Soil Stabilisation & Compaction Methods

Dr R.Sathish Kumar
Faculty
NICMAR
Introduction

 The term soil stabilisation means the

improvement of the stability or bearing power
of the soil by the use of controlled
compaction, proportioning and or addition of
suitable admixtures or stabilisers.
 Soil stabilisation deals with physical, physico-
chemical and chemical methods to make the
stabilised soil serve its purpose.
Soil stabilisation
 Soil stabilisation may result in one or more of the
following changes
-Increase in stability
-Change in physical properties like density or
swelling
-Change in chemical properties
 Objective is to increase the stability or strength
of soil and to reduce the construction cost by
making best use of the locally available
materials.
 Applications in the construction of roads and air
field pavements.
Various techniques of soil stabilisation

 Proportioning technique
Various locally available soils and aggregates
are mixed in suitable proportion and compacted
to serve desired objective.
 Cementing agents
 The strength of the soil can be increased by
the addition of cementing agents like Portland
cement, lime or lime-fly ash.
 Bituminous materials also impart binding effect
to non-cohesive soils.
Various technique of soil stabilisation

 Modifying agents
 Stabiliser added in small proportions could
modify the undesirable properties of certain
soils.
 Lime is used as a modifier in the case of
highly plastic soils.
 Portland cement also acts as modifier in some
cases.
Various technique of soil stabilisation

 Water proofing agents


A compacted soil mass which is normally
stable enough may become weaker or softer by
the ingress of water or when subjected to
soaking conditions.
 If the absorption of water can be stopped or

retarded by means of some water proofing

agent, it will be possible to make use such
materials for stabilisation.
Example: Bituminous materials
Various technique of soil stabilisation

 Heat treatment
-Thermal stabilisation has different useful
aspects as regards clayey soils.
- There are desirable changes in some of the
properties in heat treated soil.
Various technique of soil stabilisation

 Chemicals
Chemical may impart useful changes in
certain types of soils.

In all the above methods, adequate

compaction of the stabilised layers is the
most essential requirement.
Methods of Stabilisation
 Modification or improvement of soil property of the
existing soil without any admixture – Compaction
and drainage are the examples which improve the
shear strength of soil.
 Modification of the properties of soil with the help of
admixtures – Examples are mechanical stabilisation,
stabilisation with cement, lime, bitumen and
chemicals etc.
Mechanical Stabilisation

Involves two operations:

 Changing the composition of soil by addition

or removal of certain constituents

 Densification or Compaction
Mechanical Stabilisation
Changing the composition of soil by addition or
removal of certain constituents
 Significant changes in the properties can be
made by addition or removal of suitable soil
fractions.
 Soil materials can be divided into two fractions:

Granular fraction: retained on a 75 micron sieve

- impart strength and hardness.
Fine soil fraction: passing a 75 micron sieve-
provides cohesion or binding property, water
retention capacity and also acts as a filler for the
voids of coarse fraction.
Mechanical Stabilisation

Densification or Compaction:
 Compaction has great effect on soil
properties, such as strength and stress-strain
characteristics, permeability, compression,
swelling and water absorption.
 The properties of a soil depend on the water
content, amount of compaction and type of
compaction.
Cement Stabilisation
 Soil stabilised with Portland cement is known as
soil cement.
 Cementing action is the result of chemical reaction
of cement with silicious soil during hydration which
is possible only in coarse grained soils.
 In fine grained cohesive soils only some particles
will have cement bond and others will be bonded
through natural cohesion.
 Nature of soil, cement content, conditions of
mixing, compaction and curing are the factors
affecting the strength of soil cement.
Cement Stabilization - Factors

2. Cement Content:
 Strength increases with an increase in the

amount of cement and if such an increase is

in strength does not result, the soil may
normally be considered unsuitable.
 OPC is generally used and high early

strength cement can also used.

Cement Stabilization - Factors
2. Cement content (contd.)
 Amount of cement expressed as a percentage by
weight of dry soil, generally varies between 5 to
15%.
 Actual amount is experimentally determined by
performing compressive strength (desired comp.
strength is 25 to 30 kg/cm2).
 Approximate amounts needed:

Gravel – 5 to 10 % Sands- 7 to 12%

Silts – 12 to 15 % Clays – 12 to 20 %
Cement Stabilization - Factors

3.Mixing, Compaction and Curing:

 Optimum mixing to be done, mixing however result

in decreased strength if it is continued long after the

cement hydration has begun.
 Fine grained soils compacted wet of optimum water

content shows better strength and stability.

 Strength of soil-cement increases with age. Hence it

should be moist cured for at least 7 days.

Cement Stabilization - Factors

4. Admixtures
 Lime and calcium chloride are commonly

used with clays and soils containing organic

matter. Sodium carbonate and sodium
sulphate have also been used.
 Fly ash has also been found to be useful in

the stabilisation of dune sand.

Cement Stabilisation- Construction Methods

Construction Sequence:
 Shaping the sub-grade and scarifying the soil

 Pulverising the soil

 Adding and mixing cement

 Adding and mixing water

 Compacting

 Finishing

 Curing

 Adding wearing surface

Lime Stabilisation

Effective in treating heavy, plastic clayey soils.

Used alone or in combination with bitumen or
fly ash.
Sandy soils can also stabilised with the
combinations.
Lime stabilisation is mainly done for road bases
and sub-grades.
Lime Stabilisation

 2 to 8 % of lime may be required for coarse

grained soils and 5 to 10 % for plastic soils.
 Amount of fly ash as admixture may vary
from 8 to 20% of soil weight.
Lime Stabilisation

 Construction process similar to those of soil

cement.
 No strict time limitation for completion of the
job due to slow rate of reaction between lime
and soil.
Bitumen Stabilisation

 Asphalts and tars are used for pavement

construction.
 Due to high viscosity for direct usage, the
fluidity is increased by heating or
emulsification or cut-back process.
 They impart cohesion to soil and has reduced
water absorption.
Stabilisation by heating

 Heating a fine grained soil to temperatures

400 to 600 0 C causes irreversible changes in
clay minerals.
 Soil becomes non-plastic, less water
sensitive and non-expansive.
 Can be baked in kilns, or in situ furnaces.
Stabilisation by heating

 Clay clods get converted to aggregates which

can be used for mechanical stabilisation.
 Method consists of burning a liquid fuel and
air injected into ground through a network of
pipes.
Electrical Stabilisation

 Electro osmosis
 Electrical drainage is accompanied by
electro-chemical composition of the
electrodes and the deposition of the metal
salts in soil pores.
 Resulting cementing of soil is known as
electro-chemical hardening and for this
purpose the use of aluminium anodes is
recommended.
Soil Compaction
Soil Compaction

 By compaction of soil, the particles, are

mechanically constrained to be packed more
closely, by expelling part of the air voids.
 Compaction increases the density and
stability, reduces settlement and lowers the
adverse effects of moisture.
Compacting equipment

 Soil compaction is achieved in the field by

rolling, ramming or by vibration.
 Hence the compacting equipments are
classified as
- rollers
- rammers
- vibrators
Rollers

 The various types of rollers which are used

for compaction are smooth wheel, pneumatic
tyred and sheepsfoot rollers.
Smooth Wheeled Rollers

 Smooth wheeled rollers are two types

- three wheeled or macadam rollers and
tandem rollers
 The compacting efficiency of the smooth
wheeled roller depends on the weight, width
and diameter of each roller.
Smooth Wheeled Rollers
Smooth Wheeled Rollers
Pneumatic Tyred Roller

 In this type, number of pneumatic wheels are

mounted on two or more axles, under a
loading platform. These rollers are pulled by
tractors.
 These are most suitable to compact non-
plastic silts and fine sands.
 In addition to the direct pressure due to
rolling, there is also a slight kneading action.
Mechanics of compaction by Pneumatic Tyred Roller
(application of pressurized gas for motion)
Pneumatic Tyred Roller
Sheepsfoot Roller

 Sheepsfoot Roller consists of hollow steel

cylinder with projecting feet. The weight of
the roller can be increased by filling the drum
with wet soil. These may be pulled by
tractors.
 Suitable to compact clayey soils
Sheepsfoot Roller
Mechanics of compaction by Sheepsfoot Roller
Rammers & Vibrators

 Rammers are useful to compact relatively

small areas and where the rollers cannot
operate as compaction of trenches,
foundation and slopes.
 Vibrators are most suited for compacting
dry cohesionless granular material. There
are also vibrator mounted roller to give the
combined effects of rolling and vibration.
Single drum vibro roller
Tandem Vibro Roller
Grader
Vibratory tamper roller
Sheep Roller