EMBANKMENTS ON SOFT CLAYS

Under the guidance of

Prof .P. V. V. SATYANARAYANA

Presented by

K.VASUDEVA
316206310005
SOFT CLAYS:

Soft clay is characterized by high compressibility and

shear strength less than 2.5 t/ m2 . They are fine grained soils
with moderate to high clay fraction (30%) and are highly
plastic in nature, natural water content greater than or equal to
liquid limit.

Types of soils classified as soft :

o Saturated clays and fine silts (alluvium), marine clays and

fine silts
o loose sand (especially when under water table)
 Properties of Soft Clay:

Low strength (Cu < 25Kn/ m2 )

High compressibility
Low permeability (10-8 to 10-5 )

SPT Value (N= 2 to 4), nearly zero for marine clay.

Size< 0.002mm , shape-Flaky
Factors influencing the choice of
improvement method

1. Purpose of the improvement project

2. Time factor
3. Area and depth of soil to be treated
4. Type of soil and its initial properties
5. Material availability
6. Equipment and skills available
7. Environmental factors
8. Feasibility of construction
9. Cost
Methods of ground improvement

1. Over excavation or replacement method

2. Densification and compaction (mechanical modification)
3. Hydraulic modification: Free excess water is extracted e.g.
use of pumping, vertical drains and surcharge
4. Admixture stabilization: Physically mixing of additives with
surface soils or soils at depth
additives include : natural soils, lime, cement or
industrial by product and waste material
Cont

5. Reinforcement method:

- vertical reinforcement (e.g. piles , stone columns)

- horizontal reinforcement (e.g. geo synthetic products)

6. Electrical modification methods: Using electrical gradient to

cause water movement

7. Thermal modification methods : heating the ground can

cause permanent change in the soil mineral structure;

freezing bonds individual particles together for temporary

soil improvement
Limitation of over excavation /
replacement

Slope protection during excavation

Adjacent structures
Pumping required for high ground water table conditions
Replacement material not readily available
Limited compaction achieved in confined areas (use vibratory
plates compactor or high frequency rammer)
 Methods of Soil Stabilization

Mechanical Stabilization
Soil lime Stabilization
Soil cement Stabilization Admixture stabilization
Soil Bitumen Stabilization
Chemical Stabilization
Lime Stabilization:
Methodology:

Scarification and pulverization

Lime spreading
Preliminary mixing and watering
Final mixing and pulverization
Compaction
Final curing
Lime Stabilization:

The lime is used in the form of quick lime (Cao) or hydrated lime
(Ca(OH)2)

Short term reactions:

1.Hydration
2.Flocculation

Long term Reactions:

1.Cementation
2.Carbonation
 Lime + clay

Flocculation - Lime +
fine particles silica
stick together
-size distribution +
changes alumina

cemen
t
gels

Physical
reaction chemical
reaction
 Engineering benefits of lime
stabilization:
Plasticity characteristics

Volume stability

Compaction Characteristics

Unconfined compressive strength increases upto a certain limit

and then decreases.

Permeability
 Site Applications:

Low volume road construction -base coarse & wearing

coarse.

Sub grade improvement for low & high volume roads.

 Cement Stabilization:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Granular soils with high sand/silt content required.

Stabilized soils must be compacted & protected (as with
concrete) after compaction.
High organic content soils not suitable.
High clay content soils not suitable.
 Procedure:

Pulverization
Cement content
Moisture content
Uniformity of mixing
Compaction
Curing.
 Site Applications:

Cement stabilized soils usually stronger than lime

stabilized soils.

Similar uses to lime stabilized soils.

 Engineering benefits of cement
stabilization:

Plasticity characteristics

Volume stability

Compaction Characteristics

Unconfined compressive strength increases upto a certain limit

and then decreases.

Permeability
 qu qu

%cement content %lime content

Note : In cement stabilization unconfined

compressive strength increases linearly
where as in lime stabilization it increases
with lime content upto some extent and then
decreases.
 Bituminous Stabilization:

The factors that seem most important to control are

Nature of soil
Surface moisture content
Viscosity of the asphalt
Asphalt content
Uniformity of mixing
Compaction and curing.
 Construction of SOIL-ASPHALT:

Pulverization
Addition of water for mixing
Adding and mixing of bitumen
Compaction
Finishing
Curing
appilication of surface cover
Chemical stabilization:

Sodium chloride
Calcium chloride
Polymers
Chrome legnin
Coagulating chemicals
Water proofers
Case studies:-
Utilization of Lime for Stabilizing Soft Clay Soil of
high organic content

Grain size distribution of soft clay

Effect of lime on liquid limit and plastic limit
with curing time.
Effect of lime on unconfined compressive strength and
modulus of elasticity:-
Comments:-

1. Several constituents of clay minerals can be affected by the

addition of lime, leading to development of new cementing minerals
and other compounds such as calcite, calcium silicate hydrates (CSH)
and calcium aluminate hydrates (CAH).

2. There is a gradual increase in grain size of treated soil with

increasing lime percent, depending on curing time. This is not an
increase in particle sizes, but it is due to the formation of soil lumps.

3. There is an increase in both liquid and plastic limits of soil with

lime addition, but they decrease with curing time.
4. The unconfined compressive strength of soil can be increased by nearly
seven times by the addition of 7% lime after curing time of 60 days. In
addition, a remarkable improvement in both modulus of elasticity and soil
cohesion can be achieved by the addition of lime, depending on the curing
time.

5. The lime fixation point occurs at 3% lime addition where the behavior of
soil changes from soft to stiff.

6. The compressibility of 1% lime-treated does not show a significant

improvement in soil compressibility, however, it is expected that soil
compressibility can be gradually improved with the increase of lime
percent.

7. Overall, the research reported in this study proves that soft clay can be
stabilized satisfactorily with the addition of about 7% lime.
2.ClayWater/Cement Ratio Identity for Cement Admixed Soft
Clays:-

fig.Typical compressibility characteristics of soft fig. Stress-strain characteristics of cement admixed

clay soft clay samples in unconfined compression
admixed with cement with a curing period of 7
days
wc /C=15.