- Title
- Improving engineering properties of soft clayey soils using electrokinetics : A laboratory based investigation
- Creator
- Jayasekera, Samudra; Hall, Stephen
- Date
- 2007
- Type
- Text; Conference paper
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/61768
- Identifier
- vital:1780
- Identifier
- ISBN:9780415422802
- Abstract
- In this project, an in-situ soil treatment technique using electrokinetics was tested using laboratory experimental models in order to identify the potential of this approach to modify and improve the engineering properties of soft, low permeable clayey soils, with and without the introduction of a stabilising agent. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory using soils collected from soft alluvial soil deposit and basaltic soil deposit in central Victoria, Australia. A layer of soil was placed in glass tanks (900 mm x 350 mm plan area) and compacted to a known density and water content typical of field conditions. Using electrodes inserted into the soil, a direct current was passed across the soil under a voltage gradient of 0.5 V/cm for period of 14 days. In separate experiments, distilled water and a saturated lime solution were introduced to the soil via the anode electrode throughout the experimental duration with the aim of identifying the effectiveness of introduction of stabilising agents to soil using electrokinetics. After electrokinetic processing, soil specimens across the soil were tested for various engineering properties such as compressive strength, consistency limits, linear shrinkage, free swell index and compression index. From the results it was observed that the plasticity index of the soil decreased appreciably indicating increases in soil compressive strength and workability. Both the linear shrinkage and free swell index decreased by 70% without stabilising agents and by 90% with lime introduction, indicating the reduction in the potential for volumetric changes in the soils. With electrokinetic treatment alone, the unconfined compressive strength of the soils increased at least by 30% while in some locations the strength increase was in excess of 100% while the lime-enhanced electrokinetic treatment led to an almost 200% strength increase. The decrease in the compression index was between 10% and 15%. These results suggest the potential of developing this technique to improve the engineering properties of soft clayey soils more effectively and efficiently with or without the introduction of a stabilising agent. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group.
- Publisher
- Vancouver, BC Taylor & Francis
- Relation
- Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Soft Soil Engineering - Soft Soil Engineering, Vancouver, BC p. 643-648
- Rights
- Copyright Taylor & Francis
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- ABS resins; Compressive strength; Data compression; Electrodynamics; Electromagnetic fields; Electroosmosis; Engineering; Hydraulic conductivity; Lime
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