IJSTE - International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering | Volume 2 | Issue 01 | July 2015

ISSN (online): 2349-784X

Effect of Common Salt (Nacl) on Engineering

Properties of Black Cotton Soil
Prakhar Dubey
M.E. Scholar (Geotechnical Engineering)
Department of Civil Engineering
Jabalpur Engineering College Jabalpur, (M.P.) India

Rajesh Jain
Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Jabalpur Engineering College Jabalpur, (M.P.) India

Abstract
The results of laboratory investigations on the influence of Common Salt (NaCl) on the engineering properties of black cotton
soils are presented in this research paper. Black Cotton soil was mixed with Common Salt (NaCl) at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%.
Common Salt (NaCl) content (by dry weight of soil) in order to establish the soil stabilizing potentials. Common Salt (NaCl)
increased the Maximum Dry Density, MDD, of the soil by 1.64 g/cc to 1.79 g/cc and reduced the Optimum Moisture Content,
OMC, 21.16% to 14.95%. Soaked CBR increased with increase in Common Salt (NaCl) 1.43% to 3.10%. Common Salt
increased the unconfined compressive strength of black cotton soil 73.54 KN/M2 to 119.64 KN/M2 and Common Salt also
effected Triaxial strength parameters. The results indicate that there is a potential in the use of Common Salt (NaCl) to
strengthen Black cotton soils.
Keywords: Common Salt (NaCl), Engineering Characteristics, CBR, Compaction, OMC, UCS, Triaxial
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION
Black Cotton Soils have been identified as very problematic engineering soils for structural foundations and earthworks (ASCE
2012; Sabat 2012; Osinubi 2009). When dry, BCS appear very hard with high bearing capacity to sustain imposed loads from
building foundations and road pavements. But when wet, BCS absorb large volumes of water, rapidly swell, soften and loosen
their high bearing capacity thereby leading to excessive settlement, differential settlement, failure of building structures, road
pavements and destruction of structures built on them. These geotechnical characteristics make BCS highly problematic as
foundation for buildings and road pavements. Expansive soils cover almost 20% of Indias land cover and about 8% of the
worlds land cover. Hence, they cannot be simply ignored of construction and pavement activities because of their problematic
nature. There are several methods available for improving the characteristics of expansive soil. But an efficient and cost effective
method with minimum time is always the most welcome. It is extremely difficult to work with these soils. Common Salt is white
in colour and is in the form of crystals. It is deliquescent and hygroscopic. It lowers the vapour pressure of water. It also reduces
or prevents frost heave in soil by lowering the freezing point of water. It is very effective as dust palliative. It checks the
formation of shrinkage cracks. Sodium chloride is extensively used in many chemical industries. It is also widely used in metal
treating, water softening, etc. This paper indicates the results of preliminary experimental investigations on Common Salt usage
in soil stabilizations. This research paper provides the effect of the Common Salt on engineering properties like compaction
characteristics, CBR, Permeability and UCS of the black cotton soil.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

Engineering properties of expansive clay has been in improvement to make them suitable for construction, using some short of
stabilization technique. This paper mainly emphasizes on stabilization of expansive soil using locally available Common Salt.
Ahmed T. M. Farid (2013) reported that expansive soil engineering characteristics improved by NaCl, KCl, CaCl2 and FeCl3. T
Srikanth and K L A V Harnadh (2013) reported that some engineering properties (Maximum dry density, UCS) of expansive
clay increased and Optimum Moisture Content decreased with addition of Sodium Chloride. Tamadher t. Abood*, anuar Bin
kasa, zamri bin chik (2007) engineering properties of silty clay soil improved with addition of Common Salt. G.M.
Ayininuola, CREN*, and O.A. Agbede, reported that Influence of Sodium Chloride on Subgrade Soil California Bearing
Ratio.

III. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Black cotton soil used in this study was mixed with the Common Salt (NaCl) in the different proportions and a series of the
laboratory tests were conducted on samples containing various percentages of the Common Salt i.e. 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by
weight of the dry soil. Following test were conducted as per relevant IS code of practice.
Experiments conducted are:

All rights reserved by www.ijste.org

64

Effect of Common Salt (Nacl) on Engineering Properties of Black Cotton Soil

(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 1 / 013)

Grain size distribution.

compaction characteristics.
CBR(California bearing ratio test).
Triaxial test.
Unconfined compressive strength test.
Differential Free Swell Test.

A. Common Salt:
Common Salt is white in colour and is in the form of crystals. It is deliquescent and hygroscopic. It lowers the vapour pressure of
water. It also reduces or prevents frost heave in soil by lowering the freezing point of water. It is very effective as dust palliative.
It checks the formation of shrinkage cracks. Sodium chloride is extensively used in many chemical industries. It is also widely
used in metal treating, water softening, Markets etc.
B. Black Cotton Soil:
Black cotton soil involved in this study was brought from behind Jabalpur Engineering College, near N.C.C campus, Jabalpur
(M.P.). The expansive soil (BCS) is classified as clay of intermediate compressibility of CI (Gs=2.30 with 92% fines) with
expansive behaviour.
The physical characteristics of Black cotton soil are presented in table-1. Grain size distribution curve is shown in figure-1
S.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Table 1
Physical characteristics of BC soil
PROPERTIES
Specific gravity
Liquid limit% (LL)
Plastic limit% (PL)
Shrinkage limit% (SL)
Plasticity index%(PI)
Optimum moisture content (%)
Maximum dry density (gm/cc)
Strength parameters
California Bearing Ratio Test (%)
Differential free swell test (%)
Unconfined compressive strength (KN/m2)
Grain size distribution(%)
Sand(%)
Silt+clay (%)

Test values
2.30
45.05
22.45
13.48
22.6
21.16
1.64
C = 1, =16

1.43
41
73.54
8
92

Fig. 1: Particle size Distribution curve of BC soil

C. Test Results
Based on the research obtained from various tests conducted on BC soil, Common Salt mixes. The variation in various
engineering properties of the of the BC soil are discussed below. The DFS decreases from 41% to 19%. This shows that the
swelling behaviour of the soil has reduced to a great extent. Proctor compaction test results showed a decreased in OMC from
21.16% to 14.95% and increase in MDD values from 1.64 to 1.79 gm/cc with the additions of Common Salt from 0% to 8%.

All rights reserved by www.ijste.org

65

Effect of Common Salt (Nacl) on Engineering Properties of Black Cotton Soil

(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 1 / 013)

The soaked CBR test results indicates that the value increased from 1.43% to 3.10% as the Common salt increased from 0% to
8%. The UCS value increased from 73.54 KN/m2 to 119.64 KN/m2.
Various tests were conducted on BCS mixed with Common Salt in different proportions as per relevant IS code of practice.
Research test results are shown in table-2
S.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

PROPERTIES
OMC (%)
MDD (gm/cc)
Strength
Parameters(kg/cm2)
CBR (%)
DFS (%)
UCS (KN/m2)

Table 2
Research test results
C0% NaCl
C2% NaCl
21.16
19.46
1.64
1.68

C4% NaCl
17.92
1.71

C6% NaCl
16.29
1.76

C8% Nacl
14.95
1.79

C =1,

C = 1,

C =1.1,

C=1.4,

C=1.1,

=16

=17

=12

=14

=18

1.43
41
73.54

1.83
34
78.94

2.15
29.5
90.02

2.55
25.4
109.14

3.10
19
119.64

Where:C0%NaCl=BCSoil+0%NaCl;C2%NaCl=BCSoil+2%NaCl;C4%NaCl=BCSoil+4%NaCl;C6%NaCl=BCSoil+6%NaCl;
C8%NaCl=BCSoil+8%NaCl.
Variation of different engineering properties are shown in figure 2 to 7
NOTE: Where: sample no.1=C0%NaCl;sample no.2=C2%NaCl;sample
no.3=C4%NaCl;sample no.4=C6%NaCl; sample
no.5=C8%NaCl

Fig. 2: Variation of OMC of BCS with Common Salt

Fig. 3: Variation of MDD of BCS with Common Salt

All rights reserved by www.ijste.org

66

Effect of Common Salt (Nacl) on Engineering Properties of Black Cotton Soil

(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 1 / 013)

Fig. 4: Variation of UCS of BCS with Common Salt

Fig. 5: Variation of DFS of BCS with Common Salt

Fig. 6: Variation of CBR of BCS with Common Salt

IV. CONCLUSION
Based on the above laboratory investigation conducted on black-cotton soil and Common Salt (NaCl) mixes. The following
conclusion can be drawn.
1) Addition of Common Salt (NaCl) into the black cotton soil has changed the proctor compaction parameters. The OMC of
the BCS has decreased and Maximum dry density (MDD) increased with the addition of Common Salt (NaCl).
2) There is significant decrease in swelling characteristics of the soil. The DFS values are reduced from 41% to 19%,
indicating that the degree of expansiveness has reduced from high to low.
3) Soaked CBR values have also increased with the addition of Common Salt (NaCl) content. The addition of 8% Common
Salt (NaCl) into the black cotton soil, increases the CBR value from 1.43% to 3.10%.
4) There increase in the values of C & on addition of Common Salt (NaCl).
5) Addition of Common Salt (NaCl) also increased the unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The UCS stabilized samples
significantly increased from 73.54 KN/m2 to 119.64 KN/m2.

All rights reserved by www.ijste.org

67

Effect of Common Salt (Nacl) on Engineering Properties of Black Cotton Soil

(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 1 / 013)

From the above research it can be concluded that Common Salt (NaCl) has a potential to modify the engineering behaviour of
black cotton soil and to make it suitable in many of the geotechnical applications.

REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]

TAMADHER T. ABOOD, ANUAR BIN KASA, ZAMRI BIN CHIK, Journal of Engineering Science and Technology ,Vol. 2, No. 1 (2007) 102-110 had
investigated effect of adding three chloride compounds (NaCl, MgCl2, CaCl2) on the properties of silty clay soil.
Dr. P. D. Arumairaj and A. Sivajothi, EJGE Vol. 15 [2011], Bund. J, had investigated Effect of Sea Water on Expansive Soils.
G. R. Otoko, European International Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 3 No. 2 March, 2014 had investigated The Effect of Salt Water on the
Physical Properties, Compaction Characteristics and Unconfined Compressive Strength of a Clay, Clayey Sand and Base Course.
Ayininuola Gbenga Matthew and Agbede Oluwole Akinyele, Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, vol. 4, no. 3, 2014, 37-45 ISSN:
1792-9040 (print), 1792-9660 (online) Scienpress Ltd, 2014 has investigated Sodium and Calcium Salts Impact on Soil Permeability.
George Rowland Otoko and Jonathan Godlook Manasseh, GLOBAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND RESEARCHES, Otoko, 1(6): Aug,
2014, had investigated USE OF SALT COMPOUNDS FOR THE STABILIZATION OF NIGERIAN LATERITES.
Frydman, I. R. and Ehrenreich, T. (1977). Stabilization of heavy clay with potassium chloride. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 8, 95-107.
Venkatabor Rad, G. (1977). Physico-chemical mechanism governing the plasticity behaviors of soils. Journal of Indian Geotechnical. 7, 261-282.
S .A. Naeini and M. A. Jahanfar, Effect of Salt Solution and Plasticity Index on undrained Shear Strength of Clays, World Academy of Science,
Engineering and Technology. Vol 49, 2011, ppr1 M. Chittaranjan, T.
Srikanth, B. Yamini Lakshmi & D. Pavani,Effect of sea water on some geo technical properties of clayey soil, International Journal of Earth Sciences
and Engineering, Vol 04, 2011
Kumpaley, NX, and Jshola, A. (1985), "The Effect of Chemical Contamination on Soil Strength", Proc. of the XI ICSMFE, Sanfrancisco, Vol.3, pp.11991201.
Leonards, G.A. (1962), "Foundation Engineering", McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, pp.377-437.
Shankaraiah, B. (1996), "Effect of Electrolytes on the Behaviour of Black Cotton Soil", Indian Geotechnical Society, Madras Chapter, Vol.! pp. 516-519.
T Srikanth and K L A V Harnadh, Effect of sodium chloride on some geo-technical properties of an expansive clay.

All rights reserved by www.ijste.org

68