Different techniques for enhancing the engineering properties of expansive soil
Volume Title: ICASGE2025
Paper ID : 1130-ICASGE-FULL
Authors
1Geotechnical Engineering (GEO)
2Professor of Geotechnical Engineering,Faculty of Engineering,Tanta University
Abstract
Expansive soils, known for their significant volume changes with moisture fluctuations, pose challenges in construction due to their shrink-swell behavior. Various methods are employed to improve the engineering properties of expansive soils, enhancing their stability for safer and more reliable infrastructure. Chemical stabilization, such as the addition of lime, cement, or fly ash, is commonly used to reduce the soil’s plasticity, swelling potential, and shrinkage. Lime stabilization, in particular, creates cementitious bonds that increase soil strength and decrease moisture sensitivity. Mechanical stabilization involves techniques like soil replacement, compaction, or mixing to alter the soil’s composition and improve its load-bearing capacity. Replacing expansive soil with non-expansive material or enhancing soil compaction minimizes volume changes and improves soil cohesion. Geosynthetic materials, such as geotextiles and geomembranes, are increasingly used to reinforce expansive soils, reduce moisture infiltration, and distribute loads evenly. In conclusion, a combination of chemical, mechanical, and geosynthetics techniques can consider effective solutions to reduce the risks associated with swelling and shrinkage.
Keywords
Subjects