Stabilization of Unsaturated

Expansive Soils Using Solid Wastes

By

Vuwane Bongiwe

Submitted in accordance with the requirements

For the degree of

Master of Civil Engineering

University of Central University of Technology

April 2021
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 BACKGROUND

2 INTRODUCTION

2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

3 USE OF SOLID WASTE

4 OBJECTIVES

5 HISTORICALLY

6 CONCLUSION
Background

Expansive soils are problematic due to the performances of their clay mineral constituent,
which makes them exhibit the shrink-swell characteristics. The shrink-swell behaviours
make expansive soils inappropriate for direct engineering application in their natural form.
In an attempt to make them more feasible for construction purposes, numerous materials
and techniques have been used to stabilise the soil. In this document, the additives and
techniques applied for stabilising expansive soils will be focused on stabilising expansion soil
using solid waste.

Introduction

In civil engineering structures, various kinds of soils are used; however, some soil deposits in
their natural form are suitable for construction purposes, whereas others are unsuitable
without treatment, such as the problematic soils. Typical of problematic soils are the
expansive soils, which are frequently observed due to their existence worldwide. Generally,
the typical expansive soils can be easily identified from their high plasticity, excessive heave,
and high swell-shrink potential which are made up of clay, shale or marl. A well-known
expansive soil with high volume change tendency is the black cotton soil, which occurs
mainly in areas with lacustrine and basaltic geologic origin like the Lake. The aim of the
engineers in stabilisation of expansive soil is more or less to normalise the volume change
and plasticity or workability characteristics, whilst significantly improve the strength
properties.

For this, there is a need for both geotechnical engineers and researchers to reconcile
theory and practice with respect to expansive soil stabilisation.Expansive soils are a
worldwide problem that poses several challenges for civil engineers. Such soils swell when
given an access to water and shrink when they dry out. The most common and economical
method for stabilizing these soils is using admixtures that prevent volume changes.For
example expansive clay soils are extensively distributed worldwide, and are a source of
great damage to infrastructure and buildings. These soils can cause heavy economic losses,
as well as being a source of risk to the population. Soil stabilization means alteration of the
soils properties to meet the specified engineering requirements. Increase in soil strength,
durability stiffness, and reduction in soil plasticity, swelling and shrinkage potential.
Methods for the stabilization are compaction and use of admixtures. Lime, Cement was
commonly used as stabilizer for altering the properties of soils. From the recent studies it is
observed that, solid waste materials such as fly ash, rice husk ash are used for this intended
purpose with or without lime or cement.
Problem statement

Behaviour of Expansive soil

It is known that due to isomorphs substitution, clay particles consist of superficial negative
charges. As a result, electrostatic forces exist between the negative clay surface and
exchangeable cations within the clay-pore fluid media whose strength is dependent on the
chemistry of the exchangeable cation. In order to maintain neutrality within the clay-pore
fluid media, there is a natural affinity for the counter ions to be attracted onto the surface
of clay particles, thereby decreasing their concentration with distance from the clay surface.
This change in concentration produces the surface electrostatic property known as the
diffuse double layer. The amount of cations needed for maintenance of neutrality on the
clay surface is the cation exchange capacity.

The double layer consequently causes a separation between the minerals and particles,
accompanied by swelling behaviour for expandable clay minerals like montmorillonite. The
diffuse double layer significantly influences all the engineering properties of clayey soil,
especially the hydraulic conductivity. The influence of diffuse double layer on volume
change behaviour of an expansive soil is inherent due to its expandable clay mineral, like
montmorillonite, whose morphology is characterised by an expanding clay lattice.
Expandable clay minerals are known to have weak intermolecular forces of attraction
between adjacent unit cells, but significant isomorphous substitution during mineral
formation that has negative surface charges, considerable cation exchange capacity, and big
specific surface in terms of mass.
Historically

According to the old documents over the years, various results have been achieved in the
area of expansive soil stabilisation, probably due to deeper insight and knowledge of
expansive soil behaviour. Geotechnical engineers have already made huge effort towards
understanding the behaviour of expansive soils under loading condition using scientific
principles, and several laboratory experiments have been thus designed. Many years ago,
many attempts were made by the geotechnical community to explain the fundamental
behaviour of expansive soils and their proper identification. A method by Palit was reported
to definitely ascertain the swelling pressure of BCS, where it was pointed out that an
increase in height of the sample during the test causes an increase in swell pressure,
although the relationship remains immature. Information obtained from oedometer test by
Jennings and Knight was used to understand the phenomenon of heave.

Further efforts led to the determination of swell potential of expansive clays using
laboratory, predictive and field observations. In order to clarify hydro-mechanical behaviour
in clays, a negative pore water pressure resulting from its moisture demand is known as soil
suction. Soil suction in clay subgrade as stated by Petry and Little has been established to be
related to swell when moisture is present. As a result, many researchers then developed
concept as well as methods to measure and apply it for determining expansive soil
characteristics like swell and resilient modulus. Laboratory experiments like Atterberg's
limits, particle size distribution like sieve analysis and hydrometer, moisture content and dry
density, were used by Lytton to describe some important properties of expansive clays.
These works briefly clarify a basic understanding and various laboratory methods of
identifying expansive soil behaviour.
Use of solid waste

Disposal of solid waste materials is essential as these are causing hazardous effects on the
environment. Solid waste term includes all those solid and semi-solid materials that are
discarded by the community. Improper management of solid wastes causes adverse effects
on the ecology which may lead to cause possible outbreak of diseases and epidemics. Solid
wastes are broadly classified in to three groups namely Industrial waste, Agricultural waste,
and Municipal waste apart from other categories of wastes. Industrial wastes are the waste
arising from industrial activities and are hazardous in nature due to presence of toxic
substances. Flyash is an industrial waste being generated from thermal power plants and it
is available in fine dust form. And it contain trace amount of toxic metals such as Th, Pb, Hg,
Cd, and many more, which may have negative impact on the health of humans, animals and
plants growth too. Thus huge amount of flyash generated, is not only causing
environmental problem, but also creating problems associated with its disposal.

Objectives

Reuse of waste materials have been advocated for quite a while now and the
utilization of industrial wastes in improving the properties of poor soils open up a
new avenue for solid waste management. Expansive soils have been one of the
most problematic soils encountered by a Civil Engineer. The utilization of solid
wastes in soil stabilization is an area of potential and promise. And it also provides
the double advantage of waste management along with soil improvement. Stabilising
with solid waste water needs a qualified personnel or well trained workers.

Conclusion

The benefits of using solid waste is to protects the environment, ensures physical safety,
Improves community health, and promotes health and sanitation. After the process of soil
stabilisation there are test that must be conducted. The importance of soil stabilisation
using solid waste improves construction material. Increase in soil strength, durability
stiffness, and reduction in soil plasticity and swelling and shrinkage potential. Several tests
must be carried out to check the wellness of soil stabilisation. The durability tensile test,
bearing capacity, Moisture content test, Atterberg limits tests, Specific gravity of
soil, Dry density of soil, and Compaction test also known as Proctor's test

References ????????