Parihar Et Al. (2018) CEJ Accepted
Parihar Et Al. (2018) CEJ Accepted
Parihar Et Al. (2018) CEJ Accepted
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Niraj Singh Parihar1 Rajesh Prasad Shukla2, and Ashok Kumar Gupta3
ABSTRACT
Expansive soils cover more than a twenty-two percentages geographical area of India.
These soils shrink and swell, respectively, with the decrease and the increase in water content of
soil. In this study, experimental tests were conducted on an expansive soil to study the effect of
mixing of potassium chloride on various soil properties. Liquid limit, swelling potential and plasticity
index were found to be reduce significantly with mixing of potassium chloride. Initially, for potassium
chloride of 6-8%, plastic limit has also been reduced but latter, it increased with the increase in
quantity of potassium chloride. Mixing of potassium chloride increases and decreases, the maximum
dry density and optimum moisture content, respectively. The mixing of potassium chloride increases
the unconfined compressive strength and shrinkage limit of soil. Optimum amount of potassium
chloride is found to be approximately 8-9% of dry soil weight. Potassium chloride altered the
properties of expansive soil significantly, and most of the modifications are found to be favourable
from civil engineers point of view. Results of present study are compared with previous study results
also.
KEYWORDS
Atterberg limits, Expansive soil, Potassium chloride, Swell, Strength, Compaction
INTRODUCTION
Expansive soils cover a considerable part of several countries around the globe. In India,
they are also known as black cotton soil due to their black colour and suitability for cotton crops.
Expansive soils are most common soil in India and cover various states, such as Madhya Pradesh,
Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and a few other parts as well. This
soil cover approximately more than 20% of total geographical area of India.
Swelling and shrinkage are two main characteristics of expansive soils. These soils swell and
shrink with the increase and decrease in water content of soil. This behaviour is mainly contributed
to the presence of montmorillonite clay minerals [1]. In monsoon season, expansive clay minerals
attract moistures from surroundings, and subsequently increase the volume of soil. However, in the
summer season, the water evaporates form soil mass and reduces the volume. The expansion and
contraction of expansive soils cause various problems to civil engineers at the time of construction
and even after construction. Road network, railways, buried pipe lines and other lifeline facilities
constructed on expansive soils are susceptible to damaging behaviour of soil. The behaviour of
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expansive soils depends on climate condition, physical characteristics and chemical properties of
soil. Wong [2] found that diffusion of water can be a main cause of swelling. Sivapullaiah et al. [3]
stated that swelling consist of two stages, first stage is inter-crystalline swelling and the second stage
is beingdouble-layer repulsion.
There are number of solutions available to reduce or avoid the losses due to hazardous
behaviour of expansive soil. These solutions includes, removal of expansive soil up to a particular
depth, maintaining water table well below the foundation level, reinforcing of soil, using under reamed
foundation, including CNS layer or alteratingthe properties of expansive soil with some additives.
After a certain depth, it is not feasible to remove the soil or to retain the water table well below
foundation level. Therefore, most of the time, addition of additives proves to be a good option to alter
the soil composition and improve the performance of soil. Mechanical stabilization, high strength
geogrids and thermal stabilization have also been used in some of studies to control the expansion
and contraction of soil.
Alteration of soil characteristic by adding chemicals admixture in the soil is a very popular
technique for stabilization of expansive soil. Chemical stabilization causes a reduction in swelling
and shrinkage characteristic of soil along with reduction in soil plasticity [4]. As compared to
gravitational forces, electrical forces predominantly affect the behaviour of clay. Electrical forces
mostly depend on the concentration, strength and other characteristics of existing ions in the pore
water, and therefore, within the last two decades, a number of electrolytes have been used as
stabilizing agent. It was observed in the number of various studies that the electrolytes are very
efficient in reducing the swelling and shrinkage characteristic of soil. Electrolytes, such as potassium
chloride, ferric chloride, sea water or calcium chloride can be efficiently used in place of the popular
and frequently used lime, as these chemicals are having more dissolvability in water than the later
[5-6]. The main problem involved in the use of electrolyte is non-uniform mixing of the chemicals,
and it may lead to erratic and undesirable outcomes.
Katti and Brave [7] used various additives such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride,
magnesium chloride, barium chloride and calcium chloride to stabilize expansive soil, and found that
potassium chloride (KCl) is relatively more effective as compared to other additives. Frydman et al.
[6] used KCl (0-9% by weight) to stabilize expansive soil, and found that the activity of soil has
reduced significantly. Al-Omari et al. [8] mixed more than 99% pure potassium chloride in expansive
soil. It was found that KCl reduced the optimum moisture content, liquid limit andplasticity indexof
the soil. KCl increased the dry density and plastic limit of expansive soil. However, the strenth and
expansive characetristic were not studied in the study.
From literature study, it is found that only a few studies have been conducted on potassium
chloride mixed highly plastic expansive soil, and most of studies considered some selected
parameters. The studies on medium plastic expansive soil is missing in the litrature. In this study,
KCl has been used as an additive to stabilise the medimum plastic expansive soil, as it is easily
available in market at a reasonable cost. The effect of KCl on various soil properties has been
discussed in detail.
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KCl used in the powder form with purity more than 99%, and its appearance is white
crystalline. The relative density of used KCl is approximately 1.988 and melting point is 7710C.
Apparatus used in this study are Casagrande liquid limit apparatus, consolidation
apparatus, Indian standard compaction mould and unconfined compressive test apparatus.
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both the ends. Soil sample was detached from the mould with the help of a hydraulic jack and then
placed on the pedestal of unconfined compressive strength testing machine. A strain rate of 1.2
mm/min was applied during the testing.
40
Water content (%)
30
The change in Atterberg limits of soil samples for various proportions of added KCl are given
in Fig. 2. Fig. 2(a) shows that the addition of KCl decreases the liquid limit of soil by a substantial
magnitude. The effect of KCl on liquid limit is more prominent up to 6-7%, and any additional mixing
does not affect this property. Liquid limit is an indicator of soil compressibility.The reduction in liquid
limit indicates the reduction in soil compressibility. Though, the LL decreases in both cases (prsent
study as well Al-Omari et al.[8]), the efficiency of KCl seems to be higher in case of Al-Omari [8].
The variations in plastic limit is shown in Fig 2(b). Plastic limit initially remains almost constant
upto a KCl content of 3%, but later, it increased with the increases in quantity of KCl up to 9% of soil
weight. Plastic limit does not change significantly with addition of KCl, which is quite different from
the results of Al-Omari [8], where a significant increase in the plastic limit of expansive soil was
observed. This may have been attributed to the lower plasticity of soil used in the study as compared
to latter one. The addition of KCl helped the soil to maintain its semisolid state even at higher water
content.
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84 36
Present study Present study
63 Al-Omari et al.
Al-Omari et al. 32
(2010)
(2010)
42
PL (%)
28
LL (%)
21 24
0 20
0 3 6 9 12 0 3 6 9 12
KCl (%) KCl (%)
(a) (b)
16
14
SL (%)
12
10
0 3 6 9 12 15
KCl (%)
(c)
Fig. 2: Variation of Atterberg limits with KCl content: (a) Liquid limit, (b) Plastic Limit, and (c)
Shrinkage limit
Shrinkage limit is a very valuable index property for the soils which undergo large volume
changes with the change in water content. The Shrinkage limit can be used to assess the swell
potential, crack development potential, and shrinkage potential of earthwork involving cohesive soils
[16]. Fig. 2(c) shows that shrinkage limit is increasing significantly up to KCl content of 9%, but for
higher KCl content, the effect is negligible. The increase in shrinkage limit after addition of KCL
indicates that soil can maintain its physical state even at higher at water content without increasing
the soil volume. For untreated soil, it is essential to maintain the soil water content equal to or less
than 12.8% to avoid any change in soil volume. However, for KCl treated soils, the water content
can be varied between 0 to 15.70% without any change in the soil volume.
The effect of KCl on plasticity index (PI), and shrinkage index is shown in Fig. 3. Plasticity
index and shrinkage index are reducing drastically up to 7% of potassium chloride. However, for
higher quantity of KCl, it reduces with a low rate. Fig. 3 also shows that the rate of decrease in PI is
relatively higher in case of Al-Omari et al. [8] than the present study. It may have beeen attributed to
the difference in plasticity of soil used in both the studies. The decrease in shrinkage index with
addition of KCl is relatvely significant in comparison to the decrease in plasticity index of soil.
Plasticity index of soil indecates a range of water content, over which asoil can uphold its
plastic state. After addition of potassium chloride, soil can be remain in the plastic state for a narrower
range of water content than untreated soil. Frydman et al. [6] and Al-Omari et al. [8] found that the
increase in concentration of electrolyte or chemicals has caused the reduction in the thickness of the
double layer, which increases the shearing resistance between soil particles. The increase in the
shearing resistance between soil particles caused the decrease in the plasticity index and liquid limit
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[17]. Addition of KCl has changed the classification of soil. As per Unified Soil Classification System
and Indian classification system, the untreated soil is classified as clay of intermediate plasticity (CI)
and treated soil is classified as clay of low plasticity (CL).
60 32
Al-Omari et al.
(2010) 24
20
8
0
0
0 3 6 9 12
0 4 8 12
KCl (%) KCl (%)
(a) (b)
Fig. 3: Effect of KCl on (a) Plasticity index, (b) Shrinkage index
Compaction Parameters
The effect of KCl on dry density and moisture content relationship is shown in Fig.4. Mixing
of KCl increases dry density and decreases moisture content of soil. The change is more prominent
on the dry side of the optimum than the wet side. This increase in the density and decrease in the
water content is obseved due to reduction in the thickness of diffuse double layer of water. A similar
observation has also been made by Lambe and Whitman [18] and Al-Omari [8].
1.8
Dry density (gm/cc)
1.6
KCl=6.0% KCl=9.0%
1.2
KCl=12.0% KCl=15.0%
1
10 12 14 16 18 20
Water content (%)
Fig. 4: Relationship between dry density and water content for various amount of potassium
chloride
On the wet side of optimum, there is a very less change is dry density of soil, this might have
attributed to the presence of large amount of water into the soil. Water surplus to the optimum
moisture content have probably diluted the ion exchange and agglomeration capacity of KCl leading
to increased thickness of double layer of water with subsequent volume expansion and decreased
density of the mix. The variation in maximum dry density and optimum moisture content are shown
separately in Fig. 5 (a) and (b) respectively. The maximum dry density is increasing up to KCl of 9%,
but it started reducing for a higher amount due to absorption of water by surplus KCl added into
expansive soil. The optimum moisture content is decreasing with the increase in amount of KCl up
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to 9%. However, further additional of KCl increasing the optimum moisture content of soil by a small
amount.
1.8 25
Al-Omari et al. (2010)
Present study
1.7 20
MDD (gm/cc)
OMC (%)
Al-Omari et al. (2010)
1.6 15
Present study
1.5 10
0 3 6 9 12 15 0 3 6 9 12 15
KCl (%) KCl (%)
(a) (b)
Fig. 5: Effect of KCl on compaction parameters of KCl mixed expansive soil (a) Maximum dry
density, (b) Optimum moisture content
135
128
121
UCS (kPa)
114
107
100
0 3 6 9 12
KCl (%)
Fig. 6: Effect of KCl on unconfined compressive strength of expansive soil
Soil Expansivity
Fig. 7 shows the variation in the swell potential of soil with potassium chloride contents. The
swell potential is reducing significantly with the increase in KCL content up to 9% and any further
addition of the same showed negligible influence. Untreated soil has swelling potential 8.1%, which
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indicate that soil have medium swell potential [21]. Addition of KCl reduces the swelling potential of
soil from medium (8.1%) to low (2.6%).
Soil expansivity can be predicted based on various empirical relations developed by number
of researchers. Soil has liquid limit of 43%, and as per IS 1498, it has high or medium degree of
expansion. Based classification of Chen 1975, soil can also be classified as soil with high degree of
expansion. Based on plasticity index (PI=19%), soil possess medium degree of expansion. As per
classification of Holtz and Gibbs [16] and IS 1498-1970 [20], for evaluated shrinkage limit and
shrinkage index, the soil has high degree of expansion. So, the empirical formulae also predict the
soil expansivity from medium to high.
6
Swell potential (%)
0
0 3 6 9 12 15
KCl (%)
Fig. 7: Effect of KCl on swell potential of soil
Frydman et al. [6], Al-Ashou and Al-Khashab [19] and Al-Omari et al.[8] found optimum
content of KCl to be 5.5%, 6% and 5% respectively. From the Figs. 2-8 and discussion on the results,
the optimum content of KCl is found to be approximately 6-8%, which is significantly higher than the
earlier studies. This difference might be observed due to the differences in soil characteristics used
in the present study and the earlier studies. The difference in optimum content of KCl with the
previous studies shows that the optimum quantity of KCl increases with the decrease in the plasticity
of soil which is most probably a result of mineralogical change in the soil. The results of present
study also indicates that the soil-KCl skeleton had formed well in case of earlier studies of Frydman
et al.[6], Al-Ashou and Al-Khashab [19], Al-Omari et al. [8], where the soils of high plasticity were
used.
Conclusions
Potassium chloride altered the soil property significantly and most of changes in the soil
properties are favourable. Though, the liquid limit, plasticity index, shrinkage index, optimum
moisture content and swelling potential are reducing with mixing KCl into the soil. However, the
reduction is very significant in swell potential and shrinkage index of expansive soil. Plastic limit,
shrinkage limit, unconfined compressive strength and maximum dry density improved with addition
of KCl. KCl is more competent in improving the swelling characteristic of soil than the strength
characteristics of soil. KCl mixed expansive soil can maintain its strength and volume constant even
at higher water content. Optimum amount of potassium chloride depends upon the properties of soil,
and the present study found it to varying between 6 to 8%, which is higher than the values suggested
in earlier studies. The efficiency of KCl depends on the plasticity of soil. KCl is relatively more
effective for highly plastic soil. The optimum amount of KCl increases with the decrease in the
plasticity of soil.
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Acknowledgement
The authors are thankfull to Mr. Adiyta Verma, Senior Research Fellow, IIT Roorke, India for
his valuable comments in drafting this manuscript.
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