Monday, December 29, 2014

Tips On Chemical Soil Stabilization

By Claudine Hodges


This is a method which is adapted so as to boost up the engineering properties of soils in order to boost up its firmness. Chemical soil stabilization in most cases employs the use of chemical components in enhancing soils. Stabilization of soils is highly required whenever the soils that are available are to be used in construction projects are deemed unfit. Compaction, preconsolidation, drainage among some other processes is what is mostly entailed in these methods.

A look at some specific methods of making the soils stable, their advantages and drawbacks are explained. Also highlighted are reasons as to why some of the leading companies and the polymer-based admixture programs are more superior options for the wide majority of applications. The most commonly methods that are employed in stabilizing soils throughout the world include;

Cement stabilization - This procedure is very much common in the compaction methods. It is embraced mainly because of its nature of being cost effective in addition to the ease in availability of cement. The soil gets mixed with cement so as to boost its robustness and strength. The final results are usually durable and fair in addition to being resistant to various weathers thus making this method the ideal choice on sandy environments.

The above method however is somehow labor intensive and can also pose threats that can be detrimental to the environment. In addition to this, as the soil cement mixtures that results is of higher durability, it can sometime also be susceptible to cracking and this can be one of its drawbacks.

Lime stabilization - it is also another very popular method that can be adapted to stabilize soils. This procedure in most cases is somehow expensive when put into comparison with the use of cement. What actually makes it have a higher cost is the costs of burning the limestone which acts as a major requirement in its process. It produces pollutants which harm the environment in addition to failing to increasing strength and stability of soils especially in those environments which are dry. This calls for an increase in compressive strength in particular cases.

Chemical stabilization - They are of a wider group since there are numerous applications that are different. The main advantage of this approach is the possibility of designing a solution that can be specific for any given environment that you will be in need. Consequently, this leads to higher performance and reliability of the approach. Most of the used chemicals in the process are pollutants and they are also costly to acquire.

Polymer stabilization - Methods which are grounded on polymers are most times up to date techniques. They do present several advantages when compared to traditional methods. Involvement in the combination of soils with materials that are polymer based is also done. Main benefit of the procedure is that they do not pollute the environment.

From the above, it is clear that various advantages are brought about by each method. Most are cost effective, durable, less prone to damage, easier to maintain and can be used in the correct proportion so as not to harm the environment. Innovative variety of products can be adopted to enhance the properties of the above methods in terms of; reducing water sensitivity, increasing water impermeability, reducing the plasticity index and increasing load bearing volume among others.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment