Journal of New Trends in Civil Engineering, 1(1), September 2018: pp.

039-046

EFFECT OF TERRASIL ON THE HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY AND

STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF SOIL
T. O. ODEWUMI1*, O. O. ALLI2, A. S. AKOLADE3
1, 2, 3
Department of Civil Engineering, The Polytechnic Ibadan Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: odetayi@yahoo.com

ARTICLE INFORMATION ABSTRACT

Article history: Basic physical and geotechnical properties of poor subgrade soil
Received 27th February 2018 enhanced with nanochemical such as Terrasil were assessed. Laboratory
Revised 8th July 2018 tests were conducted to determine the effect of Terrasil on subgrade soils
Accepted 9th August 2018 under unsoaked conditions. Geotechnical test were conducted on the
Available online 15th Sept. 2018 samples of soils to determine the particle size distribution, atterberg
Keywords: limits, compaction, permeability characteristics and California bearing
C.B.R. ratio test. CBR test were performed on soil samples mixed Terrasil at
Nano chemical varying proportion (10%, 20% & 30%) under unsoaked conditions to
Permeability determine the relative strength. The result shows that the strength of
Subgrade interface subgrade is considerably increased by the application of Terrasil in the
Terrasil soil. It is found that the application Terrasil at 10% proportion showed
higher CBR value (13.65%, 12.42%, 12.74%, 14.24%) than when
applied at (20% & 30%). The coefficient of permeability values at
10%(0.00003001cm/s, 0.00003142cm/s, 0.00002927cm/s and
0.00003061cm/s) decrease as compared to 20% (0.00003391cm/s,
0.00003972cm/s, 0.00003426cm/s and 0.00003305cm/s &
30%(0.00001295cm/s, 0.00001625cm/s, 0.00001298cm/s and
0.00001216cm/s) respectively in which there was increase in the rate of
flow of water through the soil. The differences in the behavior of the soil
under unsoaked conditions improve on increasing the percentage of
dosage of Terrasil. As a subgrade stabilizer it has shown great effect of
improvement. It has low maintenance, corrosion resistance and increases
the service life of road pavement. Terrasil should be employed as a
modernized form of improving road construction on poor subgrade
materials.
© 2018 JNTCE. All rights reserved.

1. INTRODUCTION
It may be possible to replace the poor subgrade soil with suitable fill,but it is improbable to
rely on such measures due to the declining availability of high quality soil. When a poor quality
soil is encountered at the construction site, the best option is to modify its properties to meet the
pavement design requirements (Mrudul & Parmar, 2016). The effective use of soils is therefore
often hindered by difficulty in handling particularly under moist and wet conditions typical of
tropical regions and can only be utilized after modification/stabilization. In order to stabilize soils
for improved strength and durability, a number of chemical additives, both inorganic and organic
could be used. Recently, nanochemicals have emerged as new admixture for soil stabilization
(Greeshma, 2014).
Chemical nanotechnology allows water proofing of aggregate surfaces permanently and
 Odewumi et al. /Journal of New Trends in Civil Engineering, 1(1), September 2018: pp. 039-046

acts as a bonding agent to soil and subgrades. Terrasil chemically has the property to function as
amines and hydrated lime to provide Mother Nature’s strongest bond which cannot be displaced
by water. Terrasil in suitable proportion is added directly by weight as binder and blended to
proper mixing (Bala, 2014).
Terrasil is a liquid additive which acts on soil to reduce voids between soil particles and
minimize absorbed water in the soil to achieve maximum compaction. Terrasil technology enables
replacement of Granular Sub-Base (GSB) layer with subgrade protected with Terrasil waterproof
envelope. Terrasil nanotechnology allows water proofing of soils and aggregate surfaces
permanently and acts as a bonding agent to asphalt.
Technique of improving the soil with Terrasil increase the stiffness and load bearing
capacity of the soil by reducing voids between soil particles and minimize absorbed water in the
soil to achieve maximum compaction. It allows water proofing of soil and acts as a bonding agent
to asphalt. The load coming on the road crust is transferred to the underlying soil. If the soil
supporting the road structure is weaker, the pavement thickness increases, which leads to
increased cost of construction, but with the application of Terrasil, the cost of bringing in earth
materials from a borrow pit is reduced, rather the initial earth materials found on the construction
site is used for the road pavement. Treatments of the soils with Terrasil are used recently to obtain
the desired strength to the pavement (Gopala, 2013).

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four (4) soils samples were collected within Eleyele area in Ibadan at longitude and
latitude 30 52' 10.06", 70 25' 59"; 30 52' 1.69", 70 25' 10.06"; 30 52' 2.41", 70 25' 9.37"; 30 52' 2.45",
70 25' 9.22" respectively. The proportions of Terrasil used along with the soil in the study were
10%, 20%, 30%. The following test: Grain size analysis (using sieves shown in Plate 1), Atterberg
limits, Permeability, California bearing ratio (CBR) shown in Plate 2 and Compaction test were
conducted on the samples. Grain size analysis was used for the test after washing and oven drying
the samples, Atterberg test was conducted to determine the plastic limit, liquid limit and plastic
index of the soil samples. The compaction test was conducted according to the British Standard
using a rigid metal mould. The California Bearing Ratio Test (CBR Test) is a penetration test
developed by California State Highway Department (U.S.A.) for evaluating the bearing capacity
of subgrade soil for design of flexible pavement. This is the ratio of force per unit area required to
penetrate a soil mass with standard circular piston at the rate of 1.25 mm/min. The CBR Tests
were carried out on the compacted soils in unsoaked conditions without Terrasil (0%) and with
Terrasil at varying percentage (10%, 20% & 30%) respectively. The geotechnical properties of the
soil were determined in accordance with BS codes 1377.

Plate 1: Stacks of Sieves Plate 2: CBR Machine

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 Odewumi et al. /Journal of New Trends in Civil Engineering, 1(1), September 2018: pp. 039-046

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Soil samples was collected from a location at Eleyele area in Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria in
which the summary of the result of the laboratory test (grain size analysis, compaction and
Atterberg limit) as well as the engineering property test (compaction, permeability and California
bearing ratio(CBR)) are presented in the tables and figures below.

3.1 Chemical Proportioning

The chemical dosages used for stabilizing the lateritic soil are dosage 1 (10% weight of water),
2 (20% weight of water) and 3 (30% weight of water). Effects of dosages on index properties,
strength, characteristics of lateritic soil are studied. Four different soil samples were tested upon.

3.2 Grain Size Analysis

Grain size analysis or gradation test was used in the experiment to assess the particle size
distribution of the preliminary samples. The soil samples A - D was tested. The percentage
passing through sieve No. 200(75 micron) is less than 50%, this indicates that the soil is a coarse
grain soil. Sample A and B are sand with plastics fine(SC) with little proportion of clay and
sample C and D are gravel with low plastic fines(GM) from the unified soil classification system.
Sample A,B & D are Excellent to Good that is (A-2-4), also as clayey, gravelly and sand while
sample C is classified as A-2-6 from AASHTO classification system. This is shown in table 1 and
figure 1 below.

Table 1: Grain size analysis result for samples A-D

S/N Percentage Sample A Sample B Sample C Sample D
Passing (%) (%) (%) (%)
1 2.36mm 86.96 87.3 81.95 82.65
2 1.18mm 75.21 75.42 71.32 72.02
3 850µ 68.59 68.75 64.31 65.6
4 600µ 58.55 59.6 53.86 55.18
5 425µ 45.73 47.3 41.77 42.15
6 212µ 29.49 31.88 27.14 26.87
7 75µ 14.53 15.84 8.77 7.43

SIEVE ANALYSIS CHART

Pacentage Passing

SAMP
LE A

No of Sieve

Figure 1: Grain size analysis for samples A-D

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 Odewumi et al. /Journal of New Trends in Civil Engineering, 1(1), September 2018: pp. 039-046

3.3 Consistency Limits

For soil sample A - D, LL, PL and PI values as shown in table 2 ranges between (25.0 -
23.0), (15.0 - 16.0) and (8.0% - 9.0%) respectively. However, the lower the values of LL, and PI,
the more stabilized it is for use as subgrade material for pavement constructions. No dosage of
Terrasil was added to the soil samples during consistency limit test procedure.

Table 2: LL, PL and PI values of Soil sample

Soil sample LL PL PI
A 24.0 16.0 8.0
B 25.0 16.0 9.0
C 23.5 15.3 8.2
D 23.0 15.0 8.0

3.4 Compaction

The result for MDD and OMC of the untreated soil sample A - D are shown in the Table 3
- Table 6. The MDD and OMC for the soil samples (A -D) without inclusion of Terrasil are (1.98,
11.5: 1.97, 12.7: 1.97, 12.4 & 1.99, 12.2) respectively.

Table 3: MC and DD Result for Soil Sample A

SAMPLE A
Moisture Content 7.41 9.09 11.66 15.02
(%)
Dry Density 1.79 1.88 1.98 1.88

Table 4: MC and DD Result for Soil Sample B

SAMPLE B

Moisture Content (%) 4.22 8.17 13.39 16.11

Dry Density 1.85 1.90 1.96 1.83

Table 5: MC and DD Result for Soil Sample C

SAMPLE C

Moisture Content (%) 3.96 8.52 13.18 16.51

Dry Density 1.86 1.88 1.97 1.83

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 Odewumi et al. /Journal of New Trends in Civil Engineering, 1(1), September 2018: pp. 039-046

Table 6: MC and DD Result for Soil Sample D

SAMPLE D

Moisture Content (%) 6.50 8.68 11.55 16.08

Dry Density 1.81 1.90 1.97 1.86

SAMPLE A COMPACTION B

7.41
Dry Density

Dry Density
9.09
11.66
15.02

Moistur Content % Moisture Content

COMPACTION B
Figure 2: Graph of dry density against moisture Figure 3: Graph of dry density against moisture
content content

COMPACTION C COMPACTION D
Dry DensityDry Density
Dry Density

% Moisture Content

% Moisture Content
% Moisture Content

Figure 4: Graph of dry density against moisture

content Figure 5: Graph of dry density against moisture
content
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3.4 California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

California bearing ratio tests were conducted on unsoaked condition with curing periods of
24 hours. The result for penetration test carried out for samples A-D and was conducted on both
treated soil and untreated soil, were displayed in Tables 7. The CBR values for sample A - D with
dosage of Terrasil at 0, 10%, 20% & 30% are (5.98%, 13.65%, 8.71% & 6.44%), (6.05%, 12.42%,
8.71% & 6.44%), (6.11%, 12.74%, 9.43% & 7.02) and (6.37%, 14.24%, 8.56% & 6.63%)
respectively as shown in table and figures below. The increase in CBR value was obvious at 10%
dosage of Terrasil while at 20% & 30% the CBR values decreases as compared to 10% as shown
in Table 7 and figure 6 - figure 9 below. The result shows that only at 10% dosage Terrasil is most
suitable.
.
Table 7: CBR Strength Values for Samples A-D

Proportion of Sample A (%) Sample B (%) Sample C (%) Sample D (%)

Terrasil (%)

0 5.98 6.05 6.11 6.37

10 13.65 12.42 12.74 14.24

20 8.71 8.71 9.43 8.56

30 6.44 6.44 7.02 6.63

The CBR values increased from 5.0 to 14.24 due to the presence of Terrasil as shown in
Tables 7. The findings were in agreement with Nanda & Pancholi ( 2015) investigated the usage
of Terrasil chemical on soil stabilization at 0.041% .The result shows there is an increase in CBR
with time. Also Mrudul & Parmar (2016) discovered that there was an increase on CBR value
from 2.58 to 5.38 on 1% cement, 2.58 to 12.49 on addition of 0.02%Terrasil and 2.58 to 17.89 and
the soil increased markedly when treated with Terrasil. Although in this research the CBR
increased from 5.00 to 14.24%. There was an increase at 10% dosage for samples A - D.
The coefficient of permeability values for the four samples were estimater and shown in
Table 8 at 10% there is a decrease in permeability of the soil sample compared to 20% & 30% in
which there was increase in the rate of flow of water through the soil. This depict Terrasil is most
suitable at 10% proportion.
The permeability values for samples A - D decrease from 3.317x10-5 - 2.927x10-5. The
result is in agreement with Ajayi and Rawat (2016) investigated the effect of Nano-chemical i.e
Terrasil of 0.07% & 0.04% dosage on soil. Their findings show that the CBR value increases and
permeability were found to be decreasing in the case of soil treated with Terrasil.

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et al.
Sample Sample 2018:
B pp. 039-046
CBR Value,
CBR Value, 10, 12.42
10, 13.65

CBR Value, 0
0
20, 8.71
CBR Value

CBR Value
CBR Value, 10
10
20, 8.71 CBR Value,
20 CBR Value, 20
CBR Value, 30, 6.44
CBR Value, 0, 6.05
30, 6.44 30 30
0, 5.98

Figure 6:CBR value against Proportion of Terrasil Figure 7:CBR value against Proportion of Terrasil
Sample C Sample D
CBR Value,
CBR Value,
10, 12.74
Dosage of Terrasil Dosage of Terrasil
10, 14.24

CBR Value,
20, 9.43 0 0
CBR Value

CBR Value
10
CBR Value, CBR Value, 10
30, 7.02 20, 8.56
CBR Value, 20 20
Figure 8:CBR value against
0, 6.11 Proportion of Terrasil Figure 9:CBR value against Proportion ofCBR
CBR Value, Value,
Terrasil
30 30, 6.63
30
0, 6.37

3.5 Permeability
Dosage of Terrasil
Dosage of Terrasil

Table 8: Permeability result for samples A - D

K value (cm/s)
Soil Sample 0% 10% 20% 30%

Sample A 0.00003229 0.00003001 0.00003391 0.0001295

Sample B 0.00003247 0.00003142 0.00003972 0.0001625

Sample C 0.00003191 0.00002927 0.00003426 0.0001298

Sample D 0.00003317 0.00003061 0.00003305 0.0001216

In this research the coefficient of permeability decrease at 10% dosage of Terrasil while at
20% and 30% the coefficient K of permeability increase due to the curing days considered and at
10% it is most suitable and it constitute high resistance passage of water.

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4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The effect of Terrasil on the geotechnical properties of soil was investigated. The inclusion
of Terrasil considerably increased the strength of soils, which was reflected in the higher CBR
values after 24 hours of curing. The study indicated that, presence of Terrasil in the soil samples
led to enhancement of the geotechnical properties such as C.B.R from 10%, 20% & 30% as
compared to the control (0%) and permeability 10%, 20% & 30% due to the addition of moisture
in the soil.
Terrasil chemical should be made readily available for use; also laboratory testing should
be done at different times on soil samples as to determine the suitable dosage that will enhance the
performance of the soil for engineering use. Further research should be analyzed in ascertaining its
suitability on soils properties under unsoaked condition.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We are grateful to the Technical Staff at the Department of Civil Engineering, The Polytechnic
Ibadan Nigeria for their assistance in this work.

6. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

There is no conflict of interest associated with this work.

REFERENCES

Ajay Kumar Pandagre & Rajesh Jain (2016). "Effect of Terrasil on Geotechnical Properties of

Expansive Soil Mixed with Lime. Int. Journal for Research in Applied Science &

Engineering Technology (IJRASET), Vol. 5 Issue 1, January 2017 ISSN: 2321-9653

Akolade, A.S and Olaniyan, O.S. (2014). Application of Geogrids on the Geotechnical

Properties of Subgrade Materials under Soaked Condition, International institute for

science, Technology and Education (IISTE). Vol.6, No.7, 2014

Mrudul U. V., Prof. S. M. Damodariya, Prof. N. B. Parmar. (2016). Laboratory Investigation of

Soil Stabilized Using Terrasil. International Journal for Scientific Research and

Development. Vol. 4, 2016

Nandan A. Patel, Prof. C. B. Mishra, Mr. Vasu V. Pancholi (2015), “Scientifically

Surveying the Usage of Terrasil Chemical for Soil Stabilization”, International Journal

of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.3, No.6, June 2015.

Zydex Industries Ltd. www.zydexindustries.com (accessed on 10.08.2014)

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