Introducing Cement-Enhanced Clay-Sand Columns under Footings Placed on Expansive Soils

Abstract

The risk posed by expansive soils can be lessened by placing foundations at a more deep level below the surface. Structures are able to withstand uplift forces because overburden pressure partially suppresses swelling pressure. In order to transfer the forces to a sufficiently deep depth, this study suggests introducing shafts of a low-expansion overburden material. Soil improved with cement is chosen for this purpose. This study suggests using sand with added excavated natural clay and cement. The expansive clay is added to sand in ratios of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60%. The clay–sand mixture is then enhanced by cement of 1, 2, 4 and 8% by the weight of the mixture under four curing periods of 1, 7, 28, and 90 days. This material is recommended for use under lean concrete to transfer the loads to lower levels below the foundation depth. The thickness of this material depends on the stresses exerted, the type and the properties of the subsurface soils. The cement-enhanced clay–sand shaft’s properties are examined in this work with regard to the swelling potential, compressibility, and the unconfined compressive strength for different clay contents and curing conditions. Stiff shafts were formed and found to support stresses from 600 to 3500 kPa at cement additions in the range of 1% to 8%. Clay content above 30% is found to be not suitable for Al-Qatif clay due to the compressibility and low strength of the mixture. When two percent or more of cement is added, the swelling potential is significantly reduced. This is reliant on the pozzolanic interactions of soils and cement as well as the clay mineralogy. Determining how cement affects clay–sand combinations in regions with expansive soils would facilitate the introduction of a novel, inexpensive technology to support loads applied by the superstructure.