Addressing Clay Mineralogy Effects on Performance of Chemically Stabilized Expansive Soils Subjected to Seasonal Wetting and Drying
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 1
Abstract
Premature failures in chemically stabilized expansive soils cost millions of dollars in maintenance and repair. One reason for these failures is the inability of existing stabilization design guidelines to take into account the complex interactions between the clay minerals and the stabilizers. It is vital to understand these complex interactions, as they are responsible for the improved strength and reduction of swelling/shrinking in these soils, which in turn affects the overall health of the infrastructure. This research study examined the longevity of chemically stabilized expansive soils subjected to wetting/drying conditions, with a major focus on clay mineralogy. Eight different natural soils with varying clay mineralogy were subjected to wetting/drying durability studies after they were stabilized with chemical additives including quicklime and cement. Performance indicators such as volumetric strain and unconfined compressive strength trends were monitored at regular intervals during the wetting/drying process. It was observed that clayey soils dominant in the mineral montmorillonite were susceptible to premature failures. It was also noted that soils dominant in other clay minerals exhibited early failures at lower additive contents. For the first time, an attempt was made to address the field implications of the laboratory studies by developing a correlation that predicts service life in the field based on clay mineralogy and stabilizer dosage.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for their support of this research. The authors would like to acknowledge Mark McDaniel of the TxDOT and Dr. Soheil Nazarian of the University of Texas at El Paso for their assistance with this research.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 1 • January 2018
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 24, 2016
Accepted: Jun 12, 2017
Published online: Oct 24, 2017
Published in print: Jan 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Mar 24, 2018
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