INFLUENCE OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON INDEX PROPERTIES AND CBR VALUE OF CLAYEY SOIL

Abstract

Most of the problem faced by geotechnical engineers is when a given site does not have suitable engineering properties to support structures, roads and foundation. The soil of the site may be weak due to various reasons. A difficult problem in work exists when the soil is found to be clay or the water table in that region is high. Soils with high clay content generally have low shear strength and has tendency to swell when their moisture content is allowed to increase. For these reasons clayey soil is not suited for structures, roads and foundation. Engineering properties of clayey soil can be improved by adopting different methods of soil stabilization. Many stabilization methods are in practice for altering the engineering properties of the clayey soil. Common methods for stabilization of clayey soil are lime and cement stabilization. Soil can also be stabilized by chemical stabilization as well as physical stabilization. Physical stabilization includes dynamic compaction and chemical stabilization is done by using chemically active materials such as lime, fly ash, Portland cement, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium silicate, magnesium chloride or materials having elastic properties such as bitumen. Calcium chloride is the ionic compound of calcium and chloride. A recent study shows that calcium chloride can be effectively dissolves in water quickly and provide enough calcium ions for exchange ionic reactions with clayey soil. Function of this chemical (calcium chloride) is to form into cluster of fine particles and bind them together. Calcium chloride dosage is added in 0.5% to 3.0% by weight of soil with 0.5% of increment in each dosage. Standard proctor test, CBR, consistency limits test and UCS test are performed to determine the optimum dosage of calcium chloride.