Simplified Regression Model to Predict the Strength of Reinforced Sand with Waste Polystyrene Plastic Type

A proposed regression model was developed based on experimental data using regression analysis method to predict the strength of sand reinforced with strips of waste polystyrene plastic type. Three different variables were studied to investigate the behavior and strength of reinforced sandy soil with waste plastic strips. These are the content, size and aspect ratio of plastic strips. For this purpose, a series of unconfined compression and splitting tensile tests were conducted on unreinforced and reinforced sand specimens. Test results showed that using strips of waste plastic polystyrene type improved the strength of the tested soil. Increasing content of waste plastic has a more significant effect on the enhancement of splitting tensile strength compared to the enhancement of compressive strength. Content, size and aspect ratio of waste plastic strips have significant effects on the improvement of strength. Utilization of such waste plastic type, which polystyrene, in this way will help in reducing the quantity of solid waste as well as reducing the cost of ground improvement. Results showed that multiple linear regression models can accurately predict the strength of sand reinforced with waste plastic strips within the range of the studied variables in this paper. Consequently, using such regression models will save time as well as reduce laboratory costs.     

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。     

Consolidation and Drainage Characteristics of Expansive Soil Stabilized with Fly Ash and Dolochar

Expansive soils undergo alternate swelling and shrinkage due to cyclic wetting and drying when left to nature. This property of Expansive soil affects its strength and stiffness characteristics thereby causing damage and distress to structures built on them. Industrial wastes can be added scientifically to these soils in modifying and reducing their swelling and shrinkage behaviour and increasing their strength and stiffness. In this technical article, an attempt has been made to study the compressibility and drainage characteristics of these soils using economic and ecofriendly industrial wastes such as Fly Ash and Dolochar as stabilizers. This paper also focuses on many other improved engineering properties of base soil like liquid limit, plasticity index, differential free swell, compaction and consolidation characteristics of Expansive (BC) soil stabilized with Fly Ash and Dolochar in different proportions. The virgin Expansive soil has been collected from eastern part of India (Odisha) and different percentages of Fly Ash (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 %) and Dolochar (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 %) were added to it, to predict the influence of these additives on compaction and consolidation characteristics of Expansive soil. Addition of both Fly Ash and Dolochar were found to decrease the index properties such as liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, swelling index and enhancing the consolidation as well as drainage characteristics of Expansive soil. However, the maximum dry density of soil was found to decrease with addition of Fly Ash and increase with addition of Dolochar.     

Artificial Neural Networks: A Solution to the Ambiguity in Prediction of Engineering Properties of Fine-Grained Soils

Determination of soaked california bearing ratio (CBR) and compaction characteristics of soils in the laboratory require considerable time and effort. To make a preliminary assessment of the suitability of soils required for a project, prediction models for these engineering properties on the basis of laboratory tests—which are quick to perform, less time consuming and cheap—such as the tests for index properties of soils, are preferable. Nevertheless researchers hold divergent views regarding the most influential parameters to be taken into account for prediction of soaked CBR and compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils. This could be due to the complex behaviour of soils—which, by their very nature, exhibit extreme variability. However this disagreement is a matter of concern as it affects the dependability of prediction models. This study therefore analyses the ability of artificial neural networks and multiple regression to handle different influential parameters simultaneously so as to make accurate predictions on soaked CBR and compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils. The results of simple regression analyses included in this study indicate that optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD) of fine-grained soils bear better correlation with soaked CBR of fine-grained soils than plastic limit and liquid limit. Simple regression analyses also indicate that plastic limit has stronger correlation with compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils than liquid limit. On the basis of these correlations obtained using simple regression analyses, neural network prediction models and multiple regression prediction models—with varying number of input parameters are developed. The results reveal that neural network models have more ability to utilize relatively less influential parameters than multiple regression models. The study establishes that in the case of neural network models, the relatively less powerful parameters—liquid limit and plastic limit can also be used effectively along with MDD and OMC for better prediction of soaked CBR of fine-grained soils. Also with the inclusion of less significant parameter—liquid limit along with plastic limit the predictions on compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils using neural network analysis improves considerably. Thus in the case of neural network analysis, the use of relatively less influential input parameters along with stronger parameters is definitely beneficial, unlike conventional statistical methods—for which, the consequence of this approach is unpredictable—giving sometimes not so favourable results. Very weak input parameters alone need to be avoided for neural network analysis. Consequently, when there is ambiguity regarding the most influential input parameters, neural network analysis is quite useful as all such influential parameters can be taken to consideration simultaneously, which will only improve the performance of neural network models. As soils by their very nature, exhibit extreme complexity, it is necessary to include maximum number of influential parameters—as can be determined easily using simple laboratory tests—in the prediction models for soil properties, so as to improve the reliability of these models—for which, use of neural networks is more desirable.     

百色膨胀土用作路堤填料的试验验证

基于膨胀土可以直接用作路堤填料的分类指标体系,在室内开展了3种不同膨胀土的物理性质、击实性状、强度特性试验研究,验证广西百隆高速公路膨胀土路段的膨胀土也可以直接用作路堤填料,并结合现场实体工程的效果验证用改进CBR值、改进CBR膨胀量和稠度3指标作为膨胀土路堤填料的分类指标体系的合理性。通过对标准CBR试验和改进CBR试验的对比,进一步验证了用改进CBR试验法评定膨胀土承载强度的合理性。由百色膨胀土的不浸水CBR试验,说明可以用封闭包盖对百隆路膨胀土路堤进行物理处治。实体工程中采用土性最差的1号膨胀土做填芯和用红黏土包边,得到的工程效果令人满意。由室内外试验结果,可以得出这3种百色膨胀土都可以直接用作路堤填料。     

花岗岩残积土路用性能影响因素研究

为了分析花岗岩残积土路用特性,从影响因素入手研究。取湖南境内花岗岩残积土进行室内试验,通过薄片和XRD试验,得到残积土矿物成分及基本结构,发现云母含量较高且呈叠片状结构;通过大量统计与试验,从粒径组成、击实功、含水率三个因素出发,研究残积土路用特性变化。结果表明:细砂对残积土含水性影响关键,粗粒含量与CBR强度呈指数关系,特定粒径组成对残积土路用特性有利;以黏土质砂为试验对象,击实功增加,最大干密度增速“两头大、中间小”,最优含水率降速“两头小、中间大”,最大CBR值先线性增加后基本不受影响;结合击实功进行分析,含水率存在wcr,小于wcr,击实功与CBR正相关,反之负相关。     

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.     

Problematic Soft Soil Improvement with Both Polypropylene Fiber and Polyvinyl Acetate Resin

Several methods are used to improve mechanical properties of loose soils including rewetting, soil replacement, compaction control, chemical additives, moisture control, thermal methods, and more recently, discrete fibers. All the methods are applied to soft soil to increase load bearing capacity and to improve other properties such as prevention of erosion and dust generation. In the present study, a new method of soil improvement using both discrete polypropylene (PP) fibers and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) is introduced. The method is applied to improve load bearing capacity of a problematic sandy soil in both dry and saturated states. Based on the results from CBR tests on various specimens, it has been revealed that the combination of PP fiber and PVAc resin with weight percentages of 0.1 and 0.6 %, respectively, had the optimum effect in increasing the CBR value in both saturated and dry soil specimens. It should be mentioned that this method has caused a great increase in the CBR value in the saturated soil.     

掺绿砂改良膨胀土室内试验研究

绿砂高额的处理费用与其具有的再利用潜力相比,使绿砂再利用的研究得到重视,尤其对公路路基改良具有很大的利用潜力。针对膨胀土路基的胀缩问题,围绕绿砂及膨胀土-绿砂混合物进行一系列室内土工试验,探讨绿砂作为公路膨胀土路基改良剂的可行性。在不同含水率及不同配比条件下,对绿砂以及绿砂改良后膨胀土的基本物理性质、击实特性、力学特性等进行室内对比试验分析。分析结果表明,绿砂改良膨胀土试样的强度主要取决于试样的含水率、掺砂率;随着掺砂率的增加,塑性指数逐渐降低,最佳含水率也随之减小,最大干密度增大的幅度变化很小,无侧限抗压强度先降低而后提高,其后又降低。     

红黏土路基填筑压实度控制指标探讨

红黏土属于一类典型的特殊土,路基施工规范指出,特殊填料进行填筑路基时可根据具体情况适当降低压实度要求,并且规定有些高液限、高塑指黏土不能直接作为路基填料填筑。利用某高速公路处的红黏土进行了重型击实和承载比试验,试验结果表明：红黏土在最优含水率附近具有很强的水敏性。最优含水率点对应的CBR值并非最大值,其最大CBR值对应的含水率大于最优含水率3%左右,在此基础上结合土体的强度、压缩性、胀缩性、渗透性等指标随压实度变化的规律,确定该桩号红黏土作为下路堤填料其压实度可降低2.5%,填筑含水率控制在35%左右。     

电石灰改良滨海地区盐渍土路基可行性研究

滨海盐渍土作为一种特殊土,具有溶陷、盐胀、腐蚀等不良的工程特性,而滨海地区用盐渍土作为路基填料是交通建设需要解决的重大岩土工程问题之一。为了解决滨海盐渍土的工程问题,分析了电石灰改良盐渍土路基填料的液塑限试 验、击实试验、室内CBR试验和不同条件的不固结、不排水三轴试验结果,从工程技术、降低造价和环境保护等方面对滨海高速公路路基填料改良利用的可行性进行了研究论证,研究成果对滨海地区盐渍土路基的修筑具有参考价值。     

A Solution to the Problem of Predicting the Suitability of Silty–clayey Materials for Cement-stabilization

Major geotechnical problems in construction involving silty–clayey soils are due to their low strength, durability and high compressibility of soft soils, and the swell–shrink nature of the overconsolidated swelling soils. Confronted with these problems, a suitable ground improvement technique is needed, for deep excavations in soft clays, for stability, durability and deformation control. Cement-stabilization is one of the alternatives. An increase in strength and durability, reduction in deformability are the main aims of this method. Conventional cement-stabilization methods are used mainly for surface treatment. However, the use of cement has recently been extended to a greater depth in which cement columns were installed to act as a type of soil reinforcement (deep cement–soil mixing and cement jet grouting). In situ engineering properties of these silty–clayey soils are often variable and difficult to predict. For this reason cement-stabilization methods have a basic target to control the aforementioned engineering properties of these clays so that the properties of a silty–clayey soil become more like the properties of a soft rock such as clayey shale or lightly cemented sandstone. So cement-stabilization of these soils is essential to control their engineering properties and to predict their engineering behaviour for construction. In an effort to predict, classify and study the suitability of silty–clayey soils for cement-stabilization both slaking and unconfined compressive strength tests were carried out on clayey–sand mixtures consisted of two types of clays, kaolin and bentonite. Finally diagrams were prepared to study the variation of slaking and strength due to compaction, curing time and cement percentage and also to predict areas of efficient cement-stabilization.     

Evaluation of Strength Characteristics of Tropical Black Clay Treated with Locust Bean Waste Ash

An expansive tropical black clay (also known as black cotton soil because the cotton plant thrives well on it) was treated with up to 15 % locust bean waste ash (LBWA) to assess its soil improvement potential. Samples were subjected to index, compaction using three energy levels (British Standard light, BSL, West African Standard, WAS or ‘Intermediate’ and British Standard heavy, BSH), shear strength (unconfined compressive strength, UCS), California bearing ratio, CBR and durability tests. Results obtained show that the natural soil is not suitable for road construction. The maximum dry density (MDD) and optimum moisture content (OMC) decreased and increased, respectively. Regardless of the compactive effort and curing period, strength and durability properties increased with higher LBWA content with the BSL effort recording the best improvement. However, based on durability results, the optimal 12.5 % LBWA treatment of black cotton soil did not satisfy criteria for its use in road construction as a stand alone additive. Also, significant improvement in soil properties was obtained using the BSL compactive effort, which is easily achieved in the field. The benefits of the application include reduction in the cost of soil improvement and the adverse environmental impact of locust bean waste.     

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.     

Geoenvironmental Testing

Geoenvironmental concerns involve unsaturated soils in problems like soil contamination, waste disposal and ground-atmosphere interactions. This paper deals with the two first points. To tackle geoenvironmental problems in unsaturated soils, it is necessary to identify experimentally the retention and transfer phenomena that govern the movements of fluids and chemical species in the unsaturated soil. Some of the experimental techniques used in unsaturated soils can be adapted to face these problems, but extensions accounting for the various physico-chemical processes involved in soil contamination and waste disposal are necessary, including temperature effects and the mechanical couplings resulting from the changes in temperature and chemical concentrations. After an introduction to the geoenvironmental problems that are related to unsaturated soils, the paper presents a series of experimental developments carried out in relation to retention and transfer properties of water (pure or with dissolved species), hydrocarbons and gas, also accounting for temperature effects and chemical effects. The techniques presented are applicable to soil contamination and waste disposal, with a special concern addressed to nuclear waste disposal, in which the effects of desaturation of the geological barrier together with the unsaturated nature of compacted engineered barriers appeared to be quite important.     

Laboratory Study on the Relative Performance of Silty-Sand Soils Reinforced with Linen Fiber

Randomly distributed fibers have been successfully used for the reinforcement of soils to improve their properties. However, the technique requires extensive testing on samples before it can be implemented. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify and quantify the influence of variables of linen-fiber (content and aspect ratio) on the performance of linen-fiber reinforced silty-sand specimens. The linen fibers have filament textures with special properties such as: low costs, plenitude in the region, lightweight, tension capacity and relative strength against deterioration. Linen fibers with diverse fiber contents (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0% of dry weight) and ratio aspect (50, 100 and 150) were used. The composite soils were laboratory tested for compaction, unconfined compression strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and direct shear tests. The test results indicated that adding linen fiber in silty-sand soil resulted in increasing in unconfined compression strength, California Bearing Ratio values, peak friction angle and cohesion values. Furthermore, adding linen fibers have the dual benefit of increasing the stiffness (modulus of elasticity) and the ductility of the reinforced soil. However, this study suggests that the optimum fiber content for silty-sand samples reinforced with linen fibers is approximately 0.75% of the dry weight of the soil and a maximum performance was achieved at aspect ratio of 100 to avoid fiber balling. The laboratory results were used for the development of linear regression equation that best relates the UCS and CBR of a reinforced soil to the aforementioned parameters.     

动力排水固结法加固浦东机场促淤地基试验研究

基于浦东国际机场快件处理中心促淤场地的加固处理实践,介绍采用动力排水固结法处理促淤饱和软粘土地基的工艺对吹填粉细砂上试夯区的试验研究,结果表明采取低能量“少击多遍”的强夯施工工艺,并辅以竖向塑料排水板的方法来加固处理饱和促淤软粘土是可行的,促淤地基的力学性能和变形性能显著提高,并实现了用吹填粉细砂代替中粗砂作为强夯垫层,大大降低了工程成本。通过对大面积强夯施工处理效果的检测表明,动力排水固结法加固处理促淤地基效果明显。     

Potential of marble dust to stabilise red tropical soils for road construction

The potential of marble dust as a stabilizing additive to red tropical soils was evaluated. The evaluation involved the determination of the geotechnical properties of three different red tropical soils in their natural state as well as when mixed with varying proportions of marble dust. The parameters tested included the particle size distribution, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, the standard compaction characteristics, the compressive strength and the California bearing ratio (CBR). The strength tests were repeated after normal 28 day curing of the treated samples and also after accelerated 24 h curing at temperatures of 40°C, 60°C and 80°C.

Results showed that the geotechnical parameters of red tropical soils are improved substantially by the addition of marble dust; plasticity was reduced by 20 to 33% and strength and CBR increased by 30 to 46% and 27 to 55% respectively. The highest strength and CBR values were achieved at 8% marble dust. Results also showed that normal 28 day curing improved the strength of the marble dust-treated soil with over 80% strength gain achieved after 7 to 10 days of normal curing. Higher strength development was realised following accelerated 24 h curing at 60°C.

Although these results imply marked improvement in the geotechnical parameters of red tropical soils, the higher strength developed is not enough for the improved soil to be used as a base material in the construction of heavily trafficked flexible pavements. The improved material may, however, be successfully used as base material for lightly trafficked roads and as a sub-base material for heavily trafficked roads.     

皖中膨胀土的承载比(CBR)强度特性研究

针对皖中地区高速公路建设中遇到的膨胀土问题,选取合六叶高速公路典型土样开展了系统的承载比（CBR）特性试验研究,并在此基础上探讨了膨胀土作为路基填料的适用性。研究表明:（1）起始含水量对膨胀土CBR值影响显著,CBR最大值对应的含水量高于最佳含水量,且击实功越大,二者差值也越大;（2）CBR膨胀量随起始含水量增大而减小,起始含水量越低,CBR膨胀量就越大,路基的水稳性就越差;（3）当击实功较大时,膨胀土的最佳含水量较小,适合填筑的可变含水量范围较宽,建议现场施工控制采用重型击实标准;（4）在重型击实条件下,将弱膨胀土起始含水量控制在比最优含水量大2%4%范围内,能同时满足压实度和CBR值要求以用于填筑下路堤,中膨胀土作为路基填料时必须经过改性处理。研究结果对于在膨胀土地区进行公路建设具有参考意义。     

Stabilization of Expansive Soil with Cement Kiln Dust and RBI Grade 81 at Subgrade Level

The present research work deals with an expansive high plastic clayey soil with cement kiln dust (CKD) and stabilizer (RBI Grade 81). The physical and engineering properties of soil are plasticity, compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), consolidation and California bearing ratio (CBR) of the clayey soil and clay treated with CKD and stabilizer were determined. Soil chemistry was examined before and after treatment using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and elemental dispersive spectrometer. The clay mixed with CKD, CKD and RBI Grade 81 was found that optimum contents are 10 % (CKD), 15 % CKD with 4 % RBI Grade 81, respectively. The result indicates that CKD alone will decrease maximum dry density and increase optimum moisture content. CKD with RBI Grade 81 slightly increases maximum dry density and decreases optimum moisture content. UCS increased with CKD alone and CKD with RBI Grade 81 from 88.3 to 976 kN/m², respectively. CBR values were increased by the addition of CKD, CKD with RBI Grade 81 from 1.65 to 21.7 %. With the curing time of 3, 14 and 28 days, UCS and CBR values were increased due to pozzolanic reaction from cementations material. The treated soil has considerable reduction in compression index. SEM images clearly indicate the formation of CSH and CAH gel.