Chhangani Anil et.

al; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology

ISSN: 2454-132X
Impact factor: 4.295
(Volume 4, Issue 3)
Available online at: www.ijariit.com

Use of calcium chloride for soil stabilization and dust

suppression of unpaved roads
Anil Chhangani Vijay Kumar Meshram Nirbhay Dangi
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Laxmi Narain College of Laxmi Narain College of Truba College of Science and
Technology, Bhopal, Technology, Bhopal, Technology, Bhopal,
Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh
ABSTRACT
In this study, Index properties of a soil sample, taken from campus, were determined to comment on the nature of the soil, and
then its strength is determined in terms of CBR value. The strength of this soil sample was compared with that of soil samples
prepared with adding 2% and 4% of CaCl2 in the form of a flake. From the results of the study, samples of soil with 0 to 4%
calcium chloride have reached optimum strength. Findings showed that soil containing Calcium chloride 0 to 4% showed the
highest amount of strength of soil.

Keywords: California Bearing Ratio, Optimum Moisture Content, Maximum Dry Density, Calcium Chloride.
1. INTRODUCTION
Unacceptable levels of dust are generated on the unsealed road networks in most countries. In the past, dust has mostly been
considered as a safety hazard and nuisance. However, research on unsealed roads has revealed that the loss of fines associated with
road dust contributes to increased gravel loss and the need for more frequent maintenance. By controlling this dust, the rate of gravel
loss and maintenance expenditure can be significantly reduced. Effective dust control can be achieved either with chemical dust
suppressants or by upgrading the road to a sealed surface. Calcium chloride can be used as a dust suppressant and base stabiliser

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
A. G Radhakrishnan, Dr M Anjan Kumar and Dr GVR Prasada Raju (2014) have discussed that expansive soil shows recurrent
volume changes with the change in moisture content, causing serious problems to the civil engineering structures such as road
pavements resting on them. Several attempts are being made all over the world to control the swell-shrink behavior of expansive
soils. Flexible Pavements constructed on these soil shows signs of damage continuously during the service life of the pavement
causes an increase in the maintenance costs. Numerous methods are available in the stabilization of expansive subgrade soil. Many
researchers have made an attempt with the chemical stabilization technique, it has gained prominence due to its easy applicability
and adaptability. Flyash is freely available waste product which has little cementing property can be used for altering the
characteristics of expansive soil. The main objective of this work is to study the swelling properties of the expansive subgrade soil
treated with chemicals like Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2), Aluminum Chloride (AlCl3) and also by adding flyash in varying
percentages. The swelling properties of the collected expansive soil samples were determined based on the parameters like Free
Swell Index, Swell Potential and Swell Pressure. The results obtained from the experimental study indicate that the measured Free
Swell, Swell Potential and Swelling Pressure are reduced substantially with the increasing percent of chemicals and flyash and
remain stable after reaching certain concentration. This paper discusses the results of the testing.
B. Durotoye T.O and Akinmusuru J.O (2016) investigated the effect of sodium chloride on some geotechnical properties of
expansive soil for highway pavement (subgrade) works. In this study, engineering properties including; Natural water content,
Atterberg limits, specific gravity, compaction, free swell index, unconfined compressive strength, soaked and unsoaked California
bearing ratio were determined in the laboratory and their behavior on stabilizing with various percentages of sodium chloride (0,
0.5, 1.0, 1.5. 2.0 and 2.5) investigated. From the study, plastic limit, liquid limit, plasticity index, linear shrinkage, specific gravity,
free swell index and optimum water content values of the stabilized soil reduced, while the maximum dry density, California bearing
ratio and unconfined compressive strength values increased. The highest reduction percentages of 60.42 % (131 to 51.85 %), 42.86
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 Chhangani Anil et.al; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology
% (50.00 to 28.57 %), 71.26 % (81.00 to 23.28 %), 66.64 % (15.11 to 5.04 %), 83.43 % (115.00 to 19.05 %), and 28.57 % (28.00
to 20.00 %) in liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, linear shrinkage, free swell index and optimum water content respectively;
and maximum percentage increase of 11.38 % (1.67 to 1.86 g/m3 ,on maximum dry density), 31.78 % (29.20 to 38.48 %, on
unsoaked CBR), 257.67 % (4.3 to 15.38 %, on soaked CBR), and 26.98 % ( 67.86 to 86.17 kN/m2 on unconfined compressive
strength) were obtained on treatment of the soil with 1.5 % sodium chloride by weight. Treatment of the soil with sodium chloride
has thus reduced its swelling potential and increased the strength
C. Mallika and B. Ganesh (2017) have discussed that expansive soil popularly known as black cotton soils are highly problematic,
as they swell on absorption of water and shrink on evaporation thereof. Because of this alternate swell and shrinkage, distress is
caused to the foundations of structures laid on such soils. Understanding the behaviour of expansive soil and adopting the appropriate
control measures have been great task for the geotechnical engineers. Proper characterization and selection of suitable foundation
is essential in case of problematic soils. Extensive research is going on to find the solutions to black cotton soils. There have been
many methods available to control the expansive nature of the soils. Treating the expansive soil with electrolytes are one of the
technique to improve the behaviour of the expansive ground. Hence, in the present work, experimentation is carried-out to
investigate the influence of electrolytes like calcium chloride and ferric chloride on the properties of expansive soil. A methodical
process, involving experimentation in the laboratory under controlled conditions is done. With addition of electrolytes to the
expansive soil, improvement in its physical and engineering properties is observed. It is observed that the maximum improvement
in properties of expansive soil is obtained for Ferric Chloride treatment compared to other electrolytes tried in this investigation.

3. OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to achieve the following objectives:
• To study the strength developments of soil sample with calcium chloride.
• To add the calcium chloride with various percentage 2% and 4 %, in the form of flake in soil sample.
• To determine the effect of various percentage of calcium chloride as dust suppressant and base stabiliser towards CBR value of
soil sample.
• To study the effect of calcium chloride on optimum moisture content, maximum dry density and California bearing ratio of soil
sample.

4. MATERIALS USED AND TESTS CONDUCTED

4.1 Materials
• Natural Soil sample Location: Behind CME block, L.N.C.T Bhopal
• Modified Soil sample-1: soil sample mixed with 2% CaCl2
• Modified Soil sample-2: soil sample mixed with 4% CaCl2
Calcium chloride Formula
Calcium chloride is an important calcium salt that has many household and industrial applications.
Formula and structure: The chemical formula of calcium chloride is CaCl2, and its molar mass is 110.983 g/mol. It is an ionic
compound consisting of the calcium cation (Ca2+) and two chlorine anions (Cl-). The bivalent calcium metal forms an ionic bond
with two chlorine atoms.
4.2 Preparation of Samples
Following steps are carried out while mixing the CaCl2 to the soil-
• All the soil samples are compacted at their respective maximum dry density (MDD) and optimum moisture content (OMC),
corresponding to the standard proctor compaction test
As per lab manual prepared by Leo Cautte from hopec enterprises, St. Paul, U.S. State of Minnesota.
• 2 to 4 % of flake should be added to the soil by weight of the soil
[ FLAKE – comes in 20-25 kg bags, with a 77% to 80% calcium chloride content and water of crystallization.]
• The different values adopted in the present study for the percentage of calcium chloride are 0, 2, and 4.
• In the preparation of samples, if calcium chloride is not used then, the air-dried soil was mixed with an amount of water that
depends on the OMC of the soil.
• If calcium chloride was used, the adopted content of calcium chloride was first mixed into the air-dried soil in small increments
by hand, making sure that all the calcium chloride was mixed thoroughly, so that a fairly homogenous mixture is obtained, and then
the required water was added.

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 Chhangani Anil et.al; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology
5. TESTS CONDUCTED
The experimental work consists of the following steps:
1) Water content of soil
2) Specific gravity of soil
3) Determination of soil index properties (Atterberg Limits)
i) Liquid limit by Casagrande’s apparatus
ii) Plastic limit
4) Determination of the maximum dry density (MDD) and the corresponding optimum moisture content (OMC) of the soil by
Proctor compaction test
5) Determination of the soil strength by California bearing ratio (CBR) Test
6) Preparation of soil samples mixed with calcium chloride.
7) Determination of the strength of soil samples mixed with calcium chloride by California bearing ratio (CBR) Test.
5.1 Representation of Index Properties of Soil
Table 1 Representation of index properties of soil

Property Value Remark

Water Content 5.48% …….……………………………
Specific Gravity 2.51 the soil is coarse-grained
soil
Liquid Limit 29% ………………………………….
Plastic Limit 24.52 % ………………………………….
Plasticity Index 4.48 the soil is low plastic

5.2 Comparison of OMC, MDD and CBR% of Soil without Cacl2, Soil With 2 % Cacl2 and Soil with 4% Cacl2
Table 4.18 Comparison of OMC, MDD and CBR% of soil without CaCl 2, soil with 2% CaCl2, and soil with 4% CaCl2
Property Soil without Soil with 2 % Soil with %
CaCl2 % CaCl2 increase 4% CaCl2 increase
/decrease /decrease
Optimum Moisture 11.2 14.5 29.46% 15 33.92 %
Content (%) increase increase
Maximum Dry Density 1.61 1.605 0.31 % 1.58 1.86 %
(gm./cc) decrease decrease

CBR % (Unsoaked 4.5 5.32 18.22% 7.4 64.44%

condition) for 2.5 mm increase increase
penetration
CBR % (soaked 2.34 2.7 15.38% 3.79 61.96%
condition) for 2.5 mm increase increase
penetration
CBR % (Unsoaked 4.33 5.35 23.55% 7.58 75.05%
condition) for 5 mm increase increase
penetration
CBR % (soaked 2.22 2.7 21.62% 3.85 73.42%
condition) for 5 mm increase increase
penetration

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 Chhangani Anil et.al; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology

Figure 4.7 Comparative Graph of CBR Values in Unsoaked Condition for 2.5 mm Penetration

Figure 4.8 Comparative Graph of CBR Values in Soaked Condition for 2.5 mm Penetration

Figure 4.9 Comparative Graph of CBR Values in Unsoaked Condition for 5 mm Penetration

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 Chhangani Anil et.al; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology

Figure 4.10 Comparative Graph of CBR Values in Soaked Condition for 5 mm Penetration

6. CONCLUSION
Following are the salient conclusions of the study:
• In this exploratory examination, we have used calcium chloride as base stabiliser and dust suppressant for soil of unpaved roads.
From different tests on soil we have closed after outcomes.
• For stabilisation CaCl2 is preferred over other chemical additives due to its deliquescent and hygroscopic properties.
• Index properties of soil were determined and an idea about the type of soil was obtained. In our case the soil in the campus was
coarse-grained and low plastic.
• The fundamental point is to find the optimum moisture content (OMC) required to achieve the best compaction. The rule is that
optimum moisture content of soil is that moisture content at which the maximum dry density is achieved. The optimum moisture
contents of the soil without CaCl2, soil with 2% CaCl2 and soil with 4 % CaCl2 in this examination were seen to be 11.2%, 14.5%
and 15% respectively.
• It was observed that optimum moisture contents increased by 29.46% and 33.92% on the addition of 2% and 4% CaCl2 to the soil.
• It was observed that maximum dry density decreased by 0.31% and 1.86 % on the addition of 2% and 4% cacl2 to the soil.
• It was observed that CBR% of soil in unsoaked condition for 2.5 mm penetration increased by 18.22% and 64.44% on the addition
of 2% and 4% cacl2 to the soil.
• It was observed that CBR% of soil in soaked condition for 2.5 mm penetration increased by 15.38% and 61.96% on the addition
of 2% and 4% cacl2 to the soil.
• It was observed that CBR% of soil in unsoaked condition for 5 mm penetration increased by 23.55% and 75.05% on the addition
of 2% and 4% cacl2 to the soil
• It was observed that CBR% of soil in soaked condition for 5 mm penetration increased by 21.62% and 73.42% on the addition
of 2% and 4% cacl2 to the soil.
• After overall examination, it can be observed that addition of 2% to 4% calcium chloride can enhance the strength of soil 15% to
75%.
• Calcium chloride has an additional advantage of suppressing dust on the unpaved roads, which not only solves the problem of
vision and respiration but also takes care of reduction in strength due to loss of fines.

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thanks to My Guide, management of college and HOD of Civil Engineering Department, Bhopal, (M.P.) for helping me throughout
my investigation work.

8. REFERENCES
[1] G Radhakrishnan. Dr M Anjan Kumar and Dr GVR Prasada Raju “Swelling Properties of Expansive Soils Treated with
Chemicals and Fly ash” American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER) e-ISSN: 2320-0847 p-ISSN: 2320-0936 Volume-03,
Issue-04, pp-245-250.
[2] Durotoye T.O, Akinmusuru J.O., “Effects of Sodium Chloride on the Engineering Properties of Expansive Soils” IJRET:
International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology, eISSN: 2319-1163 pISSN: 2321-7308.
[3] Mallika, B. Ganesh, “Study On Effect Of Chemical Stabilizing Agents On Strength And Swelling Properties Of Soils”
International Journal of Engineering Technology Science and Research IJETSR, ISSN 2394 – 3386 Volume 4, Issue 10 October
2017.

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