Plasticity and Swell-Shrink Behaviour of Electrokinetically Stabilized Virgin Expansive Soil using Calcium Hydroxide and Calcium Chloride Solutions as Cationic Fluids

Abstract

Abstract This investigation focussed on the plasticity and swell-shrink behaviour of an expansive soil that was stabilized using electro kinetic stabilization (EKS) techniques with cationic fluids for enhancement of stabilization. 0.25 M solutions of calcium hydroxide and calcium chloride were used as cationic fluids. An electro kinetic (EK) cell of dimensions 500 mm x 150 mm x 160 mm with inert graphite electrodes of size 140 mm x 160 mm x 5 mm was adopted for the stabilization process, carried out at an applied voltage of 40 V over a period of 6 hours. After the duration of the test, stabilized soil sample was subjected to Atterberg limits and free swell tests to determine its plasticity and swell-shrink characteristics. The results of the investigation found that both fluids were capable of reducing the plasticity and swell-shrink behaviour of the soil with different levels of effectiveness.