Potential Application of Lateritic Soil Stabilized with Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) as Liner in Waste Containment Structures

This study evaluates the applicability of residually derived lateritic soil stabilized with cement kiln dust (CKD), a waste product from the cement manufacturing process as liner in waste repositories. Lateritic soil sample mixed with 0–16 % CKD (by dry weight of the soil) was compacted with the British Standard Light, West African Standard and British Standard Heavy compaction efforts at water contents ranging from the dry to wet of optimum moistures. Geotechnical parameters such as Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, hydraulic conductivity, unconfined compressive strength and volumetric shrinkage strain were determined. Results indicate that the plasticity index, the maximum dry unit weight and hydraulic conductivity together with the volumetric shrinkage decreased with increased amount of CKD while the optimum moisture content and unconfined compressive strength increased with higher CKD content for all the efforts. When measured properties were compared with standard specifications adopted by most environmental regulatory agencies for the construction of barrier systems in waste containment structures, the resulting values showed substantial compliance. Besides developing an economically sustainable liner material, the present study demonstrated effective utilization of an industrial by-product otherwise considered as waste by the producers, in addition to a systematic expansion in the use of the lateritic soil for geotechnical works.     

Effects of compaction moisture content on the shear strength of an unsaturated clay

This paper deals with the results of an experimental study carried out on compacted clay (PL=23%) to investigate the influence of compaction water content on the shear strength of the clay. For the measurement of shear strength parameters, direct shear tests were done on samples compacted at optimum moisture content (i.e. w=24%), at the dry side of optimum (i.e. w=18%, 20% and 22%) and at the wet side of optimum (i.e. w=26% and 28%). Thermocouple psychrometers were used for suction measurements and the suction-moisture content relationship of the soil sample was obtained. The trends for suction, angle of friction and cohesion, which change below and above optimum moisture content, were analyzed. The compacted clay behaves like a granular soil on the dry side of optimum water content; and a reduction in angle of friction and an increase in cohesion are observed as the compaction water contents approach the optimum value. The angle of friction is not affected by soaking, but after soaking cohesion of the sample reduces. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

容县压实花岗岩残积土的力学性质与微结构特性研究

选取广西容县花岗岩残积土为研究对象,取击实曲线上3个不同含水率对应的压实样（最佳含水率及干侧、湿侧,后两者对应的干密度相同）分别进行了直剪试验、扫描电镜观测（SEM）和压汞试验（MIP）,并从微观特征解释其力学性能的差异。结果表明:（1）花岗岩残积土在3种压实状态下具有相同应力-应变曲线形状,无明显峰值,抗剪强度在最佳状态时的最高,湿侧状态抗剪强度与干侧状态相近,3种状态下内摩擦角值差别较小,但黏聚力在最佳状态时最大,干侧和湿侧状态较最佳状态分别下降66.4%和43.1%;（2）花岗岩残积土在湿侧状态下普遍形成团聚体,团聚体之间呈架空结构,累积孔隙体积最大,为明显的双峰分布孔隙特征;在最佳状态下组构最密,高岭石片定向性排列;在干侧状态下高岭石片呈片架结构,累积孔隙体积最小;随着含水率的降低,土样双峰孔隙特征逐渐变得不明显;（3）花岗岩残积土在不同状态时的微观特性较好地解释其力学性质的差异。     

弱膨胀土工程特性及其路基处治对策

针对湖北襄-荆高速公路膨胀土,在室内开展了弱膨胀土的压实特性、胀缩性状、力学特性试验研究,发现压实膨胀土的工程性状受含水率与压实度的影响,胀缩特性是膨胀土的固有特性,其大小取决于起始湿度和密度;击实膨胀土的最佳含水量和最大干密度随击实功变化而变化,压实功愈大,土的最大干密度也愈大,而对应的最佳含水量愈小;膨胀土的CBR值随其含水率的变化规律类似于击实曲线,但CBR峰值含水率大于最佳含水率,为深入认识膨胀土的工程特性提供了帮助。因此,利用弱膨胀土填筑路堤时,不仅要考虑经过击实后的土的性质,而且还要考虑在填方建成、条件改变后土的性能;膨胀土路堤填筑除考虑压实度与CBR值要求外,尚需考虑胀缩总率的影响。最后,推荐了弱膨胀土路堤结构型式,并提出了弱膨胀土用于路堤填筑的控制标准。     

Determination of hydraulic conductivity of sand-bentonite mixtures for engineering purposes

Pollution of the environment due to leakage from waste repositories is a well-known and wide spread problem. Emphasis has therefore been put on design of liners for such repositories, focusing on hydraulic conductivity and its variation with time, liner composition, water content, compaction etc. The paper addresses the hydraulic conductivity of sand/bentonite mixtures, especially the variation of the hydraulic conductivity as a function of bentonite content, compaction and degree of saturation. In order to better understand the variation of the hydraulic conductivity of a sand–bentonite mixture a new parameter k ₁ has been proposed. The parameter reflects the amount of bentonite per pore volume and can easily be calculated based on the amount of bentonite and the dry density of the soil mixture. Thereby, the hydraulic conductivity can be predicted as a function of different degres of compaction. This method can be used for engineering purposes to predict the hydraulic conductivity at an early stage of a design to get an idea of the required design and hence, cost.     

Swelling characteristics of compacted lateritic soil–bentonite mixtures subjected to municipal waste leachate contamination

Compacted soil–bentonite mixtures are finding wide application as buffer material for waste repositories for their favorable self-sealing qualities. The swelling properties of such materials which serve as a measure of their self-sealing capabilities and, thus, the efficiency of the repository in sealing off their contents from the environment are closely related to the chemistry of the leachate that emanate from the wastes. For this reason, the swelling parameters (namely swelling potential and pressure) of compacted lateritic soil–bentonite mixtures under consideration for use as barrier in municipal waste landfill were evaluated. Series of swelling potential and pressure tests were performed using variable content (0–10 %) of bentonite at predetermined optimum moisture content. Soil mixtures were compacted with British Standard Heavy compactive effort and saturated with processed tap water as well as three leachate solutions of varying ionic strength that were generated in active open dump landfills. Experimental results showed that swelling potential based on the free swell together with the maximum swell pressures of compacted soil mixtures measured at equilibrium increased approximately linearly with increase in the amount of bentonite when inundated with processed tap water and the three leachate solutions. On the other hand, these swelling parameters decreased as the ionic strength of the leachate solutions measured by their electrical conductivity increased for the various soil mixtures. These results provide an insight into the swelling behavior and the possible degradation in the efficiency of the proposed lateritic soil–bentonite mixtures in relation to their use as buffer material in waste landfills.     

Modeling of electrical resistivity and maximum dry density in soil compaction measurement

This paper presents the mathematical relationship of electrical resistivity and dry density in compacted soil through electrical signal for geotechnical investigations. Monitoring of the compacted soil through electrical conductivity plays an important role in the construction of highway embankments, earth dams and many other engineering structures. Conventionally, soil compaction is measured through the estimation of maximum dry density at optimum moisture contents in laboratory tests. This conventional testing method is very tedious and costly especially when a lot of samples are involved. In this work, a mathematical model is developed to estimate the soil compaction on-site through electrical resistivity corresponding to the percentage of moisture contents in the compacted soil. The practical usage of the derived mathematical model is demonstrated using several soil samples for various types of soil.     

Impact of Carpet Waste Fibre Addition on Swelling Properties of Compacted Clays

Municipalities and recycling and environmental authorities are concerned about the growing amount of carpet waste produced by household, commercial and industrial sectors. It is reported that 500,000 tonnes of carpet waste fibre are plunged into landfills annually in the UK. In the United States of America, around 10 million tonnes of textile waste was generated in 2003. In geotechnical engineering, expansive clay soils are categorised as problematic soils due to their swelling behaviour upon increase in the moisture content. The problematic nature of such soils is intensified with the increase in the plasticity index. This paper presents results of a comprehensive investigation into utilisation of carpet waste fibres in order to improve the swelling characteristics of compacted cohesive soils. Therefore, two different clay soils with markedly different plasticity indices (i.e. 17.0 and 31.5 %) were treated with two different types of carpet waste fibre. Waste fibres were added to prepare specimens with fibre content of 1, 3 and 5 % by dry weight of soil. Soil specimens with different dry unit weights and moisture contents were prepared so as to the swelling behaviour of fibre reinforced compacted clays is completely attained under various scenarios. The results indicated that the behaviour of the fibre reinforced soils seems highly dependent on the initial compaction state and secondary on the moisture content. It was found that the swelling pressure drops rapidly as the percentage of fibre increases in samples prepared at the maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content. Reducing the dry unit weight, while maintaining constant moisture content or increasing the moisture content at constant dry unit weight was found to reduce the swelling pressure.     

Evaluation of bagasse ash treated lateritic soil as a potential barrier material in waste containment application

Laboratory tests were conducted on a reddish-brown lateritic soil treated with up to 12 % bagasse ash to assess its suitability in waste containment barriers applications. Soil samples were prepared using four compaction energies (i.e. reduced Proctor, standard Proctor, West African Standard or ‘intermediate’ and modified Proctor) at ?2, 0, 2 and 4 % moulding water content of the optimum moisture content (OMC). Index properties, hydraulic conductivity (k), volumetric shrinkage and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were performed. Overall acceptable zones under which the material is suitable as a barrier material were obtained. Results recorded showed improved index properties; hydraulic conductivity and UCS with bagasse ash treatment up to 8 % at the OMC. Volumetric shrinkage strain increased with higher bagasse ash treatment. Based on the overall acceptable zone obtained, an 8 % optimal bagasse ash treatment of the natural lateritic soil makes it suitable for use in waste containment barrier application.     

Desiccation Induced Shrinkage of Compacted Lateritic Soil Treated with Blast Furnace Slag

A reddish brown lateritic soil treated with up to 15% blast furnace slag was compacted with three compactive efforts, (standard Proctor, West African Standard and modified Proctor) with moulding water contents ranging between 10 and 20% of weight of dry mixture. Compacted samples were extruded and allowed to dry in the laboratory for 30 days with measurements taken every 5 days to monitor volumetric changes due to drying. Four specimens compacted on the wet side of optimum using standard proctor effort; at the various slag treatments after 10 days of drying were subjected to four cycles of drying and three cycles of wetting. The results obtained showed that the changes in mass and volumetric shrinkage were rapid within the first 5 days of drying. These changes were proportional to the moulding water contents and were unaffected by the compactive effort. The volumetric shrinkage strain increased with increasing moulding water content and compactive efforts. As the water content relative to the optimum increased towards the wet side, the volumetric shrinkage strain increased and it decreased towards the dry side. For all compaction energies, the initial degree of saturation increased and regardless of the slag content, the volumetric shrinkage strain increased. As the slag content increased, the initial degree of saturation at which the permissible 4% volumetric shrinkage occurred increased. Slag content had marginal effects on the volumetric shrinkage strain as no clear trend was established. For each slag treatment the volumetric shrinkage strain did not vary significantly with increasing number of drying cycles.     

Models of compacted fine-grained soils used as mineral liner for solid waste

To prevent the leakage of pollutant liquids into groundwater and sublayers, the compacted fine-grained soils are commonly utilized as mineral liners or a sealing system constructed under municipal solid waste and other containment hazardous materials. This study presents the correlation equations of the compaction parameters required for construction of a mineral liner system. The determination of the characteristic compaction parameters, maximum dry unit weight (γ _dmax) and optimum water content (w _opt) requires considerable time and great effort. In this study, empirical models are described and examined to find which of the index properties correlate well with the compaction characteristics for estimating γ _dmax and w _opt of fine-grained soils at the standard compactive effort. The compaction data are correlated with different combinations of gravel content (G), sand content (S), fine-grained content (FC = clay + silt), plasticity index (I _p), liquid limit (w _L) and plastic limit (w _P) by performing multilinear regression (MLR) analyses. The obtained correlations with statistical parameters are presented and compared with the previous studies. It is found that the maximum dry unit weight and optimum water content have a considerably good correlation with plastic limit in comparison with liquid limit and plasticity index.     

Heave Studies on Fly Ash-Stabilised Expansive Clay Liners

Clay liners or compacted earthen barriers are important barrier materials used for preventing contaminant transport through soils. A low hydraulic conductivity (k) is a significant parameter that governs the design and construction of clay liners. Compacted expansive clays, which are montmorillonite clays, also have a very low hydraulic conductivity (k). When expansive clays are blended with fly ash, an industrial waste, the hydraulic conductivity (k) further reduces as the ash-clay blends result in increased dry densities at increased fly ash contents. Hence, fly ash-stabilised expansive clay can also be proposed as a unique clay liner material. As expansive clays undergo heave when they come into contact with water, it is necessary to study the heave behaviour of fly ash-stabilised expansive clay liners. This paper presents heave studies on fly ash-stabilised expansive clay liners. Fly ash in different contents by dry weight of the expansive clay was added to the clay, and the ash-clay blend was compacted as a liner overlying a natural field soil layer. Compacted lateritic clay was used for simulating the natural field soil into which contaminants migrate. Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) solution of varying concentration (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 mM) was used as the permeating fluid in the heave studies. The rate of heave and the amount of heave of the fly ash-stabilised expansive clay liners were monitored. Deionised water (DIW) was also used as inundating fluid for comparative study. Heave (mm) decreased with increase in solute concentration for all fly ash contents. For a given solute concentration, heave decreased up to a fly ash content of 20 % and thereafter it increased when the fly ash content was increased to 30 %. Heave of the fly ash-stabilised expansive clay liners was correlated with their permeability, liquid limit (LL) and free swell index (FSI) pertaining to the respective fly ash content and CaCl₂ concentration.     

Hydraulic Conductivity of Compacted Granite Residual Soil Mixed with Palm Oil Fuel Ash in Landfill Application

Laboratory tests were carried out on compacted granite residual soil treated with 0 to 15% Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), with a view to evaluate its hydraulic conductivity for its application in landfilling. The Soil–POFA mixtures were compacted using both Standard and Modified Proctors compactive efforts at 2% dry of Optimum Moulding water Content (?2%), at Optimum Moulding water Content (0%), at 2 and 4% on the wet side of Optimum Moulding water Content (+2 and +4%). The samples were permeated with water and the effect of moulding water content; compactive effort and POFA content were examined. The samples that met the minimum threshold of 1 × 10^?9 m/s were used in plotting the acceptable zones criterion at various POFA mixtures. The results gave indications of reduction in the hydraulic conductivity values, with increase in compactive efforts, moulding water content and POFA content up to about 10%. This was the most suitable soil–POFA mixture for the hydraulic application.     

Shrinkage and desiccation cracking in bentonite–sand landfill liners

Data are reported on the shrinkage and desiccation cracking exhibited by bentonite-enhanced sand mixtures (BES) upon air-drying. Mixtures containing 10 and 20% bentonite by dry weight, compacted at moisture contents ranging from 8 to 32%, were investigated. Hydraulic conductivity data for BES specimens saturated and tested immediately after compaction, and for similar specimens that had no visible damage after air-drying, are also presented.

All the mixtures exhibited volumetric shrinkage upon air-drying with the amount of shrinkage increasing with increasing moisture content during compaction. At any initial moisture content mixtures containing 20% bentonite shrink more than those containing 10% bentonite, but the shrinkage is insensitive to the compactive effort. Compacted beds of BES containing 10 and 20% bentonite exhibit no visible desiccation cracking as the top surface is dried when compacted at 15 and 14% moisture content, respectively, and only minor cracking when compacted at initial moisture contents of 20 and 15%, respectively. For the range of mixtures tested, it appears that cracking only occurs when BES undergoes more than about 4% volumetric shrinkage when air-dried. The saturated hydraulic conductivity of intact BES specimens is unaffected by a drying episode prior to testing.     

Estimating compaction parameters of fine- and coarse-grained soils by means of artificial neural networks

This paper presents artificial neural network (ANN) prediction models for estimating the compaction parameters of both coarse- and fine-grained soils. A total number of 200 soil mixtures were prepared and compacted at standard Proctor energy. The compaction parameters were predicted by means of ANN models using different input data sets. The ANN prediction models were developed to find out which of the index properties correlate well with compaction parameters. In this respect, the transition fine content ratio (TFR) was defined as a new input parameter in addition to traditional soil index parameters (i.e. liquid limit, plastic limit, passing No. 4 sieve and passing No. 200 sieve). Highly nonlinear nature of the compaction data dictated development of two separate ANN models for maximum dry unit weight (γ_dmax) and optimum water content (ω_opt). It was found that generalization capability and prediction accuracy of ANN models could be further enhanced by sub-clustered data division techniques.     

Strength characteristics of compacted pond ash

Strength properties of compacted ash layers depend to a great extent on the moulding conditions. This paper focuses on the effects of compaction energy and degree of saturation on strength characteristics of compacted pond ash. The pond ash sample, collected from the ash pond of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), was subjected to compactive energies varying from 357 kJ/m³ to 3488 kJ/m³. The optimum moisture content and maximum dry densities corresponding to different compactive energies were determined by conventional compaction tests. The shear strength parameters, unconfined compressive strengths (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) values of specimens compacted to different dry densities and moisture content were assessed and reported. The effects of compaction energy and degree of saturation on shear strength parameters i.e. unit cohesion (c_u) and angle of internal friction (Ф) values and also the UCS values are evaluated and presented herein. The results indicate that the dry density and strength of the compacted pond ash can be suitably modified by controlling the compactive energy and moulding moisture content. The strength achieved in the present study is comparable to the good quality, similar graded conventional earth materials. Hence, it may be safely concluded that pond ash can replace the natural earth materials in geotechnical constructions.     

砂-膨润土混合屏障材料渗透性影响因素研究

膨润土因具有渗透性低、阳离子交换能力高等优点被认为是最适合高放废物深地质处置库中屏障系统的缓冲材料,工程实践发现随着水化过程的进行,纯高压实膨润土强度不断降低,并最终影响到工程屏障系统功能的发挥。针对这一问题,在膨润土中加入一定比例的石英砂,可以有效地提高工程屏障的热传导特性、压实性、力学强度和长期稳定性,降低工程造价。本文研究了影响砂-膨润土混合物渗透性的主要因素,包括膨润土含量、粒径分布、含水量和干密度、压实方法以及膨润土类型等。结果表明,砂土混合物渗透性主要受膨润土的渗透性控制,渗透系数随着膨润土含量和干密度的增加而减小,当膨润土含量超过某一界限值后,继续增加膨润土含量对降低渗透系数的作用有限;细颗粒和级配良好的混合物渗透系数小,当土体内部发生渗透侵蚀将增大渗透系数;最优含水量条件下压实得到的渗透系数最低,高于最优含水量压实得到的渗透系数比低于最优含水量压实得到的渗透系数要小。     

江西广丰李家膨润土压实性能研究--高放废物处置缓冲/回填材料压实性能初探

研究了广丰李家钠基膨润土的压实性能,得出了不同压实功作用下,膨润土干密度与含水率之间的关系．以及粒径、压实功等因素对压实性能的影响;在相同压实功和相同含水率条件下,膨润土粒径较小时相对应的干密度较小．当压实功为2684．9kJ／m^3时,钠基膨润土的最大干密度可达1．525g／cm^3,最优含水率为26．30％。首次选用石英砂作为添加荆,探索了添加荆对膨润土压实性能的改善作用,实验结果说明石英砂添加荆的加入可以大大提高膨润土的干密度。减小对应的最优含水率,并得出约10％的石英砂是添加剂的最佳用量。该研究结果为钠基膨润土作为高放废物处置库缓冲／回填材料的性能评价提供了重要的依据。     

Geotechnical Evaluation of Reddish Brown Tropical Soils

Laboratory investigations were carried out on reddish brown tropical soils from Moniya, Ibadan Southwestern Nigeria to determine the basic unconfined compressive strength of the soil samples which is an important factor to be considered when considering materials as liners in waste containment structure. Clay mineralogy, major element geochemical analyses were carried out by means of X-ray diffractometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry respectively. The engineering tests such as sieve size analyses, Atterberg limits, natural moisture contents, specific gravity and compaction using four different compactive efforts namely reduced proctor, standard proctor, West African standard and modified proctor. The tests were carried out in line with the procedures of the British standard 1377 of 1990 and Head of 1992. The soils were found to contain kaolinite as the major minerals with some mixtures of smectite, muscovite, halloysite, quartzite, biotite and aluminium phosphate. Values of the unconfined compressive strength obtained within 12.5 and 22.5% moulding water contents equal to or greater than 200 kN/m² which is the minimum acceptable value required for containment facilities. The maximum dry density, Mg/m³ ranged between 1.68 and 1.98 while Optimum moisture content, % ranged between 12.3 and 21.2. Hence, unconfined compressive strength values were found to be greater than 200 kN/m² at dry unit weight of 16.20 kN/m³ especially when WAS and modified proctor compactive efforts were used which met the minimum required unconfined compressive strength of 200 kN/m² for hydraulic barriers in waste containment facilities.     

Assessing Stabilization Effectiveness of Combined Cement Kiln Dust and Quarry Fines on Pavement Subgrades Dominated by Black Cotton Soil

In developing technically viable and economically sustainable methods of improving soil properties to suit the requirements of engineering structures, designers/engineers are to take into consideration the availability and cost effectiveness of materials required for such improvement scheme. In line with this, the present study evaluates stabilization effectiveness of combined quarry fines (QF) and cement kiln dust (CKD) on subgrades dominated by black cotton soil (BC soil). The experimental programme included Atterberg limits, compaction and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests on soil mixtures prepared with a representative BC soil at constant dosage of 10 % QF and 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 % CKD. Prior to testing, soil mixtures for CBR test prepared at optimum moistures and compacted with British standard light compaction effort were soaked for 96 h after curing for 28 days. Test data show that the addition of QF and CKD together reduced the plasticity index that resulted in rapid textural changes and eventual improvement in constructability, led to an increase in the optimum moisture content and a decrease in the maximum dry unit weight. Furthermore, the coupled effects of QF and CKD resulted in substantial increase in CBR strength of the composite specimens. Overall, mixtures created using the proposed QF and CKD ratios rendered the soil physically and mechanically stable producing results that are compatible with desired values for engineering performance typically required by various user agencies for pavement subgrades. This improvement scheme is not only cost effective, but it is capable of lessening the demand on non renewable resources thereby reducing the footprint of road construction projects in the environment.