GOKHALEEDUCATIONSOCIETY

SIRDR.M.S.GOSAVIPOLYTECHNICINSTITUTE
ProjectReporton
“COMPARATIVESTUDYONSOILSTABILIZATION
TECHNIQUES
”
Submitted to partial fulfillment of requirement of the award of
DIPLOMA IN
CIVILENGINEERING

Submittedto
MAHARASHTRASTATEBOARDOFTECHNICAL EDUCATION
MUMBAI
Submittedby

Nameofstudent:-Prasad.P.Ahire( 2218000005)
Prathmesh.S.Shejwal(23612590026)
Sonalika .D. Mohite (23612590021)
Suraj .R. Kagade (23612590025)

Guidedby
( Prof.S.P.Wakchaure)
 GokhaleEducationSociety’s
SirDr.M.S.GosaviPolytechnicInstitute, Nashik
Road, Nashik
CERTIFICATE
ThisistoCertifiedthattheprojectreportentitled“COMPARATIVE
STUDY ON SOIL STABILIZATION TECHNIQUES” Was
successfully completed by Student of fifth semester Diplomain (Civil
Engineering).

Nameof students:-Prasad.P. Ahire( 2218000005)

Prathmesh.S.Shejwal(23612590026)
Sonalika .D. Mohite (23612590021)
Suraj .R. Kagade (23612590025)

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Diploma in ( Civil Engineering )
of Gokhale Education Society’s Sir Dr.M.S.Gosavi Polytechnic Institute Nashik work carried
out during a period for the academic year 2024-25 as per curriculum .

NameofGuide NameofHOD
(Prof.S.P.Wakchaure) (Prof.L.K.Waghulde)

Principle ExternalExaminier
 COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SOIL
STABILIZATION TECHNIQUES

SYNOPSIS

ABSTRACT
Soil stabilization is a crucial aspect in civil engineering to enhance the properties of soil and
make it suitable for construction purposes. Various soil stabilization techniques are available,
eachwithitsownadvantages andlimitations.Thisproject aimstoconduct acomparativestudy on
different soil stabilization techniques to evaluate their effectiveness and suitability for specific
applications.
Chapter1:INTRODUCTION

Soil stabilization is a set of techniques employed in civil engineering to enhance the

engineering properties of soil, making it more suitable for construction purposes. The
natural characteristics of soil can vary widely, and in many cases, they may not meet the
requirements for constructingstructures such as roads, buildings, or foundations. Soil
stabilizationaimstoimprovekey soilpropertieslikestrength, durability,andload-bearing
capacity, thereby ensuring the stability andlongevity of constructed infrastructures.

Several methods of soil stabilization exist,and they can be broadly categorized into
chemical, mechanical, and biological techniques. Chemical stabilization involves the
addition of various additives such as lime, cement, or other chemicals to alter the soil's
properties. Mechanical stabilization utilizes physical methods like compaction or
reinforcement to improve soil strength. Biological stabilization involves the use of
vegetation to stabilize soil and prevent erosion.

Fig.SoilStabilization
Objectives
• Comparethe economicfeasibilityofvarioustechniquesbasedonmaterialavailability,
labourrequirement , and equipment costs.
• Comparethelongtermstabilityanddurabilityofstabilizedsoilsunderdifferent loading
condition.
• Assesthepotentialforsoilcontaminationoradverseeffectson ecosystems
associated with each method
 Discussing emerging trends and technological advancements in soil

stabilization.Howwilltheseinnovationshapethefutureofconstruction. Chapter 2:

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Soilstabilizationisaprocessusedtoimprovetheengineeringpropertiesof soil,
particularlyitsstrengthanddurability,tomeetspecificprojectrequirements.Thisisoften
doneinconstructionand civilengineeringprojectswherethenaturalsoilmaynotpossess the
desired characteristics for supporting structures or roadways. The goal of soil
stabilizationistoenhancethesoil'sload-bearingcapacity,reducesettlement,andimprove overall
performance.

TypesofSoil Stabilization

Therearevariousmethodsofsoilstabilization,andthechoicedependsonfactorssuchas the type

of soil, project requirements, and environmental considerations. Some common soil
stabilization techniques include.

Lime Stabilization Lime stabilization is a soil stabilization technique that involves the
addition of lime, typically in the form of quicklime (calcium oxide) or hydrated lime
(calcium hydroxide), to improve the engineering properties of the soil. This method is
commonlyusedtotreatclayeysoils,providingbenefitssuchasincreasedstrength,reduced
plasticity, and improved workability

Types of Lime: Quicklime (Calcium Oxide): Produced by heating limestone to high

temperatures.Quicklimereactsvigorouslywithwatertoproducehydratedlime.Hydrated Lime
(Calcium Hydroxide): Produced by hydrating quicklime. It is often used in lime stabilization
due to its ease of handling

Application: Lime is typically spread over the soil surface and mixed into the soil using
traditionalconstructionequipmentsuchasgradersordiskharrows.Themixingprocessis crucial to
ensure uniform distribution of lime throughout the soil.

Cement Stabilization: Method: Portland cement is mixed with the soil to create a cement-
treated base. The cement binds with the soil particles, forming a stable and durablematerial.
Application: Widely used in road construction, airport pavements, and stabilizing
subgrades.Cementstabilizationisasoilstabilizationtechniquethatinvolvestheadditionof
Portland cement to native soils to enhance their engineering properties. The primary
objective is to improve the soil's strength, durability, and load-bearing capacity, making it
suitable for construction applications such as road bases, subgrades, and foundations
Application Process: Spreading Cement: The cement is evenly spread over the soil surface
using conventional construction equipment such as graders. Mixing: The cement is
mechanically mixed into the soil using rotary mixers, reclaimerstabilizers, or other
specializedequipment.Compaction:Thestabilizedsoiliscompactedtoachievethedesired
density and strength

FlyAshStabilization:Method: Flyash,abyproductofcoalcombustion, ismixedwith the

 soiltoenhancestrength,reducepermeability,andimproveworkability.Application:Used in
embankment construction, stabilization of expansive soils, and as a partial replacement
for cement.

Soil Stabilization Process: a. Mixing: Fly ash is mixed with thesoil in varying proportions,
dependingonthespecificsoilcharacteristicsandprojectrequirements.Mixingcanbedone in-
place using specialized equipment. b. Curing: The treated soil is allowed to cure, allowing
the chemical reactions between fly ash and the soil particles to take place. This results in
the formation of stable compounds that enhance soil properties.

Chapter3:LITERATUREREVIEW
[1]. Amanpreet Tangri, Gagandeep ―Effect of Blast Furnace Slag on Various
PropertiesofClayeySoil:AReview‖, InternationalJournal forScientificResearch&
Development, ISSN (online): 2321-0613, Vol. 6, Issue 03, 2018 In the present civil
engineering world sometimes the foundation soil is not suitable for construction
purpose. This creates lots of problem to civil engineer during the execution. To make
theproblematicsoilsuitableforengineeringprojectsisknownasgroundimprovement. So
for the purpose of ground improvement we use numerous types of admixtures like
cement, lime, blast furnace slag, rice husk ash, fly ash etc. This paper reviews on the
influence of blast furnace slag when used alone or with some other admixtures on
various properties of clayey soil. From the experimental results it has been found that
by using blast furnace slag with admixtures like lime increases the value of U.C.S and
C.B.R. and the variation is also found in thecompaction characteristics of soil. After
doing a review of various research papers we can conclude the by using the blast
furnace slag we can reduce the environmental pollution and it could be used for the
stabilization of clayey soil. As we add Blast furnace slag the U.C.S and C.B.R value
increasesbecausecementationofsoilbypozzolaniccompoundsproducedduringthe
reaction of soil with blast furnace slag.

[2] Adhyatma Khare1 , Dr. S.K. Jaiswa -Nearly 51.8 million hectares of land area in India are
covered with expansive soil (mainly black cotton soil). Theproperties of theseexpansivesoils,
in general, arevery hard, especially when in dry state. But, they lose all of their strength, when
in wet state. In light of this property of expansive soils, these soils pose problems worldwide
that serve as a challenge to overcome for the Geotechnical engineers. One of the most
important aspects during the construction purposes is soil stabilization. These soil stabilization
plays vital role in foundation and road pavement constructions. The soil stabilization regime
improves its engineering properties, such as volume stability, strength and durability. In the
present study, using fly ash obtained from Katul Board, Durg, Chhattisgarh, stabilization of
black cotton soil which is obtained from Durg, is attempted. With various proportions of this
additive i.e. 0% to 50%, expansive soils are stabilized. Owing to the fact that fly ash possesses
no plastic property, plasticity index (P.I.) of clay-fly ash mixes show a decrease in value with
increasing fly ash content. In conclusion, addition of fly ash results in decrease in plasticity of
theexpansivesoil,andincreaseinworkabilitybychangingitsgrainsizeandcolloidalreaction.
Analysis of the formerly found result exposes the potential of fly ash as an additive that could
be used for improving the engineering properties of expansive soils. In other words,
determining the scope of adding additives, which helps to reduce expansiveness and improve
bearing capacity value

[3].Er.RehanaRasool ,Er.KshipraKapoor,―ComparativeStudy onStabilizationofSoil

withGroundGranulatedBlastFurnaceSlag(GGBS)‖,InternationalJournalofLatestResearch in
Science and Technology, ISSN (Online):2278-5299, Volume 6, Issue 3, MayJune 2017
Utilization of industrial waste materials in the improvement of problematic soils is a cost
efficient and also environmental friendly method in the sense that it helps in reducing disposal
problems caused by the various industrial wastes. The main objective of the present study is to
improve various engineering properties of the soil by using waste material Ground Granulated
Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as an alternative to lime or cement, so as to make it capable of
taking more loads from the foundation structures. This paper includes the evaluation of soil
properties like unconfined compressive strength test and California bearing ratio test. The soil
sample was collected from Lalru and addition to that, different percentages of GGBS (0%, 6%,
12 %, 18 % and 24%). was added to find the variation in its original strength. Based on these
results CBR test was performed with the GGBS percentages (0%, 6%, 12 %, 18 % and 24%).
From these results, it was found that optimumGGBS (18%) gives the maximum increment in the
CBR value compared with all the other combinations. The study has been conducted to assess
the potential of GGBS for stabilization of the same nature of soil. Use of slag as an
admixtureforimprovingengineeringpropertiesofthesoilsisaneconomicalsolutiontousethe locally
available poor soil.

[4].S.W.Thakare,PritiChauhan,―StabilizationofExpansiveSoilwithMicroSilica,Lime and Fly

Ash for Pavement‖, International Journal of Engineering Research, ISSN:2319- 6890(online),
2347-5013(print), Volume No.5IssueSpecial1pp:09-13 8 & 9 Jan 2016.
Geotechnical Engineering properties of soft clayey soil deposits such as black cotton soil may
need to be improved by stabilization to make such soils suitable for construction of road
pavements. Stabilization of such soils has been traditionally relied on treatment with lime,
cement and waste materials such as fly ash. Micro silica is waste material obtained from
electric arc furnaces. This paper presents the results of stabilization of local black cotton soil
withlime,flyashandmicrosilica.Seriesoflaboratorytestshavebeenconductedwithvarying
percentage of these stabilizers, added individually and in combinations, to determine their
optimum percentages. From the results, it is observed that CBR value, for both soaked and
unsoaked conditions, increases substantially by addition of 5% micro silica along with 3% fly
ash and 3% lime. The pavement designed with these improved values of CBR indicated a
markedreductioninitsthicknessleadingtoeconomyintheconstructionofroadpavementson or using
soft clayey soils. Stabilization of black cotton soil with lime, fly ash, lime and their
combinationsshowssignificantimprovementintheunconfinedcompressivestrengthofsoilto the
extent of3.8 times that of unstabilized soil. Optimum percentages of micro silica, lime and fly
ash for stabilizing black cotton soil are found to be 5%, 3% and 3% respectively. Black cotton
soil stabilized with lime, fly ash, micro silica and their combinations shows noticeable
improvement in soaked CBR of soil up to extentof 6.5times ofunstabilized soil. Black cotton
soil stabilized with lime, fly ash, micro silica and their combinations shows noticeable
improvement in unsoaked CBR of soil up to extent of 1.8 times of unstabilized soil.

[5]. Dayalan J, ―Comparative Study On Stabilization of Soil With Ground Granulated Blast
FurnaceSlag (GGBS) and Fly Ash‖, International Research Journal of Engineering and
Technology, e-ISSN: 2395 -0056, p-ISSN: 2395-0072, Volume: 03 Issue: 05 , May-2016
Stabilizationisabroadsenseforthevariousmethodsemployedandmodifyingthepropertiesof a soil to
improve its engineering performance and used for a variety of engineering works. Soil
stabilization has become the major issue in construction engineering and the researches
regarding the effectiveness of using industrial wastes as a stabilizer are rapidly increasing. This
study briefly describes the suitability of the local fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace
slag (GGBS) to be used in the local construction industry in a way to minimize the amount of
waste to be disposed to the environment causing environmental pollution. In this present study,
different amount of fly ash and GGBS are added separately i.e. 5, 10, 15 and 20% by dry
weightofsoilareusedtostudythestabilizationofsoil.Theperformanceofstabilizedsoilare evaluated
using physical and strength performance tests like specific gravity, atterberg limits, standard
proctor test and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test at optimum moisture content.
From the results, it was found that optimum value of fly ash is 15% and GGBS is 20% for
stabilisation of given soil based on CBR value determined. The study has been conducted to
assess the potential of fly ash and GGBS for stabilization of the same nature of soil. It is
observed that with the increases of fly ash and GGBS percentage, optimum moisture content
goes on decreasing while maximum dry density COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SOIL
STABILIZATION TECHNIQUES Matoshree College of Engineering and Research Center,
NashikPage13goesonincreasing,hencecompactabilityofsoilincreasesandmakingthesoil more
dense and hard.
Chapter4:METHODOLOGY
4.1)TotalWorksPlanned
1LiteratureReview-i.Detailedstudyofresearchpapersandjournals
Information of material required :-

i. Fly Ash :- The fly ash generally produced by the combustion of coal of the
thermal power plant. The large numbers of power plant has been established
across the world to full fill the demand of power. Chemical stabilization
introduced the use of technique to add a binder to the soil to improve the
geotechnical performance of land such as mechanical and chemical
characteristics of soil. Some studies are reported that, different additives such as
cement, lime, fly ash, silica fume, and rice husk ash have been used for chemical
stabilization of soft soils. Chemical stabilization is applied as a cost effective,
environmental friendly and efficient method for soil treatment. It is also well
known that stabilizing soil with local natural, industrial resources particularly
lime and fly ash has a significant effect on improving the soil properties. In soil
stabilization with lime and fly ash, additives combined by specific moisture
content, then apply for improving the soil properties in engineering projects.
Investigator experiments on the physical and chemical reaction of stabilized soil
revealedthat,lime,flyash,andmixtureoflime-flyashhaveshort-termandlong- term
effect on the characteristic of soil.

Fig: Flyash
2.lime:-Lime stabilization is a method of chemically transforming unstable soils into
structurally sound construction foundations. Lime stabilization is particularly important in the
construction of highway for modifying subgrade soils, subbase materials, and base materials.
The improved engineering characteristics of materials which are treated with lime provide
important benefits to portland cement concrete (rigid) and asphalt (flexible) pavements .
Lime stabilization creates a number of important engineering properties in soils
which includes improved strength; improved resistance to fracture, fatigue, and permanent
deformation; reduced swelling; and resistance to the damaging effects of moisture. The most
substantial improvements in above said properties are seen in moderately to soils with high
plasticity, such as
heavy clays. Then soil stabilization occurs when lime is added to a reactive soil to generate
long-term strength gain through a pozzolanic reaction. That reaction produces stable calcium
silicate hydrates and calcium aluminate hydrates
as the calcium from the lime reacts with the aluminates and silicates solubilized from the clay.
This pozzolanic reaction can continue for a very long period of time, even decades --as long as
enough lime is present and the pH remains high
(above 10). As a result of this, lime treatment can produce high and long-lasting strength. Lime
in the form of quicklime (calcium oxide –CaO), hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide –Ca[OH]2),
or lime slurry can be used to treat the soils. Hydratedlime is created when the quicklime
chemically reacts with water. It is hydrated lime that reacts with particles of clay and
permanently transforms them into a stro.

Fig: Flyash Soil stabilization

3.Cement:-hydrated product of cement binds with soil to form the cement-
stabilized base or cement-treated aggregate base. The strength of stabilised soil will
mainly depend on the quantity of cement used in the soil. The proportion of cement
required in soil decides based on the type of soil. Portland cement widely used as a
soil stabilisers, because of its easy handling and quality control properties .With the
increase in cement quantity in the strength of the cement stabilised soil increases .
Several researchers have found that stabilisation using cement is more suitable for
granular soil and clay soil having low PI .Based on UCS value, quality of soil used in
subgrade classified as soft, medium, stiff, very stiff and hard ..UCS value of stabilised
soils on curing time increases with the higher quantity of cement added to the soil .The
curing period effect the UCS test result of cement stabilisedsoil, and higher strength
obtains for the soil sample cured for 14 days compared to 7 days curing.

Fig: Cement Soil stabilization

MaterialTesting–

i. Sieve analysis:- Sieve analysis is a method that is used to determine the grain
sizedistributionofsoilsthataregreaterthan0.075mmindiameter.Itisusually
performed for sand and gravel but cannot be used as the sole method for
determining the grain size distribution of finer soil. The sieves used in this
method are made of woven wires with square openings. The list of the U.S.
standard sieve numbers with their corresponding opening sizes are provided in
Table
 Fig: Sieve Analysis

ii. Specific gravity :- Specific gravity is a fundamental property of soils

and other construction materials. This dimensionless unit is the ratio of
material density to the density of water and is used to calculate soil
density, void ratio, saturation, and other soil properties.

iii. Specific gravity equipment and apparatus :-

Pycnometers: the test method permits the use of a volumetric flask or

iodine flasks with a stopper. Volumetric flasks are typically used but
require careful adjustment of water to the calibration mark. The stopper
physically controls the water volume of stoppered flasks. A minimum
capacity of 250ml is specified, and a 500ml capacity flask is sometimes
required. Group image of 250ml, 500ml, and (unnamed) stoppered
flasks.
 Fig :Pycnometers Apparatus

iii.Atterberg’s Limits

The Atterberg limit test procedure for determining the critical water content of fine-
grained soils involves the following steps:

1) Sample preparation: Collect a representative soil sample and air-dry it.

2) Liquid limit test: Determine the liquid limit of the soil using the Casagrande cup or
fall cone method.

3) Casagrande cup method: Place a soil paste in the cup, cut a groove in the center, lift
the cup, and drop it from a height of 10 mm. Measure the water content required to
close the groove by 12.7 mm. Repeat the procedure at least three times for the same
soil at different moisture contents. Plot the moisture content and number of blows on a
semi-logarithmic graph.

4) Fall cone method: Measure how far a standardized stainless steel cone penetrates
into the soil. This method is less dependent on the operator than the Casagrande
method and is more common in Europe.

5) Plastic limit test: Roll the soil into 3 mm threads until it crumbles.
The plasticity index (PI) of a soil is the difference between its liquid limit (LL) and its
plastic limit (PL).

The Atterberg limit test uses tools such as spatulas, wash bottles, mortar and pestles,
evaporating dishes, sample containers, and graduated cylinders
 Fig: Atterberg's Apparatus

(1) Liquid Limit:-

For all the Atterberg limits tests, soil samples consist of material
passing a No. 40 (425µm) test sieve and are prepared for each test
using wet or dry methods described in the standards. Moisture in
Test specimens is adjusted by adding water, mixing with a spatula,
and allowing to condition for at least 16 hours.

Liquid Limit machines use a manually cranked cam or a small

motor to lift a brass cup to a prescribed height and allow it to drop
onto a hard rubber base. A portion of the soil sample is spread in
the brass cup and divided using a grooving tool. The moisture
content when the groove closes for 1/2in after 25 drops of the cup
is defined as the Liquid Limit.
 Fig: Liquid Limit

(2) Plastic Limit :-

Plastic Limit is determined by repeatedly remolding a small ball of

moist plastic soil and manually rolling it out into a 1/8in thread.
A plastic limit roller device can also be used to perform this test.
The Plastic Limit is the moisture content at which the thread
crumbles before being completely rolled out

Fig :Plastic Limit

(3). Plasticity Index:-

The plasticity index (PI) is related to the amount of clay in the soil
and is a good indicator of compressibility. A higher PI means greater
compressibility of soil]. Studies performed on different expansive soils
revealed that the PI decreased with waste ceramic powder sugarcane
bagasse ash waste foundry sand and crumb rubber addition. PI of soil
decreased with waste marble fines and waste glass , which was attributed
to the less water affinity of additive particles than clay particles. The rate
of reduction in PI for high plasticity clay (CH) was higher than low
plasticity clay (CL) when soils were stabilized with ground granulated
blast furnace slag . It was indicated that the replacement of clay particles
with 15% fly ash and 15% saw dust ash combination decreased the PI
from 23.2% to 12.64% . Akinwumi and Aidomojie stated an overall
reduction in the PI of the clayey soil with corn cob ash and cement
combination, due to pozzolanic reactions resulting in improvement in the
properties of the soil. In another study, the reduction in PI of high-
plasticity clay was associated with the non-plastic characteristics of
construction and demolition waste. StandardProctorTest-
i.ForfindingoutOMCandMDD.ii.For 10%,15%,20%,25%,30% water
content.

3.California Bearing Ratio(CBR)Test:-

The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test measures the pressure required to penetrate a soil sample
with a plunger. The procedure for the CBR test is as follows:
1.Prepare the soil sample: Place the soil sample in a cylindrical steel mold.
2.Seat the plunger: Place the penetration piston in the center of the sample with a load of no more
than 4 kg.
3.Apply the load: Apply a load to the piston at a rate of about 1.25 mm/min.
4.Record the load: Record the load readings at specific penetration depths.
5.Plot the results: Plot the penetration values against the load values on a graph.
6.Calculate the CBR: Divide the measured pressure by the pressure required to penetrate a
standard crushed rock material. The CBR value is the stress at a penetration depth of 0.100 in
(2.54 mm).
The CBR test is usually performed at surface level or at depths of 500–1000 mm. The CBR value
indicates the hardness of the surface, with higher values indicating a harder surface. For example,
clay typically has a CBR value of 2%, while moist sand may have a CBR of 10%. High quality
crushed rock has a CBR over 80%
Fig: California Bearing Ratio ( CBR) Apparatus
Conclusion

Theexperimental analysis confirmsthat soil stabilization techniques, particularly chemical grouting

andcementstabilization,areeffectiveinenhancingsoilproperties.Thechoiceofstabilizationmethod
shouldbetailoredtothespecificsoiltypeandprojectrequirements.Theresultsprovidevaluable
insightsforcivilengineersandconstructionprofessionalsinselectingappropriatesoilstabilization
techniques for improvedperformance and durability.