holes are drilled in a grid pattern and then filled
with quicklime.
1) CALCIUM CHLORIDE
When calcium chloride added to soil it causes colloidal reactions and alters the characteristics
of soil water. As calcium chloride is deliquescent and hygroscopic it reduces the loss of
moisture from the soil. It also chances of reduces of frost heave as the freezing point of water
is lowered. Calcium chloride is very effective as dust palliative. As the soils treated with
calcium chloride do not easily pickup water the method is effective for stabilization of silty
and clayey soils witch lose strength with an increase in water content. Calcium chloride
causes slightly increase in the maximum dry density.
2) SODIUM CHLORIDE
The action of sodium chloride is similar to that of calcium chloride in many respects.
However the tendency for attraction of moisture is somewhat lesser than that of calcium
chloride. When sodium chloride added to the soil crystallization occurs in the pores of the
soil and it forms a dense hard mat with the stabilized surface. The pores in the soil gets filled
up and retard further evaporation of water sodium chloride also checked the tendency for the
formation of shrinkage cracks.
3) LIGNIN
Lignin is available both in the powder form and in the form of sulphite liquid. Lignin in both
the forms has been in use as an additive to the soil for many years. Lignin is water soluble, its
stabilizing effects are not permanent. In an attempt to improve the action of lignin, the
chrome lignin process was developed and studied by smith (1952). An in soluble gel is
formed when sodium bichromate or potassium bichromate is added to the type of soil treated.
Lignin acts as acid if not neutralized. It is also reported that lignin also reduces from heave.
economical or feasible alternate, the following criteria should be considered for chemical
b. Fly ash and lime fly ash blends: 5 < PI < 20 and > 35 % passing No. 200