Mr.Adithya Hebbar B Ms.

Rakshitha
(4NM15CV005) (4NM16CV418)

Mr.Akshar B Shetty Mr.Amith Kumara

(4NM15CV012) (4NM15CV017)

Under the guidance of

Dr. Anil Kumar
Assistant Professor
and
Dr. Arun Kumar Bhat
Professor
Civil Engineering Department
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 The construction of any building requires presence of a suitable

stable base on which the structure can be constructed.
SUBGRADE SOIL

 In most cases the loads applied tends to be transferred into the soil
beneath the foundation.

 The basic requirement for the stable building is a stable foundation

and foundation material. In this sense the sub soil plays a vital role
with its engineering properties.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 India is one of the fastest developing countries with respect to its

infrastructure.

 A country like India largely depends on the construction activities.

SUBGRADE SOIL

 Red soil, black cotton soil, lithomargic soil, alluvial soils and so on
are distributed across different parts of India.

 The northern states are abundant in alluvial soil whereas Southern

states have abundant laterite soils in composition.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK
SUBGRADE SOIL

SOIL DISTRIBUTION MAP

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING.

19CV15
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

BLACK COTTON SOIL

 Expansive soils such as Black Cotton soils are found in Semi arid
SUBGRADE SOIL

regions of tropical and temperate climate zones and are abundant

where annual evaporation exceeds the rate of precipitation.

 These soils can be commonly found in belts along Maharashtra

extending up to Karnataka.

 Since they have a low bearing capacity they are considered to be

weak subgrade soils.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 BCS exhibit high rate of swelling and shrinkage when exposed to

changes in moisture content.

 Hence have been found to be most troublesome from engineering

consideration.
SUBGRADE SOIL

 The rate of Montmorilllonite is more in black cotton soil.

 It causes expansion and cracking in the soil without any warning

which is dangerous of construction.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

POLYURETHANE FOAM

 Polyurethane is a polymer composed of organic units joined by

carbonate (urethane) links.
SUBGRADE SOIL

 Polyurethane polymers are traditionally and most commonly formed

by the reaction of di- or tri poly- isocyanate with a polyol.

 Liquid polyurethane foam is commonly used for polyurethane

grouting.

 Two polyurethane liquid components are mixed and injected under

pressure.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 Part A of liquid consists of isocyanate reacts with the polyol which

constitutes part B of the liquid and react with each other to form
foam.

 PU Foam can be used in the field of geotechnical works, in

SUBGRADE SOIL

foundations of buildings, in pavement designs etc.

 After foam settles it becomes rigid and gains strength.

Polyurethane Foam
Part A and B

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK
SUBGRADE SOIL

Polyurethane Foam after mixing

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING.

19CV15
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

Objectives:
 To study the index and engineering properties of Black cotton
soil.

 To investigate the behaviour of expansive soil upon addition

SUBGRADE SOIL

of an expansive foam in different proportions. (0%, 5%, 10%,

15%, 20%, 25%).

 To perform experiments on the stabilized soil and determine

the variation in the strength of the soil.

 To find out the optimum amount of the stabilizer required for

the stabilization and to suggest the most suitable proportion
based on the experimental investigation.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

Black cotton soil

 The black cotton soil (BCS) was procured from Hassan, Karnataka
from a depth of 1m below the ground surface.
SUBGRADE SOIL

 It was packed in airtight bags and thus transported with minimum

disturbance.

 The collected sample was spread out in trays and kept inside an
oven which maintains a temperature of over 100ºC.

 After 24 hours of oven drying the sample it is then spread uniformly

over a sheet and with the help of a rammer it is broken down into
smaller size before performing various tests on it.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

Polyurethane Foam

 The polyurethane foam consists of two parts. The part A consists of

isocyanate and the part B consists of polyol.
SUBGRADE SOIL

 The combination reaction of the two parts leads to the formation of a

foam.

 The polyurethane foam for the current project was procured from
CHEMZEST ENTERPRISES, a chemical industry located in
Chennai, India

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF POLYURETHANE FOAM ON WEAK SUBGRADE SOIL

LITERATURE MATERIAL COLLECTION

SUBGRADE SOIL

BLACK COTTON SOIL POLYURETHANE FOAM

BLENDING WITH
POLYURETHANE INDEX PROPERTIES ENGINEERING PROPERTIES
FOAM

CBR TEST WATER CONTENT SHEAR STRENGTH PARAMETERS

COMPACTION SPECIFIC GRAVITY COMPACTION
CONSISTANCY LIMITS PERMEABILITY
SOIL CLASSIFICATION COMPRESSIBILITY
FREE SWELL INDEX

COMPARISON OF OBSERVATIONS

RESULT

CONCLUSION
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 The soil sample collected from the field sample has to be thoroughly
analyzed and later how much amount of stabilizer is required is
calculated.
SUBGRADE SOIL

 A thorough study of the soil includes the study of index and

engineering properties of the soil.

 Mainly Permeability, Unconfined Compressive Strength and CBR

tests were conducted on the Polyurethane Foam blended Black
Cotton Soil.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 Polyurethane Foam is blended into the Black Cotton Soil in different

proportions ranging from 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% by weight of
the soil taken.

 For particular test the weight of the soil is first calculated and by
SUBGRADE SOIL

weight of the soil equal quantity of Part A and Part B are mixed
together to form the Polyurethane Foam.

 This Foam is then homogeneously mixed with the soil so that foam
spreads uniformly and bonding occurs between the foam and soil
particles.

 After the blending is complete the sample is then mixed with the
optimum moisture content and the required tests are conducted to
obtain the results.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

TESTS BLACK COTTON SOIL

SPECIFIC GRAVITY 2.45

GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION

GRAVEL% 0
SAND % 26.80
FINES % 73.20

USCS ( UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM) CH

SUBGRADE SOIL

ATTERBERG LIMITS
LIQUID LIMIT % 56
PLASTIC LIMIT % 23.24
SHRINKAGE LIMIT % 13.61

FREE SWELL INDEX % 37

STANDARD COMPACTION TEST

MAXIMUM DRY DENSITY g/cc 1.66
OPTIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT % 20

UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH kN/m2 90.8

SOAKED CBR % 1.032

PERMEABILITY
VARIABLE HEAD cm/sec 2.78X10-5

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15
 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK
SUBGRADE SOIL

PERMEABILITY TEST

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING.

19CV15
UCC SAMPLES
 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK
SUBGRADE SOIL

CBR SAMPLES

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING.

19CV15
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

SOIL BLENDS 0TH DAY (kN/m2) 7TH DAY (kN/m2) UCC COMPARISON
BCS + 5% PUF 125.92 234.32
BCS + 10%PUF 155.48 454.40
BCS +15%PUF 169.72 441.26
SUBGRADE SOIL

BCS + 20% PUF 268.40 635.06

BCS + 25% PUF 144.50 921.94

1000 921.94

UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

900

800

700 635.06
600
kN/m2

500 454.4 441.26

400 0TH
268.4 DAY
300 234.32
7TH
200 155.48 169.72 144.5
125.92 DAY
90.8890.88
100

0% PUF 5% PUF 10%PUF 15%PUF 20% PUF 25% PUF

FOAM %

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

SOIL BLENDS CBR % CBR COMPARISON

BCS + 0% PU FOAM 1.032
BCS + 5% PU FOAM 1.72
BCS + 10% PU FOAM 10.14
BCS + 15% PU FOAM 19.78
BCS + 20% PU FOAM 20.30
SUBGRADE SOIL

BCS + 25% PU FOAM 26.80

30
26.8

25

19.78 20.3
SOAKED CBR %
20
CBR %

15

10.14
10

5
1.72
1.032
0

0% PUF 5% PUF 10%PUF 15%PUF 20% PUF 25% PUF

FOAM %

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 Improvement in the flow rate and decrease in water absorption

capacity of Black Cotton Soil.

 On comparing the results of UCC test we can say that after addition
of polyurethane foam to black cotton soil the strength of the soil has
SUBGRADE SOIL

increased.

 As days passed by the strength goes on increasing due to which the

durability of the stabilized soil is high.

 Percentage increase in strength of 195.6% was observed on day 1

and on day 7 the percentage increase in strength was 599.4%.

 On comparing the results of CBR prior to the mixing and after mixing
the foam we can say that after the addition of polyurethane foam to
black cotton soil the CBR value of the soil has increased.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 Percentage increase of 19.29% was observed in CBR value.

 From experiments and result analysis the optimum polyurethane

foam content is 20%.
SUBGRADE SOIL

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

 REFERENCES
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 Pooria Ghadir and Navid Ranjbar, (2018),” Clayey soil stabilization

using geopolymer and Portland cement”, Construction and Building
materials, Volume 188(2018) 361-371.
SUBGRADE SOIL

 Oriola Folagbade and Moses George, (2010),”Groundnut Shell Ash

Stabilization of Black Cotton Soil”, EJGE, Volume 15, 2010,
Bund.E.

 A M M Fakhar and A Asmaniza, (2015),”Road Maintenance

Experience Using Polyurethane Foam Injection System and
Geocrete Soil Stabilization as Ground Rehabilitation”, IOP
Conferance Series: Materials Science and Engineering 136(2016)
012004,DOI:10.1088/1757.899X/136/1/012004.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

WEBSITE
•https://www.quora.com/what-is-black-cotton-soil (Accessed
on 19 October 2018)

•https://goo.gl/images/uc3Uxt (Accessed on 19 October)

SUBGRADE SOIL

•https://goo.gl/images/RhqYq8 (Accessed on 19 October)

https://goo.gl/images/G75uhV (Accessed on 19 October

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

STANDARD CODES REFFERED

 IS: 2720(Part1) [Reaffirmed 2006] Preparation of dry samples for
various tests.
 IS: 2720(Part3) [Reaffirmed 2002] Methods of test for soil, Part 3:
Determination of the specific gravity.
SUBGRADE SOIL

 IS: 2720(Part 4) [Reaffirmed 2006] Methods of test for soil, Part 4:

Grain Size Analysis.
 IS: 2720(Part 5) [Reaffirmed 2006] Methods of test for soil, Part 5:
Determination of liquid and plastic limit.
 IS: 2720(Part6) [Reaffirmed 2001] Methods of test for soil, Part 6:
Determination of Shrinkage Factors.
 IS: 2720(Part 7) [Reaffirmed 2011] Methods of test for soil, Part 7:
Determination of water content – dry density relationship using light
compaction.
 IS:2720( Part 40) 1977- Determination of free swell index of soil
standards.
 IS: 2720( Part 10) 1991- Determination of unconfined compressive
strength.
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF PU FOAM ON WEAK

 IS: 2720 (Part 16) 1987- Laboratory determination of CBR.

 IS: 2720 (Part 17) – Laboratory determination of permeability.
SUBGRADE SOIL

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING. 19CV15