Improvement of swelling chlorite soil using sodium silicate alkali activator

Abstract

Construction on swelling soil represents a challenge to geotechnical engineers. Sodium silicate is usually offered to improve soil quality but with other chemicals; however, its sole effect on soil characteristics is still questionable. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to test the feasibility of depending on only sodium silicate in stabilizing swelling soil. To reach results, an expansive chlorite sample was tested in lab. The effect of the stabilizer ratio on its mechanical characteristics, consistency and mineralogy were all assessed directly after extraction and at three months age. Also, the durability of the highest strength sample was monitored during the testing period. The major findings were that although the durability of the sample was found to be of limited age, the use of sodium silicate with no other additives -by a ratio of 10%- was successful in boosting soil mechanical aspects and eliminating its swelling potential with time.

Keywords

• Swelling
• Soil
• Chlorite
• Sodium silicate
• Improvement