Dewatering and stabilization of Black cotton soil using Electrokinetic Geosynthetics

Abstract

Abstract Electrokinetic Geosynthetics (EKG) is a platform technology used to dewater and stabilize highly saturated soft clayey soils, mine tailings, tunnelling slurry waste, sewage sludge etc. This laboratory study investigates the potential of EKG made of woven coir geotextile to stabilize highly expansive saturated black cotton soil collected from the Hubli-Dharward region of Karnataka state, India. An electoosmosis design was made in a tank setup where the soil was dewatered for a period of 7 days under three varying potential (15V, 30V & 60V) and different electrode configuration. The results demonstrated an increase in the rate of pore water dissipation by 500% at an optimum voltage gradient of 30V in various electrode spacing. The results of the EKG treatment at various voltages revealed that, as applied voltages increased up to 60 V, the liquid limits and plasticity indices rapidly dropped. An exponential increase in undrained shear strength of the soil was observed at an electrode configuration of 4A-1C.