Utilization of Expansive Black Cotton Soil for Backfilling After Treatment with Chemicals—A Case Study
摘要
For one of the greenfield industrial project in the Kutch area of Gujarat coast, surficial deposits of expansive black cotton (BC) soils overlying moderately weathered rock of varying thicknesses are widely spread across the project area covering an area of around 850 Acres. The site grading in terms of cutting of top expansive soil together with construction of roads, other light loaded foundations, filling under grade slabs, cross drainage works, etc. forms a part of overall project development. The expansive black cotton soil was observed to be mostly of CH type having liquid limit going upto 75% and plasticity index upto 40%, respectively. The swelling pressure ranged from 50 to 75 kPa under field moisture and density conditions. However, the moisture at oven dry condition exceeds these values and goes up to 175 kPa. Since the volume of cutting, filling, disposal and handling involvement is around 4 lakhs m3, the utilization of existing expansive soil for such works in terms of feasibility was therefore examined through detailed field and laboratory tests through mechanical Stabilization and chemical stabilization comprising of lime, lime and sodium chloride and only calcium chloride for various dosages. The efficacy of these methods was established, and this paper describes the field methodology of trials and test results of the same formulation of actual field process to achieve the target results.