STRENGTHENING OF SILTY SOIL

USING
ELECTROKINETIC GROUTING
 In present, our attention is particularly drawn to soil
improvement by the use of increasingly ingenious grouting
materials and grouting systems.
 The choice of the remediation technology for strength improvement is not
only governed by direct cost, but also the long term maintenance cost, time
required for completion and the cost benefits viz a viz other methods.
 Electrokinetic grouting is a ground improvement method in which stabilising
agents are induced into soil under direct current wherein the movement of
stabilising agents into soil masses is governed by the principles of
electrokinetics, while the mechanisms of stabilization can be explained by the
principles of chemical stabilisation.

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 OBJECTIVES

 To develop a new approach and procedures using electrokinetic

stabilization technique for soft clay soils.
 To strengthen the soft clay soils by injection of appropriate
chemical stabilizers under electric field to improve the
permeability and strength of the soil.
 To optimize voltage gradient to strengthen the soft clay soils.
 To study the effect of grout concentration on the electrokinetic
grouting process.

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 For the experiments, six different soil compositions have been
selected.

 Grout Mix: All grouts used a 2% CaCl2 solution as a hardener.

Sodium Silicate: Water

20 : 80

25 : 75

30 : 70

 Different size of open model

Model No. L (cm) H (cm) W (cm) Fill Height (cm)

Model 1 8.3 19.8 10.2 15
Model 2 18.2 19.5 15.5 15

Model 3 41 22 30 15
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 EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS FOR OPEN
MODEL
Experiment Type of No of
Phase Effect Soil Voltage Model No. Cathode Solution Anode Solution
Designation Supply Days

OSC 1 Soil 1 DC 24.6 Model 3 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OSC 2 Soil 2 DC 24.6 Model 3 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

Soil
1 OSC 3 Soil 3 DC 24.6 Model 3 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10
Composition
OSC 4 Soil 4 DC 24.6 Model 3 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OSC 5 Soil 5 DC 24.6 Model 3 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OGC 1 Soil 3 DC 5.0 Model 1 20% SS 2% CaCl2 10

Grout
2 OGC 2/OSM 1 Soil 3 DC 5.0 Model 1 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10
Concentration
OGC 3 Soil 3 DC 5.0 Model 1 30% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OVG 1 Soil 3 DC 10.9 Model 2 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OVG 2 Soil 3 DC 13.7 Model 2 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

3 Voltage Gradient OVG 3 Soil 3 DC 18.2 Model 2 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OVG 4 Soil 3 DC 22.8 Model 2 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OVG 5 Soil 3 DC 27.3 Model 2 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OPS 1/1 Soil 3 DC 5.0 Model 1 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OPS C/OGC 2 Soil 3 DC 5.0 Model 1 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

4 Periodic Supply
OPS 2/1 Soil 3 DC 5.0 Model 1 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10

OPS 1 /2 Soil 3 DC 5.0 Model 1 25% SS 2% CaCl2 10 5

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF THE LABORATORY
MODEL

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 PROPERTIES OF MATERIAL
Property Black Sand Sand
Place of Procurement Hazira Bhadarpur
Code Name Soil 1 Soil 2
emax 0.595 0.895
emin 0.438 0.534
D10 (mm) 0.24 0.14
Coefficient of Uniformity (Cu) 2.5 3.428
Coefficient of Curvature (Cc) 1.167 1.08
IS Classification SW SW
Angle of Internal Friction 28.19 36.61
Specific Gravity 2.92 2.73
Free Swell (%) NS NS
Coefficient of Permeability (cm/s) 1.979 x 10-2 4.67 x 10-3
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 PROPERTIES OF MATERIAL
Yellow Clayey
Property Yellow Soil Black Cotton Soil
Soil
Place of Procurement Vadodara* Netrang Sevasi
Code Name Soil 3 Soil 4 Soil 5
M.D.D (gm/cc) 1.76 1.65 1.72
O.M.C (%) 13.8 19.2 17.3
Liquid limit (%) 30 54 32
Plastic limit (%) NP 25 20
IS Classification ML CH CL
U.C.S (kg/cm2) 0.675 3.509 2.436
Specific Gravity 2.560 2.64 2.66
Free Swell (%) 33.33 70 50
Coefficient of
1.38 X 10-6 5.326 X 10-6 6.125 X 10-6
Permeability (cm/s)
* Student Day Center, Faculty of Tech. & Engg., Kalabhavan, Vadodara
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 EFFECT OF SOIL COMPOSITION

It is concluded that in Soil 1 and Soil 2, the maximum UCS was
obtained in Soil 1 (218.18%) with pre UCS value of Soil 1. In Soil 3,
Soil 4 and Soil 5, the maximum UCS was observed in Soil 3 9
(162.93%) with pre UCS value of Soil 3 and minimum UCS was
observed in Soil 5 (13.9%).
For the permeability values, it was observed that in Soil 1 and Soil
2 the maximum decrease in permeability was in Soil 1 (85.95%). In
Soil 3, Soil 4 and Soil 5, the maximum decrease in permeability was 10
observed in Soil 3 (62.15%) and minimum decrease was observed in
Soil 5 (34.69%).
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In Soil 1 and Soil 2, the maximum increase in sodium content was
observed in Soil 2, and in Soil 3, Soil 4 and Soil 5, the maximum 12
increase in sodium content was observed in Soil 3 and minimum in
Soil 5.
 EFFECT OF GROUT CONCENTRATION

The results obtained from the unconfined compressive strength

test showed maximum increase of strength by 144.84% where 30%
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sodium silicate solution was used. In 20% concentration, the
minimum increase in UCS was observed 11.87%.
The maximum decrease in permeability was observed when 30 %
sodium silicate solution (OGC 3) was added at the cathode
compartment which was 79.37%. The minimum decrease in 14
permeability was observed when 20 % sodium silicate solution (OGC
1) was added at the cathode compartment which was 41.71%.
It can be seen from the comparison that as the concentration of
sodium in the grout increases the sodium content in the soil also
increases. The maximum increase in sodium content was observed in
GC3 whereas minimum increase in sodium content was observed in
GC 1.
As the sodium silicate increased in the cathode compartment its
viscosity increases. The increase in viscosity reduces the flow rate of15
the solution, in turn increasing the UCS due to gellation of calcium
silicate.
 EFFECT OF VOLTAGE GRADIENT

The maximum unconfined compressive strength was observed in

OVG 5 (71.55%) and minimum unconfined compressive strength was
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observed in OVG 1(51.80%).
The maximum decrease in the permeability was observed in OVG 5 17
and minimum was observed in OVG 1. The permeability decreased
for OVG 5 was 71.55 % and to 51.80% for OVG 1.
The maximum increase in sodium content was observed in OVG 5
and the least increase in sodium content was observed in OVG 1.
Increase in voltage gradient, shows apparent increase in efficiency of
grouting validated by corresponding increase in UCS strength and
decrease in the permeability value. The increase in voltage gradient in 18
turn may cause rapid movement of ions towards the opposite ends
resulting in higher rate of reaction.
 EFFECT OF PERIODIC SUPPLY

The maximum UCS was observed in OPS 1/2 and minimum was 19
noted in OPS 1/1. The maximum UCS varied from 23.08% to
73.63%.
The minimum decrease in permeability was 40.92% observed in 20
OPS 1/2 and maximum decrease was 58.48% observed in OPS
continuous.
The maximum increase in sodium content was observed when
supply was given two day on and one day off in OPS 2/1 and 21
minimum increase in sodium content was observed when supply
was given two day on and one day off in OPS 1/1.
 CONCLUSIONS
 All the different soils treated showed a noticeable percentage
improvement with the coarser black sandy silt showing a very large
increase in strength as well as appreciable decrease in permeability,
the reason being the availability of larger pore spaces as well as
interconnected void spaces leading to less resistance being offered to
water and ionic movement. The efficiency of the method for the voltage
gradient under study is much lower in clayey soils. This lower
efficiency can be attributed to a higher resistance offered to ions to
move in clayey soils due to presence of the double layer.
 On increasing the value of voltage gradient, the applied voltage helps
in overcoming resistance offered in the soil during the initial phase
and subsequently after gelation of grout has occurred. The increase
consequently helps the flow of grout to a greater distance thereby
showing greater efficiency in grout, evident from the increase in UCS
value and decrease in permeability value. The results obtained in the
study undertaken to understand the effect of periodic supply, in order
to reduce carbon footprints were inconclusive for the options studied.
 The treated soil samples showed considerable amount of increase in
shear strength and decrease in the permeability with concentration22of
grout.