Effect of lime and fly ash on swell,consolidation and shear strength characteristics of expansive clays: a comparative study

Expansive soils swell on absorbing water and shrink on evaporation thereof. Because of this alternate swelling and shrinkage, civil engineering structures founded in them are severely damaged. For counteracting the problems of expansive soils, different innovative techniques were suggested. Stabilization of expansive clays with various additives has also met with considerable success. This paper presents, by comparison, the effect of lime and fly ash on free swell index (FSI), swell potential, swelling pressure, coefficient of consolidation, compression index, secondary consolidation characteristics and shear strength. Lime content (weight of lime/weight of dry soil) was varied as 0%, 2%, 4%?and 6%?and fly ash content (weight of fly ash/weight of dry soil) as 0%, 10%?and 20%. A fly ash content of 20%?showed significant reduction in swell potential, swelling pressure, compression index and secondary consolidation characteristics and resulted in increase in maximum dry density and shear strength. Swell potential and swelling pressure decreased with increase in lime content also. Further, consolidation characteristics improved. Compaction characteristics and unconfined compression strength improved at 4%?lime and reduced at 6%?lime.     

粉煤灰改良膨胀土试验研究

研究掺粉煤灰对合肥膨胀土的物理性质指标以及胀缩性指标等的影响,探讨利用粉煤灰改良膨胀土的措施与效果。试验研究结果表明,在膨胀土中掺入适量的粉煤灰可有效降低膨胀土的塑性指数、降低膨胀势、减小线缩率与降低活性。在膨胀土中掺入粉煤灰还可改变膨胀土的击实特性,一定击实功作用下,随着掺灰率的增加,土体的最优含水率与最大干密度均减小,膨胀土中掺入粉煤灰后,膨胀土可在较小的含水率下通过击实或压实达到稳定。掺灰膨胀土的膨胀量与膨胀力随养护龄期的增长而减小;没有经过养护的掺灰土,其无侧限抗压强度随掺灰率的变化几乎没有变化,经过7 d养护后,土的无侧限抗压强度有所增长,并且存在一个峰值点,合肥膨胀土的无侧限抗压强度所对应的最佳掺粉煤灰率约为15 %～20 %。     

掺粉煤灰-石灰对膨胀土胀缩性的影响试验研究

本文探讨利用粉煤灰、石灰-粉煤灰作为添加剂改良合肥膨胀土的可行性与改良效果。试验研究了粉煤灰、石灰-粉煤灰掺合物对膨胀土的胀缩性的影响以及养护作用对改良膨胀土胀缩性的影响。研究结果表明,随着掺灰率的增加,膨胀土的自由膨胀率、膨胀量、膨胀力与线缩率呈减小趋势,这说明掺粉煤灰可有效降低膨胀土的胀缩性。经过一定龄期养护后的击实样的膨胀试验结果表明,随着养护龄期的加长,膨胀土的膨胀量与膨胀力都有一定降低。     

电阻率法评价膨胀土改良的物化过程

掺石灰、粉煤灰是工程中通常采用的改良膨胀土的方法。土电阻率是土的基本物理指标之一,其变化可反映土的其他物理性质指标的变化。通过掺灰改良膨胀土不同养护龄期下的电阻率测试以及膨胀量、膨胀力及无侧限抗压强度等试验研究,探讨了掺灰改良膨胀土养护过程中的物理化学反应过程。根据养护过程中的电阻率随龄期的变化规律,可将改良膨胀土的物理化学反应过程划分为瞬时反应阶段、主体反应阶段、残余反应阶段和稳定阶段4个不同阶段。针对改良膨胀土质量控制和评价体系中存在的不足,提出了基于电阻率指标的改性膨胀土的质量评价方法,通过试验证实了该方法的有效性和实用性。     

Swelling behaviour of expansive soil treated with fly ash–GGBS based binder

In this article, the potential of a binder developed by admixing fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) to stabilise expansive soils is evaluated. Laboratory tests included determination of free swell index, swell potential and swelling pressure tests of the soil/binder mixtures at different mixing ratio. The test results showed decrease in the swelling behaviour of the soil with increase in binder content. The percent swell–time relationship was observed to fit the hyperbolic curves enabling us to predict the ultimate percent swell from few initial test results. Addition of 1% of lime to the binder showed further improvement in reducing swelling. A good linear relationship is established between percent oedometer swell and modified free swell index (MFSI) for soil/binder mixtures without lime but the same has not been observed in the presence of lime. The compressibility characteristics of the soil/binder mixtures reduced nominally with increase in binder content but in the presence of lime, the compressibility reduced significantly. Binder used in this study has been found to be effective and economic to stabilise expansive soils with lesser amount of chemical additives such as lime.     

Behavior of expansive soils stabilized with fly ash

Expansive soils cause serious problem in the civil engineering practice due to swell and shrinkage upon wetting and drying. Disposal of fly ash, which is an industrial waste in both cost-effective and environment-friendly way receives high attention in China. In this study, the potential use and the effectiveness of expansive soils stabilization using fly ash and fly ash-lime as admixtures are evaluated. The test results show that the plasticity index, activity, free swell, swell potential, swelling pressure, and axial shrinkage percent decreased with an increase in fly ash or fly ash-lime content. With the increase of the curing time for the treated soil, the swell potential and swelling pressure decreased. Soils immediately treated with fly ash show no significant change in the unconfined compressive strength. However, after 7 days curing of the fly ash treated soils, the unconfined compressive strength increased significantly. The relationship between the plasticity index and swell-shrinkage properties for pre-treated and post-treated soils is discussed.     

Reduction of Expansive Index,Swelling and Compression Behavior of Kaolinite and Bentonite Clay with Sand and Class C Fly Ash

Swelling behavior of expansive soil has always created problems in the field of geotechnical engineering. Generally, the method used to assess the swelling potential of expansive soil from its plasticity index, shrinkage limit and colloidal content. Alternative way to evaluate swelling behavior is from its expansive index (EI) and swelling pressure value. The present study investigates the reduction of EI and swelling pressure for kaolinite and bentonite clay when mixed with various percentages of Ottawa sand and Class C fly ash. The percentages of Ottawa sand and Class C fly ash used were 0–50 % by weight. The results show that there is a significant reduction in the swelling properties of expansive soil with the addition of Ottawa sand and Class C fly ash. The reduction in EI ranged approximately from 10 to 50 and 4 to 49 % for kaolinite and bentonite clay, respectively. Also the maximum swelling pressure of kaolinite and bentonite clay decreased approximately 93 and 64 %, respectively with the addition of various percentages of Ottawa sand and Class C fly ash. Standard index properties test viz., liquid limit, plastic limit and linear shrinkage test were conducted to see the characteristics of expansive soil when mixed with less expansive sand and fly ash. Also, for these expansive soils one dimensional consolidation test have been conducted with sand and fly ash mixtures and the results were compared with pure kaolinite and bentonite clay.     

Physical and Compaction Behaviour of Clay Soil–Fly Ash Mixtures

At present, nearly 100 million tonnes of fly ash is being generated annually in India posing serious health and environmental problems. To control these problems, the most commonly used method is addition of fly ash as a stabilizing agent usually used in combination with soils. In the present study, high-calcium (ASTM Class C—Neyveli fly) and low-calcium (ASTM Class F—Badarpur fly ash) fly ashes in different proportions by weight (10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 %) were added to a highly expansive soil [known as black cotton (BC) soil] from India. Laboratory tests involved determination of physical properties, compaction characteristics and swell potential. The test results show that the consistency limits, compaction characteristics and swelling potential of expansive soil–fly ash mixtures are significantly modified and improved. It is seen that 40 % fly ash content is the optimum quantity to improve the plasticity characteristics of BC soil. The fly ashes exhibit low dry unit weight compared to BC soil. With the addition of fly ash to BC soil the maximum dry unit weight (γ_dmax) of the soil–fly ash mixtures decreases with increase in optimum moisture content (OMC), which can be mainly attributed to the improvement in gradation of the fly ash. It is also observed that 10 % of Neyveli fly ash is the optimum amount required to minimize the swell potential compared to 40 % of Badarpur fly ash. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to study the effect of fly ashes on the physical, compaction, and swelling potential of BC soils, and bulk utilization of industrial waste by-product without adversely affecting the environment.     

Swell-compressibility characteristics of lime-blended and cement-blended expansive clays – A comparative study

Chemical stabilisation of expansive soils has been quite efficacious in reducing swelling characteristics, namely, swell potential (S%) and swelling pressure (p_s). When chemicals such as lime and cement are added to an expansive clay, flocculation and cementation take place. Flocculation, which is an immediate reaction, is instrumental in reducing plasticity and swell potential significantly. It also reduces the time required for equilibrium heave. This paper presents experimental data on lime-blended and cement-blended expansive clay specimens. Free swell index (FSI), heave, rate of heave and swelling pressure were studied. FSI, heave and rate of heave decreased with increasing lime content and cement content in the blends. But, during a 3-day inundation (a period, generally allowed for the sample to attain to equilibrium heave), cementitious products developed and resisted the applied compressive loads stiffly, resulting in high swelling pressures in the case of lime-blended specimens. Swelling pressure could not be determined in the case of cement-blended specimens. Hence, short inundation tests (inundating the specimens only for 15 minutes) were performed. But, even from these tests, swelling pressure could not be determined for cement-blended specimens. This indicated the development of strong cementitious products in them. It was interesting to find that, in both long and short duration, the lime- and cement-blended specimens attained to equilibrium heave in the same time period. FSI decreased from 185% to 63.63% when lime content was increased from 0% to 4%, and from 185% to 110% when cement content was increased from 0% to 20%. Swell potential reduced by 42.5% at 4% lime and by 46.4% at 20% cement. Swelling pressure increased from 210 kPa to 320 kPa when lime content was increased from 0% to 4%. Linear shrinkage of the specimens also decreased with increasing additive content.     

Effect of Fly Ash and Rice Husk Ash on Index and Engineering Properties of Expansive Clays

Many innovative ameliorating techniques including chemical stabilization have been in practice for improving the behaviour of problematic, highly expansive clays. This paper presents a comparative study on the effect of fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA) on index and engineering properties of an expansive clay. Liquid limit (LL), plastic limit, plasticity index (PI) and free swell index (FSI), and coefficient of permeability (k), unconfined compressive strength and swelling pressure were determined at varying quantities of FA and RHA. Coefficient of permeability, swelling pressure and unconfined compressive strength of the FA-clay and the RHA-clay blends were determined at their respective OMC and MDD obtained from Proctor compaction tests. LL, PI and FSI decreased significantly with increasing FA and RHA contents. Coefficient of permeability, however, increased with additive content. Further, swelling pressure of the blends decreased with increasing additive content.     

Utilization of waste marble to enhance volume change and strength characteristics of sand-stabilized expansive soil

In this paper, marble waste is evaluated as a secondary material to be utilized as potential stabilizer to improve the volume change and strength characteristics of sand-amended expansive soil, proposed as a possible landfill, pavement or sub-base material in a semi-arid climate. An experimental program was conducted on sand-expansive soil enhanced with marble waste, abundantly found as a by-product of construction industry, obtained from two different sources with different gradations, denoted as marble powder (MP) and marble dust (MD). One-dimensional swell, volumetric shrinkage, consolidation, unconfined compressive and flexural strength tests were conducted on expansive soil–sand mixtures with 5, 10 and 20% waste marble inclusions over curing periods of 7, 28 and 90 days. Test results showed that 10% marble powder and 5% marble dust by dry mass were the optimum amounts for mitigating the swell–shrink potential and compression index as well as yielding the highest unconfined compressive and flexural strength values. Moreover, the rate of reduction in swell potential versus the flexural strength over the curing periods studied is highest in 10% MP- and 5% MD-included specimens, the latter being more insensitive to this change. The soil mixtures displayed brittle behavior after marble addition, hence its utilization as a secondary additive to sand-amended expansive soil is recommended for soils exposed to lower flexural loads such as light traffic.     

粉煤灰与生石灰加固软土的室内试验研究

粉煤灰是一种工业废弃物,与生石灰一样均可用来加固软土地基。笔者进行了粉煤灰与生石灰加固土的室内配方试验,分别将水泥或生石灰与粉煤灰按照不同的比例干拌均匀后,再与不同含水量的软土人工拌和均匀,测定了不同龄期的无侧限抗压强度;分析了石灰加固土强度与生石灰掺入比和龄期的关系及其压缩系数、压缩模量等的变化。并进一步分析了粉煤灰的加固机理,旨在为其进一步的研究和工程应用提供参考。     

Effects of soil pulverization quality on lime stabilization of an expansive clay

Lime stabilization is an effective way of stabilizing expansive clays, which cause significant environmental problems both as earth and foundation materials. There are considerable environmental benefits in using the in situ lime-stabilized expansive soils in the construction of road pavements, fill or foundations instead of importing valuable granular materials. However, due to high plastic nature of these clays, achieving appropriate pulverization in field applications is a difficult task. This paper presents the results of a laboratory investigation to determine the effects of soil pulverization quality on lime stabilization of a local expansive clay. Effect of mellowing the soil–lime mixtures for 24 h was also studied to find out whether this would compensate for poor pulverization. The clay studied had swelling pressures varying between 300 and 500 kN/m² and free swell potential as high as 19%. In this study, 3, 6 and 9% lime by dry weight were used for lime-stabilized samples. Unconfined compression strength, failure strain and Secant Elasticity Modulus values were measured through unconfined compression strength testing. The results of the study showed that lime stabilization improved plasticity, workability, compressive strength, elastic moduli and swelling and compressibility behavior of the expansive clay. While mellowing did not have a definite effect on the measured strength and moduli values, soil pulverization quality considerably affected the unconfined compression strength and Secant Elasticity Modulus values. The higher the percentage passing No. 4 sieve, the higher the effectiveness of lime treatment. Based on the data obtained in this study, two original equations were derived to assign Secant Elasticity Modulus based on unconfined compression strength, for different soil pulverization qualities. Microfabric investigations conducted by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry exposed the effect of lime stabilization on fabric, porosity and pore size distributions. The results of the study clearly demonstrated that if enough time and effort were not given to soil pulverization process in lime stabilization works in field applications, lower performance and therefore increased environmental problems should be expected.     

Effect of the combination of lime and natural pozzolana on the compaction and strength of soft clayey soils: a preliminary study

Soft soil stabilization has been practised for quite some time by mixing additives, such as cement, lime and fly ash to the soil to increase its strength. However, there is a lack of investigations on the use of natural pozzolana alone or combined with lime for ground improvement applications. An experimental programme was undertaken to study the effect of using lime, natural pozzolana or a combination of both on the geotechnical characteristics of soft soils. Lime or natural pozzolana was added to soft soils at ranges of 0?C10% and 0?C20%, respectively. In addition, combinations of lime?Cnatural pozzolana were added to soft soils at the same ranges. Test specimens were subjected to compaction tests, shear tests and unconfined compression tests. Specimens were cured for 1, 7, 28 and 90?days, after which they were tested for unconfined compression tests. Based on the favourable results obtained, it can be concluded that the soft soils can be successfully stabilized by the combined action of lime and natural pozzolana. Since natural pozzolana is much cheaper than lime, the addition of natural pozzolana in lime?Csoil mix may particularly become attractive and can result in cost reduction of construction.     

不同压实度荆门弱膨胀土的一维膨胀-压缩特性

为探讨压实膨胀土的体变行为,以荆门弱膨胀土为研究对象,借助高压固结仪对6种制样压实度下的膨胀土试样进行了一维无荷载膨胀和含一次卸载-再加载循环的压缩试验。基于膨胀试验结果,构建了膨胀时程方程,通过参数分析,明确了方程参数的物理意义,并建议了膨胀时程曲线3阶段的划分方法。基于压缩试验结果,探讨了固结屈服应力、压缩指数Cc、回弹指数Cs、膨胀力与制样压实度、土体结构性、膨胀势、孔隙比的相关关系。试验结果及其分析表明,膨胀土体积变化是膨胀势与外部荷载、湿度变化的耦合作用结果,且具有强烈的水-力路径依赖性。     

Performance of structures in the rural area during the March 8, 2010 Elazığ-Kovancılar earthquake

Numerous studies demonstrated the possibility of utilizing fly ash in the construction of embankments, road subgrades and stabilization of a wide range of soils. The present investigation aims at determining the optimum fly ash (OFA) for mechanical stabilization of expansive soils. Four different soils were tested for compaction characteristics and unconfined compressive strength with and without the addition of fly ash to determine the OFA. The liquid limit (LL) and the fraction coarser than 425 μ (CF) of these soils range from 50 to 120 and 25 to 70%, respectively. An experimental strategy called two-factor factorial design was adopted in the conducting experiments. LL and CF present in the soil are the two factors considered to influence the OFA content. Factorial experimentation enables relative quantification of the effect of each factor as well as their interaction with the OFA. The OFA was found to range from 5 to 40% depending upon the two factors. The LL and the CF were found to have dominating influence on OFA content in that order, whereas the interaction effect of these two factors was marginal to fair. A statistical regression model was developed for determination of the OFA in terms of the influencing factors. The validity of the model developed was verified by conducting laboratory tests on two more soils that were not used in the development of the model. Swell potential and swelling pressure of expansive soils were reduced to non-critical levels when treated with OFA.     

膨胀土与红黏土石灰改性对比试验研究

为探讨石灰改性膨胀土与红黏土的强度发展规律,以生石灰与消石灰改性的南阳膨胀土与郴州红黏土为研究对象,进行了无侧限抗压、固结快速直剪和固结压缩试验的对比研究。研究发现：在1 a养生龄期内,石灰改性的南阳膨胀土与郴州红黏土无侧限抗压强度与养生龄期的对数基本呈线性关系;按大于最佳含水率3%制样的强度在养生28 d以后高于按最佳含水率制样;生石灰改性效果比消石灰改性效果好,由于矿物成分不同,石灰改性南阳膨胀土的效果比石灰改性郴州红黏土好     

水玻璃固化硫酸盐渍土强度特性及固化机制研究

盐渍土化学固化法是解决盐渍土盐胀、溶陷和腐蚀等不良工程问题的有效方法之一。通过无侧限抗压强度试验、X射线衍射试验、化学成分分析和扫描电镜试验研究了石灰粉、煤灰、水玻璃联合固化硫酸盐渍土的强度特征,分析探讨了其固化机制。试验结果表明：石灰含量小于8%时,石灰、粉煤灰、水玻璃联合固化硫酸盐渍土的抗压和抗剪强度较石灰粉煤灰固化土有大幅度提升,固化土强度随水玻璃浓度几乎呈线性增长。水玻璃固化硫酸盐渍土强度增加的机制在于：水玻璃的碱激发粉煤灰作用和水玻璃与盐渍土中化学成分的吸附作用所生成各类凝胶的填充和包裹,使得骨架颗粒的接触面积增大,颗粒之间的孔隙逐步减小,骨架颗粒由点接触变为面接触,固化盐渍土通过凝胶而黏结成为一个紧密的空间网状整体结构,土体强度得以提高。同时,复杂的物理化学作用大幅度降低了固化盐渍土中 含量,有效地抑制了硫酸盐渍土的盐胀特性。     

粉煤灰和二灰对桂林红黏土力学性质的影响

为了研究粉煤灰和二灰掺量及养护时间对桂林红黏土的改良效果,进行了直剪试验、固结试验以及电镜扫描试验。试验结果表明,粉煤灰的掺入提高了红黏土的抗剪强度,但超过一定量（18%粉煤灰掺量）反而会降低红黏土黏聚力,各掺量粉煤灰红黏土随养护龄期的延长,抗剪强度呈先增后缓趋势。二灰改良红黏土,在早期强度剧增,且强度随养护时间增长而大幅增加,一定龄期内,二灰红黏土黏聚力随二灰掺量呈先增后减趋势。粉煤灰和二灰的掺入均增大了红黏土的压缩模量,且随养护时间的延长而逐渐增大。红黏土中随粉煤灰、石灰的加入,发生一系列物理化学反应,从微观结构分析得知土中孔隙减少,结构性较素红黏土好。     

Utilization of lime,slag and fly ash for improvement of a colluvial soil in New South Wales,Australia

In Australia, colluvial soils form large terrains which are often subjected to considerable erosion and mass movement. This study presents a laboratory evaluation of the improvement effected by hydrated lime, milled blast furnace slag and fly ash on a fine grained (erosive) colluvial soil in New South Wales, Australia. Geotechnical tests were conducted to determine the compaction and consolidation characteristics and the compressive and shear strength properties of the blended and natural soil specimens. The effect of these additives on the Atterberg limits and pH levels is also investigated. As large amounts of fly ash and steel slag are produced in New South Wales, it is economically attractive to utilize these industrial by-products for ground improvement rather than employing conventional methods such as lime treatment. This study demonstrates that for the colluvial soil tested, milled slag is the most effective in terms of improving the internal friction angle of the treated soil, while lime is the most suitable for achieving the optimum compressive strength. Non-pozzolanic fly ash is found to be inappropriate as a soil improving agent. The cost of ground treatment using the various additives is also estimated and compared.