What is Soil Stabilization?

Soil stabilization is a procedure wherein the engineering properties of the soil are altered
and enhanced to increase its suitability for construction purposes. In civil engineering, soil
stabilization is a technique to refine and improve the engineering properties of soils such as
mechanical strength, permeability, compressibility, durability and plasticity. Physical or
mechanical improvement is common but some schools of thought prefer to use the term
‘stabilization’ in reference to chemical improvements in the soil properties by adding
chemical admixtures.

OR

Abstract - Soil stabilization is a method of improving soil. properties by blending and

mixing bituminous materials. Soil is used sub base and base material, If strength
of soil is poor, then stabilization is usually required. Subgrade is
sometimes stabilized or changed with solider soil .

The practice of stabilizing or modifying soils dates back to the age of the Romans. Other
nations such as the United States and China among many others adopted it in the latter half
of the 20thcentury. There were several reasons for it. Not all sites offer favourable
construction conditions. At such sites, a contractor usually has four main options at his
disposal. They are:
 Substituting poor grade soils with aggregates possessing more favourable
engineering properties.
 Looking for a new construction site.
 Modifying the proposed structure to suit the poor engineering properties of the
current soil.
 Finally, enhancing the properties of soil on site.

Options 1, 2 and 3 are not only expensive but also impractical. Today, with better research
and more effective equipment and materials, soil stabilization, option 4 on the list, is
considered the most feasible option for all construction purposes. Some definitions of it also
refer to the process as soil modification.
Soil Stabilization Methods:

When speaking about the definitions of it, it is important to consider the methods used for
the same. Soils are stabilized either by subjecting it to mechanical processes or by adding a
chemical or additive. Compaction dates back to the Roman times and even earlier but
particularly the 18th century where the interurban travel and its importance was recognized.
It was driven by the need for ground improvement . Compaction is one of the commonly
used mechanical processes. It increases the density of the soil by eliminating air from
between grains. To date, soil compaction constitutes one of the most commonly used
construction practices in civil engineering. Soil that has been compacted has better load-
bearing capacities and reduces porosity. Densification through soil compaction improves
soil properties, it increases soil strength, reduces compressibility and permeability. Although
compaction often appears to be a simple practical process, it is very complex on analysis
under external and environmental loads. Compacted soil can exhibit various behaviours
ranging from plastic deformation, in particular, swelling and collapse compression under
wetting  and cracking under drying this is also in relation to changes in density due to wet or
dry cycles. 

Majority of the problems related to soil use are attributed to unfavourable interactions
between water and soil. Engineering properties are negatively impacted on increase of
water content with examples such as decrease in cohesion, swelling of soil, alternating dry
out shrinkage and wetting effects which destroy soil structure as do frost-thaw variations.
Chemical soil stabilizers confer favourable characteristics regardless of the moisture in the
environment through modification of interactions between water and soil by surface
reactions in the process altering the behaviour of the soil with respect to water effects.  As
far as the use of chemicals is concerned, lime, bituminous and cement are some of the
additives added to the soil. These additives and binders when they come in contact with the
pozzolanic minerals present in the soil or water, they react to form composite materials.
Soil-cement is better known as a mechanical additive because like mechanical processes it
does not alter the chemical properties of soil like lime would do, but simply enhances its
existing properties. The surface activity of the soil particles, the polarity of the surfaces and
their water absorption, and the entire adsorption complex play the most critical roles
although aggregation extent of the particles and changes in degree of aggregation achieved
by modification of the equilibrium of intergranular repulsive and attractive forces. In
essence, chemical stabilization is performed to favourably change the soil-water
interactions. 

The method of stabilizing soils is a commonly undertaken procedure in the construction of

airfields, parking lots, landfills, embankments, roads and foundations, waterway
management, agriculture and mining sites. The type of stabilization that might be used
depends on the site; it may use single method or a combination of the two.

GRT Soil Stabilization:

Global Road Technology is a world leader in stabilization and dust control solutions.  The

innovative range of products has revolutionized the definition of it in-situ by creating for
environment-friendly construction projects. It holds the future of road stabilization and
surfacing with its GRT9000 and GRT PCM which when integrated into pavement and
subgrade materials delivers strong, semi-flexible and water-impermeable layers. 
Additionally, the GRT7000 and GRT5000 polymer sealing and all purpose control products
are the preferred choices for dust suppression. They work like a dust palliative and a
sealant simultaneously to trap fine soil particles preventing them from becoming airborne.

The Global Road Technology lineup also includes bonding and capping agents to create
strong foundations, capping layers and road sub-base layers. If this is not enough reason,
GRT products offer the longevity and stability that no other soil stabilization and dust
suppression systems on the market can offer, all products have been tested extensively by
the world’s leading environmental risk management company.

The Definition of soil stabilization can be explained by any number of our industry-leading
consultants.

For more information on Global Road Technology’s Soil Stabilization Methods, Contact

GRT.

Your feedback is important to us. If you enjoyed reading this Global Road Technology
industry update and found it informative, please let us know by leaving a REVIEW.

REFERENCES 

Behnood, A. 2018. Soil and clay stabilization with calcium and non-calcium-based additives:
A state of the art review with challenges, approaches and techniques. Transportation
Geotechnics. 17. 14-32.