Contents

Sample Collection ................................................................................................................................... 2

Proposed problem .................................................................................................................................. 2
Laboratory tests used for identification of expansive soils .................................................................. 2
DETERMINATION OF PROPERTIES OF SOIL:........................................................................................... 3
Density of soil ........................................................................................................................... 3
Moisture content: ..................................................................................................................... 3
Liquid limit ............................................................................................................................... 3
Plastic limit: .............................................................................................................................. 5
Plasticity index.......................................................................................................................... 5
Specific gravity:......................................................................................................................... 5
Porosity of soil: ......................................................................................................................... 6
Void Ratio: ............................................................................................................................... 6
Gradation of soil: ...................................................................................................................... 6
DETERMINATION OF PROBLEM: ............................................................................................................ 8
Swelling test: ............................................................................................................................ 8
Selection of admixture ........................................................................................................................... 9
Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................... 10
References: ........................................................................................................................................... 10
Sample Collection
The sample was collected from the 2 feet below the soil surface from Mall of Mandi.

Proposed problem
The soil was known to be expensive. Expansive soil is one of the widespread typical
problematic soils in the world. Expansive soils are hard and strong when they dry out, swell
and soften as the moisture content increases.

Laboratory tests used for identification of expansive soils

In Engineering practice, the common identification schemes are based on standard
classification results, such as grain size analysis and Atterberg’s limits.
Tests Designation Properties
Liquid limit ASTM D-4308 Upper limit water
content of plasticity
Plastic limit ASTM D-4318 Lower limit water
content of plasticity
Clay content ASTM D-422 Distribution of fine-
grained particle sizes
Percent finer than
2μm
CBR Swell test ASTM D-1883-16 Swell upon wetting
of unconsolidated
unconfined
DETERMINATION OF PROPERTIES OF SOIL:

Density of soil
h = height of mold = 76 mm
d = diameter of mold = 38 mm
volume of mold = πd2/4 *h
= π (0.038)2/4 *0.076
= 8.62*10-5 m3
Mass of soil+ mold = 261 g
Mass of mold = 101 g
Mass of soil = 261g – 101g
= 160g
Density of soil = d = mass of soil/volume of soil
= 160*10-3/8.62*10-5
= 1856.2 kg/m3

Moisture content:
Mass of container = 26.5g
Mass of container + wet soil = 149.8g
Mass of wet soil = 149.8 – 26.5 g
= 123.3 g
Mass of container + dry soil = 131g
Mass of dry soil = 131 – 26.5 g
= 104.5 g
Moisture content = m.c = 123.3 – 104.5/123.3 * 100%
Moisture content = m.c = 15.5%

Liquid limit
Soil was passed through sieve # 0.4 mm
Trial 1:
Number of blows = 18
Mass of container = 12g
Mass of container + wet soil = 30 g
Mass of wet soil = 30 – 12g
= 18 g
Mass of container + dry soil = 22gMass of dry soil = 22 – 12g = 10g

Moisture content = m.c = 18-10/18 *100%

Moisture content = m.c = 55.55%

Trial 2:
Number of blows = 30
Mass of container = 26.5g
Mass of container + wet soil = 55.5 g
Mass of wet soil = 55.5 – 26.5g =24g
Mass of container + dry soil = 41.5g
Mass of dry soil = 41.5 – 26.5g
= 15g
Moisture content = m.c = 24 - 15/24 *100%
Moisture content = m.c = 38%
Slope of line = 55.5 - 38/18 – 30 = -1.4

Liquid Limit
40 38

35
30
30
Moisture Content

25

20

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
NO. of Blows
Equation of line:
y- y1 = m (x – x1)
so,
y – 55.5 = -1.45 ( x – 18)
if x = 25
y – 55.5 = -1.45 (25 – 18)
y = 45.35
therefore;
Liquid limit = L.L= 45.35

Plastic limit:
Mass of container = 28.1 g
Mass of container + wet soil = 36.1 g
Mass of wet soil = 36.1 – 28.1g
=8g
Mass of container + dry soil = 34 g
Mass of dry soil = 34 – 28.1g
= 5.9g
Plastic limit (m.c) = 8- 5.9/8 *100%
Plastic limit (m.c) = P.L = 26.25%

Plasticity index
Plasticity index = P.I = L.L– P.L
= 45.35 – 26.25
P.I = 19.10

Specific gravity:
Mass of pycnometer = m1 = 613 g
Mass of dry soil = m2 = 452.2 – 208.6 g
= 243.6 g
Mass of pycnometer + soil + water = m3 = 1761.4 g
Mass of pycnometer + water = m4 = 1611 g
So,
Specific gravity = S.G = m2/ m2 - ( m3 – m4)
= 243.6/ 243.6 - ( 1761.4 – 1611)
S.G = 2.66

Porosity of soil:
S.G = ϸd / ϸw
ϸd = S.G * ϸw
= 2.66 * 997
ϸd = 2652.02 kg/m3
&
ϸb = 1856.2 kg/m3
Now,
e = 1 - ϸb/ ϸd
= 1 – 1856/ 2652
e = 0.3

Void Ratio:
void ratio = n = e/ 1+e
n = 0.3/1+0.3
n = 0.23

Gradation of soil:
As L.L < 50
So, soil is inorganic
Since, P.I > 7
Hence, it is CL
Total mass = 200g

Serial Sieve size Weight Cumulative Cumulative Percent

no. (mm) retained Weight Weight Weight
(g) Retained Passing Passing
(g) (g) (g)
1 20 -- 0 21.6 100
2 10 4.7 4.7 16.9 78.3
3 5 7.3 12 9.6 44.4
4 2 3.6 15.6 6 27.8
5 1 1.4 17 4.6 21.3
6 0.5 1.5 18.5 3.1 14.4
7 0.25 1.8 20.3 1.3 6
8 0.16 0.5 20.8 0.8 3.7
9 0.08 0.8 21.6 0 0
10 pan 0 21.6 0 0
∑M = 21.6g

WELL GRADED
Mass passing through sieve #200 = 200g – 20.6 g
= 179.4 g
%age mass passing = 179.4/200 *100%
= 89.7% (fines)
 Sieve Analysis
120

100
Percent Passing

80

60

40

20

0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01
Sieve Size

DETERMINATION OF PROBLEM:
After performing tests we studied the literature and consulted with our seniors and found the
soil to be expansive.

Properties Expansible Soil Soil Under Study

Density 1400 to 1900 (kg/m3) 1860kg/m3
Water Content 15% -- 40% 15.7%
Liquid Limit 40—110 45.5
Plastic Limit 20—60 26.25
USCS CH/CM/CL/MH/ML CL
Specific Gravity 2.60—2.75 2.66
CBR swell Minimum 5% 5.6%

Swelling test:
Soil was tested at Moisture content = 15.5%
Diameter of mold = d = 6 inches =150 mm
Height = h = 5 inches = 125 mm
At 30 blows
Soil was taken at density of 1860 kg/m3

Volume of mold = (πd2/4) *h

Volume of mold = {π (150*150)/4 * 125}*10-6
= 2.2 *10-3m3
Mass = density* volume = 1860 * 2.2 *10-3
= 4 kg = 4000g (oven dry)

Expansion of soil = 7 mm
So, %age swelling = 7/125 * 100%
= 5.6%

Selection of admixture
Wheat husk ash appeared to be great solution for the expensive soil, wheat husk ash is readily
available. Primarily being siliceous material act as pozzolana. Wheat husk ash is obtained by
burning locally available wheat husk. After complete burning, the burnt material was sieved
through 2 micrometer sieve and the residual was used as a admixture.

1. By adding wheat husk ash by mass = 3%

Mass of wheat husk admixture = 0.03 * 4000 g
= 120 g
Now, expansion of soil = 4 mm
%age swelling = 4/125 *100%
= 3.2 %

2. By adding wheat husk ash by mass = 6%

Mass of wheat husk admixture = 0.06 * 4000 g
= 240 g
Now, expansion of soil = 2.5 mm
%age swelling = 2.5/125 *100%
=2%
3. By adding wheat husk ash by mass = 12%
Mass of wheat husk admixture = 0.12 * 4000 g
= 480 g
Now, expansion of soil = 8 mm
%age swelling = 8/125 *100% = 6.4%
 Expansion of Soil
7 6.4

6
Percent Expansion

4
3.2
3
2
2

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
%age Admixture

Note:
 Each reading is taken over 3 days
 The swelling of soil is affected by amount W.C of soil.
 Addition of wheat husk admixture by 5% causes minimum expansion i.e 1.8%

Conclusions
Wheat husk ash was used to treat the expansion of soil. It was added in different propotions.it
was concluded that the swelling is reduced to a considerable amount. But after increasing the
percentage of admixture the swelling is reduced to certain extend. Optimum percentage for
our soil is 5% by its weight.

References:
Terghazi k(1943)theoretical soil mechanics.

Sivapullaiah PV, Sridharan A (1986) Liquid limit of soil mixtures, ASTM, geotechnical journal.

Maninder Singh, Rubel Sharma, Abhishek,” soil stabilization using industrial waste (wheat husk and
sugarcane straw ash)”; International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
Volume: 04 Issue: 09 | Sep -2017.