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Steps to Improve Roads on Black Cotton Soils
D V Bhavanna Rao
,
M.Tech., FIE
.,
Chief Engineer
, R&B , Retired Roads & Buildings Department
Government of Andhra Pradesh.Email:
bhavannarao@yahoo.co.in 
for more presentations on Roadsand Bridges, please visithttp://aproadbuildqa.blogspot.comGenerally, lands with black cotton soils are fertile and very good for agriculture,horticulture, sericulture and aquaculture. Good irrigation systems exist, rainfall ishigh and people are affluent in these areas. Though black cotton soils are verygood for agricultural purposes, they are not so good for laying durable roads. Goodroad network is a basic requirement for the allround development of an area.Unfortunately, poor road network is hampering the full fledged development of theotherwise prosperous areas.For developing a good and durable road network in black cotton soil areas, thenature of soils shall be properly understood. Black cotton soils absorb waterheavily, swell, become soft and lose strength. Black cotton soils are easilycompressible when wet and possesses a tendency to heave during wet condition.BC soils shrink in volume and develop cracks during summer. They arecharacterised by extreme hardness and cracks when dry. The stability andperformance of the pavements are greatly influenced by the sub grade andembankment as they serve as foundations for pavements. On such soils suitableconstruction practices and sophisticated methods of design are to be adopted. Inthe present paper, reasons for poor condition of roads in B.C soils and measures tobe taken for construction and improvement of roads on BC soils are presented.
 
 Following are some of the important reasons for poor condition of roads in BC soilterrain.
•
 
Nature of BC soils
•
 
Poor drainage facilities
•
 
Use of gravelly soil in base and sub-base
•
 
Improper estimate preparations
•
 
Plying of overloaded vehicles and iron wheeled tractors trolleys/carts
•
 
Damage of roads during collection of materials
•
 
Forming roads on canal banks and tank bunds
Nature of Black Cotton Soils
Roads running in black cotton soils are known for bad condition and unpredictablebehavior for which the nature of the soil contributes to some extent. Nature of blackcotton soils is discussed here.a.
 
BC soils absorb water heavily, swell, become soft, lose strength, easilycompressible and has a tendency to heave during wet condition.b.
 
BC soils shrink in volume and develop cracks during summer. They arecharacterized by extreme hardness and cracks when dry.c.
 
Soils are called highly expansive when Free Swell Index exceeds 50%. Suchsoils undergo volumetric changes leading to pavement distortion, crackingand general unevenness due to seasonal wetting and drying.d.
 
BC soils produce a CBR value of 2 to 5% if compacted efficientlyIndian Road Congress’ code IRC: 37-2001, “Guidelines for design of flexiblepavements,” suggested the following in Appendix 4 for pavement on expansivesoils.
 
a.
 
Buffer layer:
Providing anon expansive layer of 0.6to 1m thick preventsingress of water intoexpansive soil layer andcounteracts swelling. Italso reduces the harmfuleffects of heaving andreduces the stress onexpansive layer.b.
 
Blanket course:
Ablanket course of at least225 mm thick composed of coarse/medium sand or non plastic moorum with PI less than 6% shall beprovided for full width of formation over expansive sub–grade.c.
 
Drainage:
Appropriate surface drainage and sub–surface system to preventingress and retention of water in the pavement structure.d.
 
Thick BT surfacing:
Desirably, 40mm thick BT surfacing shall be providedto prevent ingress of water.
Poor Drainage Facilities
For Indian roads drainage is a badly neglected aspect. Special publication of IndianRoads Congress, IRC: SP 42 clearly gives guidelines for providing surface and subsurface drainage systems. The main objective of road drainage is to prevent earlydamage of the pavement due to entry of excess of water and preventing saturationup to a depth of 1 meter belowthe top of sub grade.Various types of damages arising due to inadequate drainage are listed below.a.
 
Reduction in bearing capacity of sub grade soilb.
 
Pavement failures like potholes, rutting, waviness and corrugation in flexiblepavementc.
 
Reduction in strength of many pavement materials like stabilised soil, WBMand BT surfacingd.
 
Damages to shoulder and pavement edges from surface water
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