IJEP 44(1): 35-49 : Vol. 44 Issue. 1 (January 2024)
Dharmendra Singh*, Vijay Kumar and R.P. Tiwari
Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Department of Civil Engineering, Prayagraj – 211 004, Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
Expansive soil (ES) is soil that contains certain minerals, such as smectite clay minerals, that have the ability to absorb water and swell significantly. This swelling can cause damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure built on or near the soil. In this study, three materials have been used, such as Road Building International (RBI) grade-81 (RIG-81), terrafirma (TRA) and geotextile (GE). Terrafirma is made from a blend of synthetic polymers that are mixed with soil to improve its load-bearing capacity, reduce its swell potential and increase its resistance to erosion. RIG-81 is typically used in the construction industry to stabilize soil in various applications, such as road building, airfield construction and other civil engineering projects. Geotextile is a synthetic permeable fabric made from polypropylene or polyester fibers used in civil engineering and construction applications for filtration, separation, reinforcement and drainage purposes. Geotechnical laboratory tests are conducted to evaluate the properties of soil. Here are some commonly conducted geotechnical laboratory tests: Atterberg’s limit, compaction, unconfined compressive strength, expansion ratio and California bearing ratio. The results of these tests were used to design and analyse various geotechnical structures, such as foundations, retaining walls, embankments and slopes. Some commonly conducted mineralogy tests of soil are x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. These tests are used to identify the mineral composition of soil samples, which can provide valuable information about the origin, formation and characteristics of the soil. They can also be used to determine the soil’s potential for agricultural productivity, its suitability for construction purposes and its environmental impact. The selection of specific mineralogy tests depends on the nature of the soil sample and the specific objectives of the analysis.
Keywords
Expansive soil, RBI grade 81, Terrafirma, Geotextile, Characterization, Stabilization
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