Assignment

Soil Stabilization Methods

Submitted to:

Prepared By:

Mirza Farquleet Baig

Roll #: l114667

Engr. Mehboob Rasool

SOIL
From Civil Engineering point of view, soil is an unconsolidated (loose) agglomerates of minerals
with or without organic matter found at or near the surface of earth crust, with which or upon
which civil engineers build their structures compared to rocks , soil are easy to excavate and
generally disintegrate when agitated in water. Soil mass is a particular material consisting of
solid particles with voids (pores) filled with air or water or both.

Soil Stabilization
Soil stabilization refers to the process of changing soil properties to improve strength and durability.
There are many techniques for soil stabilization, including compaction, dewatering and by adding
material to the soil. This summary will focus on mechanical and chemical stabilization

TYPES OF SOIL STABLIZATION

1) Mechanical
Mechanical stabilization improves soil properties by mixing other soil materials with the target soil to
change the gradation and therefore change the engineering
properties.

Dynamic Compaction
Soil Reinforcement
Addition of Graded Aggregates Materials
Mechanical Remediation

Soil stabilizer at work

2) Chemical
Chemical stabilization used the addition of cementations or pozzolanic materials to improve the soil
properties. Chemical stabilization has traditionally relied on Portland cement and lime for chemical
stabilization.

Stabilization with Lime

Stabilization with Cement
Stabilization with Bitumen
Stabilization with Fly Ash

3) Physical stabilization
4) Electrical stabilization
5) Thermal stabilization

6) Physic-stabilization

Soil Stabilization Process

In soil stabilization we artificially change soil properties for construction purposes at natural site. As
result of soil stabilization, the bearing capacity of the foundation of the structure is increased.
The currently-employed technologies for soil stabilization include multiple alternatives. One choice
involves the pulverization and homogenization of existing materials in-place, without the addition
of an additive to change or improve the characteristics of the material. This technique is typically
performed when the in-situ material is suitable.
Stabilization of soil is treatment of soil which renders it more stable in engineering construction.
Stabilization means addition and mixing an admixture with soil before compaction is carried out.
Stabilization may be applied in place to a soil in its natural position. Stabilization may be applied in a
plant and then transported to the site for placement and compaction.
Mechanical Stabilization:
Mechanical stabilization refers to either compaction or the introduction of
fibrous and other non- biodegradable reinforcements to the soil. This practice
does not require chemical change of the soil. There are several methods used
to achieve mechanical stabilization.
(i) Compaction:
Compaction typically employs a heavy weight to increase the soil
density by applying pressure from above. Machines such as large soil
compactors with vibrating steel drums are often used for this
purpose. Here over compaction of the soil should be avoided and
given great consideration because in the case of over compaction, the
aggregates get crushed and the soil loses its engineering properties.

(ii) Soil Reinforcement:

Soil problems are sometimes remedied by engineered or non
engineered mechanical solutions. Geo-textiles and engineered plastic
mesh are designed to trap soils and help control erosion, moisture
conditions and soil permeability. Larger aggregates such as gravel,
stones and boulders are often employed where additional mass and
rigidity can prevent soil migration or improve load-bearing properties.

(iii) Addition of graded aggregate materials:

A common method of improving the engineered characteristics of
a soil is to add certain aggregates that lend desirable attributes to
the soil such as increased strength or decreased plasticity. This
method provides material economy, improves support capabilities
of the sub-grade and furnishes a working platform for the
remaining structure.
(iv) Mechanical Remediation:
Traditionally this has been the accepted practice to deal with soil
contamination. This is a technique where contaminated soil is physically
removed and relocated to a designated hazardous waste facility far from
centers of human population. In recent times however, chemical and
bioremediation have proven to be a better solution both economically and
environmentally.

Chemical Stabilization
1. Stabilization of soil with Lime:
The use of lime to dry, modify or stabilize soils has been documented in studies as much as fifty
years old. When lime is intimately mixed with the soil. The transformation start within a hour of mixing
and significant changes are realized within few days depending upon type of lime used. Hydrated lime
(calcium hydroxide) is mainly used.
There are two basic types of lime: High Calcium & High Magnesium.
Their soil-stabilizing ability is roughly equal. Quicklime is occasionally used to stabilize heavy clays.
Several techniques have been developed for lime stabilization.
Conventional large-area stabilization calls for these steps:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.

Grade area
Scarify and pulverize
Spread lime
Add water during pre laminar mixing
Rough grade with light compaction
Preliminary cure
Final rotary mix and pulverize
Compact
Final cure

Lime should not be spread dry during windy weather

because it will create dusting problems. A sprinkling with
water will reduce dusting. Lime applied as slurry will
eliminate the dusting problem entirely.
The cost of lime stabilization is primarily governed by:
a. The procedure chosen, which depends on the
nature of the site, the performance characteristics
desired, and the time available for treatment.
b. The type of soil. Heavier clays require longer and more extensive treatment. Low plasticity soils
may need a pozzolan.
c. The cost of spreading.
d. The quantity of water to be added.

2. Stabilization with Cement:

In cement soil stabilization Portland cement can be used to stabilize and strengthen the Soil. In this
method required quantity of Portland cement is spread over the soil uniformly which is to be stabilized.
If the moisture content is low it will be necessary to sprinkle the surface with water during process of
operation. All soils can be stabilized with Portland cement, provided sufficient quantity is added. Some
soils with a high organic content do not react well with cement and hardening may be delayed. As clay
content increases, soils become more difficult to pulverize and work, and larger quantities of cement
must be added to harden them.
The purpose of the stabilization is to improve the properties of a substandard material.
The method calls for these steps:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

Grade area
Scarify, pulverize and pre wet soil as necessary
Re grade
Spread Portland cement and mix
Apply water and mix
Compact
Final grade
Cure

The central-plant-mixed method calls for this procedure:

i.
ii.
iii.

Grade and compact sub grade

Mix soil, cement and water in central plant
Haul mixed material to area and spread

iv.
v.
vi.

Compact
Final grade
Cure

Pulverization is necessary with heavier-type soils to break

up the soil particles and ensure intimate contact with the
cement. Optimum moisture is necessary to both hydrate the cement and facilitate compaction.

The advantages of cement stabilization are several:

Cement stabilization increases base material strength and stiffness, which reduces deflections
due to traffic loads. This delays surface distress such as fatigue cracking and extends pavement
structure life.
Cement stabilization provides uniform, strong support, which results in reduced stresses to the
sub-grade. Testing indicates a thinner cement-stabilized layer can reduce stresses more
effectively than a thicker un-stabilized layer of aggregate.
This reduces sub-grade failure, pothole formation and
rough pavement surfaces.
Cement stabilization reduces the potential for pumping of
sub grade fines.
Cement stabilized base spreads loads and reduces subgrade stress.

3. Soil stabilization with bitumen:

Load distribution

Soil stabilization with bitumen can be done with either of two additives.
Depending upon project conditions, the choice is made between using an
asphalt emulsion or using foamed bitumen as the additive. For example,
extremely wet soil conditions might dictate the use of foamed bitumen
rather than standard asphalt emulsion to compensate for the high field
moisture content. Emulsion might be chosen for projects where highperformance emulsions are readily available. Therefore, cost and product availability are practical
considerations for stabilization with bitumen, just as with other construction activities.

4. Soil stabilization with Fly Ash:

Fly ash was chosen as the agent to stabilize these highly variable soil
types to produce a stable base. Fly ash was spread by distributor truck at
an application rate. The fly ash was mixed with the existing sub grade
to a depth of (12 inches); water was used to activate the ashs

bonding with the in-situ sub grade materials. The stabilized material was then compacted with a
pad foot vibratory compactor, and graded to proper profile.

Physical stabilization
In the technique of physical stabilization , the physical properties of the
material (soil)are improve by blending two or three soil , together so as to
improve the gradation of the mixture to well graded material. This technique
is usually used in the construction of roads when more than one type of soil is
readily available at or near the site.

Thermal stabilization
Thermal analysis involves a dynamic phenomenological approach to the study of soils by observing its
response to a change in temperature. Infrastructure projects such as highways, railways, water
reservoirs, reclamation etc. requires earth material in very large quantity. In urban areas, borrow earth
is not easily available which has to be hauled from a long distance. Quite often, large areas are covered
with highly plastic and expansive soil, which is not suitable for such purpose. Extensive laboratory / field
trials have been carried out by various researchers and have shown promising results for application of
such expansive soil after
Stabilization with additives such as sand, silt, lime, fly ash, etc. As fly ash is freely available, for projects
in the vicinity of a Thermal Power Plants, it can be used for stabilization of expansive soils for various
uses.

Electrical stabilization
A plurality of rows of wells are drilled in the soil of the area to be stabilized, and then pairs of electrodes,
i.e., an aluminum anode and a copper-graphite cathode
connected to a source of a bipolar pulse current, are
inserted into each well in such a manner that during
operation all anodes of odd wells are connected to a
positive terminal (for odd pulses) of the source, while

all cathodes of even wells are connected to a negative terminal (for odd pulses) of the source. After a
certain period of treatment the anodes and cathodes are reversed so that all anodes of even wells are
connected to the positive terminals (for even pulses) of the source, whereas the cathodes of the odd
wells are connected to the negative terminal of the source. Controlled directional structuring of the soil
mass is carried out by adjusting the duration of current pulses, intervals between two sequential bipolar
pulses of pulse current, and current density in the pulses. Prior to initiation of the soil stabilization
process, salts, which correspond to the type of treated soil, are introduced into the wells. Furthermore,
water under pressure is fed to the area of the soil being current stabilized as an additional measure for
affecting soil temperature control.

Physic-chemical stabilization
Stabilization of soil using both the physical and chemical method such as lime stabilization or cement
stabilization etc is known as physic-stabilization of a soil the picture given below is showing the physicchemical stabilization of soil. Foundry sand used to stabilize poor soil
for working platform.