MINISTRY OF PUBLIC

WORKS
WORKS SERVICES GROUP
5TH ENGINEERING CONFERENCE
Defending Guyanas Development
with Engineering Solutions

Project Title: Chemical Stabilization of Clay
Design Department
Presenter: Stephan Cheong
Date: February 5,2015
 Outline of Presentation

Introduction to Soil Stabilization
Chemical Admixtures
Application of Soil Stabilization
Environmental Impacts
Engineering Properties of Clay
Standard Engineering Tests
Project Limits
Results and Analysis
Discussion
Flexible Pavement Design
Economical Consideration of Flexible Pavement
Benefits of Soil Stabilization
Conclusion
Recommendations
 Introduction to Soil
Stabilization

Permanent physical and chemical alteration of soils
to enhance their physical properties.

To create an improved soil material possessing the

desired engineering properties.

Chemical stabilization relies on the use of an

admixture to alter the chemical properties of the soil.
 Chemical Admixtures

The chemical additives used to modify the
chemical properties of a clay soil in this
research are listed below:

o)Rice Husk Ash Silicate Based

 Chemical Admixtures

o Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Based

o Lime Calcium Based

 Application of Soil
Stabilization

Road Pavements

Foundations
 Environmental Impacts

Environmental Sodium
Rice Husk Lime
Parameter Hydroxide
PHYSICAL
Air: Dust Not Required Required Required
Control
measures when
transported
Water Quality Sodium toxicity Water quality is Ionizes to
results from high not affected Calcium cations
concentration of in water which
Sodium in water is beneficial for
but decreases human and fish
acidity of water health
due to low pH
Social
Health and Severely Harmless Harmless
 Engineering Properties of
Clays

Their vulnerability to slow volume changes that can occur

independent of loading due to swelling or shrinkage.

The degree of weathering they have undergone

which leads to the destruction of interparticle bond.

Reductions in strength and elastic modulus with a general

increase in plasticity.
 Standard Engineering Tests

Standard Tests
Key Engineering Properties
Liquid and Plastic Limit {ASTM Plasticity Index
D4318 -00}
Shrinkage Limit {ASTM D4943 -02} Shrinkage Potential

Specific Gravity {ASTM D854 -02} Soil Density

Standard Engineering Tests

Standard Tests
Key Engineering
Properties
Modified Proctor {ASTM D1557 Compaction
-00}
California Bearing Ratio {ASTM Subgrade Strength
D1883 -99}
Settlement Potential of Cohesive Soil Permeability and
Soils {ASTM D4546 -03} Percent Settlement
 Project Limits

Location of Disturbed Tested Sample: University of
Guyana

Selected Test Specimens: Soil mixed with 5%, 10%,

15% NaOH, 3%, 5%, 8% Lime and 20%, 25% and 30%
RHA.

Soil mixed with 8% Lime, 30% RHA and 10% NaOH

was more effective in stabilizing clay soils.
Results and Analysis

Soil Specif

Plastici Soil Shrinka
Type c ty Type ge
Gravit Index / *Plastici Limit/%
y % ty Chart
Values (ASTM D
2487)
Untreat 2.695 47.26 CH 13.62
ed Clay
Soil
Soil + 2.452
30% 35.75 MH 3.90
RHA
Soil + 2.504 26.87 MH 8.90
8%
Lime
Soil + 2.956 24.09 MH 7.47
10%
NaOH
 Results and Analysis

Soil Type Maximum

Californi Subgrade
Modifed a Strength
Proctor Dry Bearing *Based on
Density / Ratio AASHTO
lb/ft3 Pavement
Thickness
Design Guide

Untreate 105 3.01 Low

d Clay
Soil
Soil + 87.0 3.23 Low
30%
RHA
Soil + 101.6 4.12 Low
8% Lime
Results and Analysis

Soil Type Settlement
Potential of
Cohesive Soils
{Remolded
Samples}
Hydraulic
Conductivity, kz (m/yr)

Untreated Clay Soil

0.05755
Soil + 30% RHA
0.80495
Soil + 8% Lime
0.72524
Soil + 10% NaOH
0.0938
 Results and Analysis

Seating Untreated Soil + 8% Soil + Soil +
Pressure Clay Soil Lime 30% RHA 10%
vo NaOH
(KPa)
- Percent Settlement /% of Remolded Samples
384 -13.0 -6.1 -8.2 -7.4
- Percent Rebound Settlement /% of Remolded
Samples
24 -8.2 -4.3 -5.5 -4.7
Discussion

Increased Compaction Increased Density
Stabilized % Variation Stabilized % Variation
Soil from Clay Soil from Clay
10% NaOH 5% 10% NaOH 10%
8%Lime -3% 8%Lime -7%
30% RHA -17% 30% RHA -9%
Discussion

Increased Load Bearing Increased Hydraulic
Capacity (Subgrade Strength) Conductivity
Stabilized % Variation Stabilized % Variation
Soil from Clay Soil from Clay
10% NaOH 90% 10% NaOH 60%
8%Lime 37% 8%Lime 1160%
30% RHA 7% 30% RHA 1300%
 Discussion

Reduction in Settlement and
Rebound Settlement

Stabilized % Variation % Variation

Soil from Clay from Clay
(S) (R.S)

10% NaOH 43% 43%

8%Lime 53% 48%
30% RHA 37% 33%
Flexible Pavement Design
(AASHTO 1993)

Input Values for
Nomograph Layer Coefficient
Reliability (R)%=95 Asphaltic Concrete;
Overall Standard Deviation a1= 0.365, EAC = 300,000
(So) = 0.40
psi
Estimated Future traffic, 18
Kip ESALs, w18= 10 106
Aggregate base;
m=1 (drainage provided) a2= 0.13, CBR = 70
Final Serviceability limit = 4.5 White Sand/Sand Clay;
Initial Serviceability limit = a3=0.11, CBR = 30
2.5
White Sand;
Design Serviceability loss =
2.0 a4= 0.0925, CBR = 20
 Structural Number and Layer
Thickness (AASHTO 1993)

Subgrad Design d1 d2 d3 d4 Subgrad
e Structur (AC) (AB) (WS/SC) (WS)
e
Type al Resilien
Number t
SN (DES) Modulus
/MPa
Clay 148.2 100 250 350 450 31.1
Clay + 145.1 87.5 237.5 350 450 33.4
30%RHA
Clay + 134.2 75 225 350 450 42.6
8%Lime
Clay + 119.6 50 150 350 450 59.1
10%NaO
H
Economical Considerations of
Flexible Pavement

o Lane Width = 12Ft; Stabilized Depth = 12in;
Road Length = 1mile
Subgrade Cost of Cost of Road Total Road
Stabilized Material / Pavement
Material/Mil Mile (GYD) Cost per
e (GYD) Mile
(GYD)
Clay - $133M $133M
Clay + 0 $121.4M $121.4M
30%RHA
Clay + $10M $100M $110M
8%Lime
Clay + $27M $79M $106M
10%NaOH
 Economical Benefits of
Stabilization

From a financial point of view, Stabilization produces the
following relevant benefits:

1) Increased Long-term performance of pavement structures

2) Saving of significant amounts of non-renewable resources

3) Transforms inexpensive earth materials into effective

construction materials

Despite positive benefits of stabilization, the engineering

properties derived can vary widely due to heterogeneity in
soil composition, differences in micro and macro structure
among soils.
Benefits of Soil Stabilization

Stabilization can:

o increase the strength of a soil

ocontrol the shrink-swell properties of a soil

oReplace mechanical methods of stabilization which can be

more costly.

oimprove stress-strain properties, permeability, and durability.

 Conclusion

All three admixture can potentially stabilize Guyanas coastal clays.

The Sodium Hydroxide admixture proved to be the most effective

investigated admixture.

Lime was slightly more effective in controlling settlement and

improving permeability.

Rice husk ash was more effective in controlling volume changes and

improving permeability.
 Recommendations

A complete and thorough Environmental and Social Impact
Assessment will be required.

The following items which are not part of the scope of research
are recommended areas of further study;

1) Correlation Between Laboratory Strength and In-situ Strength

2) Impact of Subgrade Stabilization on Life-Cycle Cost of Pavements

3) Mixing the Proportions of Two Stabilizers

Thank You!
For Your Attention
Questions???