Laboratory modeling of the free swelling and swelling pressure curves for high plasticity clays stabilized with chemical additives

This paper presents the results of an experimental program developed to assess the effect of an ionic stabilizer branded as CBRPLus/CON-AID on the swelling potential of an expansive soil collected from a forest road in the northern region of Iran. A series of swelling tests consisting of free swelling and swelling pressure were conducted on natural and stabilized soil specimens in an Oedometer apparatus. Results indicated that the use of various concentrations of the ionic stabilizer (0.0096%, 0.03%, 0.05%, 0.07% and 0.09%) caused a considerable reduction in the swelling properties consisting of final free swell (Sf) and swelling pressure (Ps). Furthermore free swelling (FSC) and swelling pressure (SPC) curves fornatural and stabilized soil were modeled as a function of the ionic stabilizer concentration and its corresponding maximum dry unit weight using multivariable regression models. In addition a simplified sensitivity analysis was adopted to investigate the effect of the ionic stabilizer concentration and its corresponding maximum dry unit weight on the final free swell and swelling pressure values of natural and stabilized soil specimens.

Keywords:

Free swelling , swelling pressure , ionic stabilizer , multivariable regression , sensitivity analysis