Bituminous soil stabilization

A.I.T.Chikmagalur

CONTENT

1. Introduction 2. Materials 3. General Properties of Bitumen 4. Types of Bituminous Stabilization 5. Factors Affecting Bituminous Stabilization 6. Effect of Bitumen on Soil Property 7. Case Study 8. Conclusion 9. Reference

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Bituminous soil stabilization

A.I.T.Chikmagalur

BITUMINOUS STABILIZATION

INTRODUCTION
Bituminous stabilization is generally accomplished using asphalt cement, cutback asphalt, or asphalt emulsions . The type of bitumen to be used depends upon the type of soil to be stabilized, methods of construction, and weather conditions .In frost areas, the use of tar as a binder should be avoided because ofits high-temperature susceptibility ; however, material availability mayrequire the use of tars in nonfrost areas . Asphalts are affected to alesser extent by temperature changes, but a grade of asphalt suitableto the prevailing climate should be selected . As a general rule, the most satisfactory results are obtained when the most viscous liquid asphalt that can be readily mixed into the soil is used . For higher quality mixes in which a central plant is used, viscosity-grade asphalt cements should be used . Much bituminous stabilization is performed in place with the bitumen being applied directly on the soil or soil-aggregate system and the mixing and compaction operations being conducted immediately thereafter . For this type of construction, A process by which a controlled amount of bituminous material is thoroughly mixed with an existing soil or soil aggregate to form a stable base or wearing surface. Bitumen is a complex organic material possessing adhesive properties and substantially soluble in carbon disulphide. Materials which are composed primarily of bitumen are bituminous materials. Bituminous materials include bitumen, cutback bitumen,bitumen emulsions and tars. In non-cohesive soils,bitumen plays a role primarily of a binding agent.

In cohesive soils, its stabilization action consists mainly in preserving the strength by reducing the water absorption or by making the soil waterproof .

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Bituminous soil stabilization

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What is soil stabilization?

It is the alteration of any property of soil to improve its performance. engineering

A technique aimed at maintaining or improving the stability, load carrying capacity or resistance to water absorption of soil. Stabilization can be done for surface and deep deposits of soil masses.

Methods used for stabilizing surface deposits :

Soil Stabilization
Stabilization with special stabilizers(such as cement,lime,bitumen and various other chemicals)

Complex stabilization with more than one stabilizers. Stabilization by heating.

Deep soil deposits are stabilized by:

Electrical method Grouting method Heating or freezing,etc Bituminous Stabilization

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MATERIALS REQUIRED BITUMINIOUS MATERIALS

Asphalts and tars. Soil Water Other Additives

Asphalts and tars.

Asphalts, normally too viscous to be used directly for soil stabilization. They are used in the form of cut backs or emulsions which have a fluid consistency capable of direct incorporation into soil. Both cut back and tars may or may not require prior heating.

Soil
Clays have been treated with both cutbacks and emulsions and performed adequately. The main use of bituminous stabilization is for sand and sand-gravels which lack cohesion and/or where a waterproofing action is required. Any non cohesive soil, sand or sand-gravel may be treated. Water Some water is necessary for compaction. Any water is acceptable but sea water should be avoided

Other Additives There has been an extensive but somewhat haphazard search for additives such as coal fines, latex etc to improve the effectiveness of stabilization without marked success.
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GENERAL PROPERTIES OF BITUMEN

Contain predominantly hydrocarbons with traces of sulphur, oxygen,nitrogen and metals. Soluble in carbon disulphide. Colloidal in nature. Thermoplastic. Insoluble in water. Chemically inert. Generally hydrophobic,but can be made hydrophilic by addition of surface active agents. No specific melting point,boiling point or freezing point. Thermoplastic. Insoluble in water. Chemically inert. Generally hydrophobic,but can be made hydrophilic by addition of surface active agents. No specific melting point,boiling point or freezing point.

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TYPES OF BITUMINOUS STABILIZATION

SOIL-BITUMEN STABILIZATION SAND-BITUMEN STABILIZATION WATERPROOF MECHANICAL STABILIZATION OIL-EARTH STABILIZATION

SOIL-BITUMEN STABILIZATION Used mainly in cohesive soil. Done mainly for water proofing. Best results are obtained with soils meeting the following requirements:

Maximum Size Passing 4.75 mm sieve Passing 425 micron Passing 75 micron sieve Liquid Limit Plasticity Index
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Less than one-third the compacted thickness of stabilized soil layer. More than 50% 35-100% 10-50% Less than 40% Less than 18
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SAND-BITUMEN STABILIZATION Used for non cohesive soils such as dune,pit or river sand. Sand particles are cemented together by means of bituminous materials. More than 12% of material should not pass through 75micron sieve.In extreme cases, may be allowed up to 25%. Example-Arid desert region of Rajasthan.

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WATERPROOF MECHANICAL STABILIZATION

Refers to a well graded dense mechanical stabilized soils. They are made waterproof by incorporating a small amount of bitumen into the soil. about 1-3% is sufficient.

OIL-EARTH STABILIZATION
Refers to a surface which are made water and abrasion resistant by application of road oils. No mechanical mixing involved. Stabilizer penetrates itself by a short distance into the soil layer.

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FACTORS AFFECTING STABILIZATION

Soil: Particle size, shape and gradation of soil influence the properties of mix.

Small proportion of fines in the soil preferred,but high clay content not desirable.

Types of bituminous materials: Depends on soil type, climatic condition,equipments available,temperature,etc. For stabilization in roads,highest grade that can be mixed with the soil at the time of construction is preferred. Amount of bitumen: Amount required should be optimum such that optimum compaction and strength characteristic and adequate resistance to water absorption is obtained. For maximum stability,4 to 6% is normally adequate. Mixing: Improved mixing with low mixing period is preferred. To make mixing possible and to disperse the bitumen in fine particles,it is necessary to first mix the soil with water before adding the cutback.

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Compaction: Better the compaction, higher will be the stability of the soil.

Curing: By curing soil bitumen,the water and the volatiles(of the solvent used in cutback)are allowed to evaporate. It allows the bitumen to be more effective to impart binding and waterproofing actions. Additives: Anti stripping and reactive chemical additives have been tried to improve the properties of the mixes.

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EFFECT OF BITUMEN ON SOIL PROPERTIES

On dry density: Increasing amount of bitumen Causes the max. dry density to be progressively reduced while a corresponding increase in fluid content is observed.

Presumably due to greater viscosity of the fluid films surrounding the particles.

On strength From the figure,unconfined Compressive strength of the specimens rises slightly until a binder content of 4% is reached.

In excess of 4% causes a decrease which may goes below than that of the untreated soil.

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EFFECT OF ADDITION OF STABILIZER

Reduces the need for water to be added for compaction. Maximum dry density will be reduced. Advantageous in very dry condition. For any compacted density,higher the bitumen content,the less the absorption and loss of strength on soaking compared to the untreated material.

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CASE STUDY
The Shaybah Access Road is approximately 386 km long and runs from the main KSA-UAE highway near Batha to the Saudi Aramco Shaybah Facilities. It is an asphalt pavement constructed in six months from recycling an unbound aggregate road with a mixture of foamed bitumen and cement slurry. The end result is a road with a smooth surface finish that can carry heavy goods vehicles travelling in excess of 80 km/h in the middle of the Arabian Desert. This foamed bitumen asphalt pavement was constructed using a computer controlled pavement recycler.The top 200 mm of the road was milled which was originally compacted marl surface.The recycler remixed in-situ,the milled material with foamed bitumen and cement slurry. Foamed bitumen is an effective binder that can be uniformly mixed with cement slurry and granulated material to form foamed bitumen asphalt. The re-mixed material was immediately profiled and compacted by graders and rollers following the recycler. The finished surface looked like a rolled dry lean concrete surface. The finish was smooth and hard and it was possible to run vehicles on the pavement almost immediately. The foamed bitumen asphalt was given a slurry seal finishing sealing the surface against the harsh environment, reducing wear on the surface and providing traction and skidding resistance. The performance of road was monitored over 3 year period by measuring material properties ,traffic flows,surface condition and pavement deflection at regular intervals. The overall assessment of the roads condition and its performance was that the foamed bitumen stabilized marl road performed well under the intense traffic and environment conditions.

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SHAYBAH ACCESS ROAD

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CONCLUSION
Bituminous stabilization has been used for many applications. It has received its greatest use in bases for highway and air field pavements Stabilization with bituminous materials have been done in conjunction with cement in places such as parking areas and school playgrounds. Bitumen has been used in the form of foam and has been successful. It is used in replacing existing deteriorating roads,paving pipeline roads,improving the quality of marl sub bases.etcCONCLUSION (Contd.) Bitumens are modified to enhance the effectiveness of binder. Examples are tar-bitumen mixtures,rubberized tar and bitumen , polymer modified bitumen. In general,bituminous stabilization is used in many applications with varying degree of success.

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REFERENCES
ALAM SINGH Soil Engineering(Theory and Practice) Asia Publishing House,Bombay G.LEONARDS Foundation Engineering Mc Graw-Hill Book Company, New York KHANNA AND JUSTO Highway Engineering Nemchand and bros.,Roorkee L.R.KADYALI & N.B.LAL Highway Engineering Khanna Publishers,Delhi O.G.INGLES & J.B.METCALF Soil Stabilization(Design and practice) Butterworths, Sydney

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