Improvement of soils by mechanical means

LEARNING ELEMENT OBJECTIVES

After you have learned this element you should be able to:
- describe what mechanical stabilisation is and when and why it is applied;
- describe two examples of mechanical stabilisation;
- carry out a test to determine the best mix of a clay and sandy/gravel soil;
- explain the function of compaction;
- describe various methods to compact soil;
- explain how compaction is specified in big road construction projects;
- describe a method of road construction in black cotton soil.
Instead of, or in combination with, the placing of a surface layer, the stability and strength of the soil can be improved by
mechanical stabilisation. Mechanical stabilisation includes:
(1) the mixing of imported materials with in situ soil; and
(2) compaction.
The soil strength and stability is greatest when the soil contains the right quantities of hard, well-graded coarse particles and a
binder of cohesive soil.
Four factors contribute to this strength and stability:
(1) the hardness and shape of the coarse particles. An angular shape is preferable, because the particles will lock together better;
(2) when the right quantities of coarse, medium and fine material of various sizes (well graded) are present and mixed in the soil,
the empty space between the particles will be filled and the soil will have a high bearing capacity and density. The maximum
desirable size of the coarse particles is 30 mm;
(3) when the right amount (10-25 per cent) of clayey material is present the stone and sand particles will be glued together by the
cohesive qualities of the clay. Twenty-five per cent clay should be the maximum allowed; a lower proportion is desirable;
(4) the large particles within the soil will form a skeleton. When a load is applied to the soil, the resulting friction between the
particles will contribute much to its stability.

Fig 8
When a soil does not have the qualities described above the soil composition can sometimes be improved by adding the missing
components. For example, in dry desert areas, much can be done to improve the running surface of sand roads if clayey soil is
mixed with the sand. In wet areas with a lot of clayey soil, the road can be improved by mixing in gravel or even decomposing rock
or other material which contains a substantial proportion of hard angular particles.
To determine the best mix, the following test can be carried out:
Take a substantial (minimum about 50 kg) sample of the soils to be investigated. Try two or three mixtures, e.g. 1:1, 2:1 or 2:3.
Thoroughly mix the soils and add approximately 10 per cent water. Pack the mixtures into suitable small containers and add more
water. Observe which mix is the densest after the samples have dried.
Compaction
Compaction is used to pack the soil particles closer together, so that a more dense and stable soil results.
A volume of soil is composed of three components - solid soil particles, water and air. Air does not contribute to the strength and
stability of the soil but, on the contrary, reduces its stability by allowing water movement within the soil. A certain optimum
quantity of water (which is different for each soil type and varies usually between 8 and 20 per cent) simplifies the compaction and
contributes to the soil's strength and stability, because it lubricates the particles and allows them to settle in a dense mass. Too
much or too little water is not good. Less water is required for well-graded gravel/sand/clay mixtures.
Fig 9

Too much (Watermovement, no compaction possible)

Too little (High friction cannot be overcome by compaction)

Correct (dense mass)
There are several ways to compact soil:
(1) apply a dead weight or surcharge on top of the soil (non-vibrating rollers);
(2) use manually or mechanically operated tampers or rammers;
(3) apply a vibrating weight on top of the soil to overcome the frictions between the particles and to cause them to pack together
more closely (vibrating rollers). This type of compaction is suited to granular soils, not to clayey/silty soils.
(4) leave the soil to settle naturally (indirect compaction) by leaving it for a period of time. Rainfall and the passing of traffic (which
should be sensibly channelled to achieve an even compaction) will produce densities of the same values as achieved on normally
compacted roads. The main disadvantage of this last method of compaction is that it requires a longer period (two-three months)
to reach a good degree of density, while in the meantime, the soil is exposed to erosion.
The required state of compaction is normally specified relative to a laboratory compaction test. For example, compaction to 95 per
cent means that the dry density of samples taken in the field should be 95 per cent of the dry density obtained in a specified
laboratory compaction test.
If there is a choice of roller, rubber-tyred rollers are most flexible and can be used on most soil types. Loaded vehicles used for
hauling (dump trucks, tractors and trailers) also compact very effectively. The drivers should be instructed to pass over the spread
layer several times before they dump their load of material. Steel-wheeled rollers do not have the kneeding effect of rubber-
tyred rollers and tend to compact unevenly, especially on soils spread by manual means. These rollers are most effective on the
compaction of evenly spread surface material.
Sheep's-foot rollers are best suited to clayey soils. They are not very effective on sand and silt.
Black cotton soil
This type of soil is unsuitable to serve as a base for roads. When its moisture content changes it swells/shrinks rapidly. A good way
of controlling these changes in volume is to provide a layer (minimum 15 cm thick) of sand between the black cotton soil and the
surfacing layer. It is also recommended to increase the thickness of the gravel layer