ENC211-0173/2019 MAINA BRITNEY WANJIRU

BITUMINOUS SOIL STABILIZATION

Definition

Stabilization is a process of improving subsoil engineering properties prior to construction.

Bituminous soil stabilization refers to a process by which a controlled amount of bituminous
material is thoroughly mixed with an existing soil or aggregate material to form a stable base
or wearing surface. Bitumen increases the cohesion and load-bearing capacity of the soil and
renders it resistant to the action of water. The basic mechanism involved in bitumen
stabilization is a water proofing phenomenon. Soil particles are coated with bitumen that
prevents or slows the penetration of water

Suitable soils for bituminous stabilization

Soils that can be stabilized effectively with bituminous materials usually contain less than 30
percent passing the No. 200 sieve and have a plasticity index of less than 10. Soils classified
by the USCS as SW, SP, SW-SM, SP-SM, SW-SC, SP-SC, SM, SC, SM-SC, GW, GP, SW-
GM, SP-GM, SW-GC, GP-GC, GM, GC, and GM-GC can be effectively stabilized with
bituminous materials, provided the above-mentioned gradation and plasticity requirements are
met.

Factors affecting bituminous stabilization

1. Nature of Soil

All inorganic soils with which asphalt (emulsion or cutback) can be mixed can be stabilized.
Soils satisfying the following requirements yield the best results:

 Maximum particle size less than one-third the compacted thickness of the treated soil
layer.

 Greater than 50% finer than 4.76 mm size.

 Thirty five to 100% finer than 0.42 mm size.

 Greater than 10%, but less than 50% finer than 0.074 mm size.

 Liquid limit less than 40%.

 Plasticity index less than 18%.

Organic matter of acid origin is detrimental to soil-asphalt. Asphalt stabilization cannot be
effective in fine grained soils with high pH and dissolved salts. It is difficult to handle plastic
clays because of mixing problem.

2. Amount of Asphalt

An increase in asphalt content gives better results. In fine-grained soils addition of asphalt
does not increase the strength but tremendously improves the waterproofing property and
thereby yielding a better stabilized soil. Asphalt also should be added optimally otherwise
results in a gooey mixture which cannot be properly compacted.

3. Mixing

A thorough incorporation of the additive with the soil yields a better stabilized soil

4. Compaction Conditions

The density of a mixture of soil and asphalt is governed by the volatiles content and amount
and type of compaction. In general, the lower the volatiles content, the higher the strength.
Further, samples which were cured and then immersed in water showed a maximum strength
at a molding volatiles content near or slightly above that for maximum compacted density and
the water pickup and thus strength loss, is least at this molding volatiles content. In plastic
soils the volatiles content which gives maximum cured strength and that which gives optimum
density can be quite different and the difference can vary with type of compaction.

5. Cure Conditions

The following behaviors have been reported to be true (Lambe, 1962):

 The longer the period of cure and warmer the temperature of cure, the greater the
volatiles lost.
 The longer the period of immersion, the greater the water pickup.
 The strength of a soil-asphalt is inversely proportional to the volatiles content at the
time of test. A general strength-volatiles content relationship was obtained regardless
of the formulation employed.
Types of bituminous stabilization

Bituminous stabilization is generally accomplished using asphalt cement, cutback asphalt, or

asphalt emulsion.

 Bitumen is non-aqueous systems of hydrocarbons which are completely soluble in

carbondisulphide.
 Asphalts are materials in which the primary components are natural or refined
petroleum bitumen or combinations thereof.
 Tars are bituminous condensates produced by the destructive distillation of organic
materials such as coal, oil, lignite, peat and wood.

Bituminous material stabilizes the soil either by binding the particles together or protecting
the soil from the deleterious effects of water (i.e., waterproofing) or both these effects may
occur together. The first mechanism takes place in cohesionless soils and the second one in
cohesive soils. Among the bituminous materials, most of bitumen stabilization has been with
asphalt. Therefore, soil stabilized by asphalt may be referred to as soil-asphalt. Asphalts are
produced by three processes:

 Vacuum distillation producing straight-run asphalt

 High-temperature pyrolysis of refinery heavies, producing cracked asphalt

 High- temperature air blowing straight-run asphalt, producing blown asphalt.

As the straight-run asphalt has low softening temperature and low melts viscosity, it is
commonly used in soil stabilization. Asphalt cannot be directly added to the soil because it is
too viscous. Its fluidity can be increased by heating, emulsifying in water (emulsions), or cut
back with some solvent like gasoline (cutbacks). Both emulsions and cutbacks are used in soil
stabilization. Although soil-asphalt has varied applications, it is mostly used in bases for
highway and airfield pavements. The type of bitumen to be used depends upon the type of soil
to be stabilized, method of construction, and weather conditions.

In frost areas, the use of tar as a binder should be avoided because of its high-temperature
susceptibility. Asphalts are affected less by temperature changes, but a grade of asphalt
suitable to the prevailing climate should be selected. As a general rule, the most satisfactory
results are obtained using the most viscous liquid asphalt that can be readily mixed into the
soil. For higher quality mixes in which a central plant is used, viscosity-grade asphalt cements
should be used. Most bituminous stabilization is performed in place. The bitumen is applied
directly on the soil or soil-aggregate system, and the mixing and compaction operations are
conducted immediately thereafter. For this type of construction, liquid asphalts, such as cut-
backs and emulsions, are used. Emulsions are preferred over cutbacks because of energy
constraints and pollution control efforts. The specific type and grade of bitumen will depend
on the characteristics of the aggregate, type of construction equipment, and climate
conditions.

Construction method

The conventional sequence of construction operation is as follows:

i. Pulverization of the soil to be treated.

ii. Addition of water for proper mixing.
iii. Adding and mixing of the bitumen,
iv. Aeration to the proper volatiles content for compaction,
v. Compaction
vi. Finishing, aerating, curing and application of surface cover.

The important items to ensure proper stabilization that need control are mixing, compacting,
drying and applying the surface protection. The mixing plants used for soil-cement can be
used for soil asphalt also. The necessary field control tests are moisture content determination
before and during processing, bitumen content determination after mixing and density
determination after compaction.

The optimum moisture content for stability is usually below that for compaction. As good
mixing is generally considered to be most easily obtained at fairly high moisture contents, it is
often found necessary, except with sands, to allow a period for the mix to dry between the
mixing process and compaction. In practice, treated sands are placed at about 3 to 5%
volatiles content whereas cohesive soils are placed at about the optimum volatiles content for
compaction. Compared to cutbacks or tars, emulsions provide more latitude in the
stabilization of fine-grained soils.

Practical example

A testing program was carried out by Road & Railway Engineering Department, Southwest
Jiao Tong University, Chengdu to determine the unconfined compressive strength, California
bearing ratio (CBR), resilient modulus (MR), permeability characteristics of gypseous sandy
soil-mixed with different percentages of bitumen of two types of cutback bitumen (S-125 and
RC-250).

The effect of leaching was investigated using a Rowe cell consolidometer on the permeability
of the above two mixes. The influence of bitumen binder type, bitumen binder content
molding moisture content and soaking periods on the above geotechnical engineering
characteristics were also studied. The results of tests revealed that the addition of cutback
bitumen to the gypseous sandy soil would improve its strength and stiffness characteristics
and enhance its waterproofing characteristics. The results showed that the maximum dry
density, unconfined compressive strength, CBR and MR of the gypseous sandy soil-bitumen
mixes increases with increasing bitumen content up to an optimum value then gradually
decreases. The permeability and total soluble salt decreases with increasing the bitumen
content. The soaking of the stabilized gypseous sandy soil in water causes a reduction in its
strength and stiffness, and a rising in its compressibility. But the optimum fluid content was
not affected by soaking. The study revealed that the use of S-125 cutback bitumen for
stabilizing gypseous sandy soil gives better engineering characteristics than that obtained by
the use of RC-250 cutback bitumen. And gypseous sandy soil stabilized with S-125 and RC-
250 cutback bitumen can be used as a base course or sub-base layer in roads pavement design
and construction, and can be used also as a full depth surface in the construction of low-cost
roads or rural roads.

The laboratory UCS and CBR tests conducted on the two soils stabilized with mixtures of
bitumen and cement revealed that the soil samples experienced increase in strength as the
proportion of cement content increased and proportions of bitumen in the mixture reduced.
Also, the optimum combination for sub base material with 4%, 6% and 8% additives was 75%
bitumen emulsion and 25% cement contents.

References

Aziz, M. A. 2013. “A New Method of Stabilization of Soft Soils.” First International

Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering. Missouri University of Science
and Technology.

Guyer, J. P. 2011. Stabilization for Pavements. NY. Continuing Education and Development,
Inc.

Kestler, M. A. 2009. Stabilization Selection Guide for Aggregate and Native-Surfaced Low
Volume Roads. USA: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Little, D. N., Males, E. M., Prusmski, J. K., and Stewart, B. 2003. “Cementitious
Stabilization, Report of Committee on Cementitious Stabilization.” A2J01, Transport
Research Board.