Paper 6
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Abstract: The design foundation on black cotton soil (expansive soil) has always been a difficult task for the engineers as the
structure resting on black cotton soil cracks without any warning. Black cotton soil is found in M.P., Karnataka, Maharashtra and
Andhra Pradesh in our country. Soil proportion changes depending upon their constituents, i.e. water content, density, bulk density,
angle of friction, shear strength etc. The properties of black cotton soil can be modified by stabilizing the soil can be modified by
stabilizing the soil with the use of additives or by mechanical means. In this project an attempt has been made to stabilize the soil using
lime. Experimental work has been carried out with 4 % and 6 % of lime content. The experimental work is based on different
percentages of lime content in soil on tests for soil Liquid limit, Plastic limit, O.M.C., M.D.D, Bulk density and Dry density, C.B.R. test,
Grain size analysis and Swelling pressure. The aim is to improve the engineering properties of the black cotton soil such that the
structure built on this soil can be efficiently withstanding applied loads. It was found that the engineering properties of black cotton soil
substantially improved by addition of lime.
1. Introduction
3. Characteristics of B.C. Soil
In India Black Cotton soil also known as „Regurs‟ are found
in extensive regions of Deccan Trap. They have variable Black cotton soils are generally reddish brown to black in
thickness and are underlain by sticky material locally known color and occur from 0.5m to 10m deep and have high
as “Kali Mitti”. In terms of geotechnical Engineering, Black compressibility. The generally observed characteristics of
Cotton soil is one which when associated with as engineering black cotton soils are recorded in table below -
structure and in presence of water will show a tendency to
swell or shrink causing the structure to experience moments Table 1: Characteristics of Black Cotton Soils
which are largely unrelated to the direct effect of loading by S. No. Property Value
the structure. Black cotton soil is not suitable for the 1. Dry Density (γd) 1300 to 1800 kg/m3
construction work on account of its volumetric changes. It 2. Fines (<75µ) 70 to 100%
swells and shrinks excessively with change of water content. 3. 2µ Fraction 20 to 60 %
Such tendency of soil is due to the presence of fine clay 4. Liquid Limit (L.L.) 40 to 120%
5. Plastic Limit (P.L.) 20 to 60%
particles which swell, when they come in contact with water,
6. Activity 0.8 to 18%
resulting in alternate swelling and shrinking of soil due to 7. Soil Classification CH or MH
which differential settlement of structure takes place, so the 8. Specific Gravity (G) 2.60 to 2.75
stabilization is being done for the Stabilization of black 9. Proctor Density 1350 to 1600 kg/m3
cotton soil has been done in this project work by using lime 10. Max. Dry Density O.M.C. 20 to 35 %.
as an admixture. 11. Free Swell Index 40 to 180%
12. Swelling Pressure 50 to 800 kN/m2
The most common types of stabilization are described below 13. C.B.R. (Soaked) 1.2 to 4.0
a) Cement stabilization 14. Compression Index 0.2 to 0.5
b) Bitumen stabilization
c) Chemical stabilization 4. Chemical Composition of B. C. Soil
d) Lime stabilization
e) Salt stabilization The black cotton soils are found to have the following
chemical composition –
2. Distribution in India
Table 2: Chemical Composition of B. C. Soil
In India, an area about one-six is occupied by black cotton S. No. Property Range
soil. The area covers mostly the Deccan Trap plateau, 1. pH Value >7( Alkaline)
between 73°80‟ East longitude and 15° to 24° north, latitude. Organic Content 0.4 to 204 %
2.
Thus, most of soil in and around Mumbai, Madras, Gwalior,
Khandwa, Indore, Nagpur and even some on the river banks 3. CaCO3 5 to 15 %
is Black cotton .That means these soils are predominant in 4. SiO2 50 to 55 %
Deccan trap plateau region, i.e., in states of Andhra Pradesh, 5. SiO2 , Al2O3 3 to 5 %
Western Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Northern
6. Montmorrilonite Mineral 30 to 50 %
Karnataka and Tamilnadu.
5. Problem Associated with B. C. Soil This is the resistance to deformation by continuous shear
displacement of soil particles or on masses upon the action of
Black Cotton soils are problematic for engineers everywhere a shear stress.
in the world, and more so in tropical countries like India
because of wide temperature variations and because of 7. Index Properties of B. C. Soil
distinct dry and wet seasons, leading to wide variations in
moisture content of soils. The following problems generally The properties of soil, which are not of primary interest to
occur in black cotton soil - the geotechnical engineering, but are indicative of the
engineering properties are called index properties. This
5.1. High Compressibility includes –
Black Cotton soils are highly plastic and compressible, when 7.1. Particle Size Analysis
they are saturated. Footing, resting on such soils under goes
consolidation settlements of high magnitude. This is method of separation soils into different fraction
bases on particles present into soils. It can be shown
5.2. Swelling graphically on a particle size distribution curve. The coal
ashes can be classified as sandy silt to silty sand as per this
A structure built in a dry season, when the natural water classification.
content is low shows differential movement as result of soils
during subsequent wet season. This causes structures 7.2. Specific Gravity
supported by such swelling soils to lift up and crack.
Restriction on having developed swelling pressures making It can be classified as the ratio of the weights of a given
the structure suitable. volume of soil solid at a given temperatures of the weight of
an equal volume of distilled water at that temperature both
5.3. Shrinkage weight being taken in air.
G s
A structure built at the end of the wet season when the natural w
water content is high, shows settlement and shrinkage cracks The range of specific gravity of coal ashes varies from 1.46
during subsequent dry season. to 2.66 the low values of specific gravity is because of
hollow particles chemosphere the sp. Gr. Of soil solids is
6. Engineering Properties of B. C. Soil determined by –
1. 50 ml density bottle or
The main engineering properties of soil are permeability, 2. A 500 ml flask or
plasticity, compaction, compressibility and shear strength. 3. A pycnometer
6.1. Permeability The density bottle method is most accurate and is suitable for
all types of soil the flask or pycnometer method is suitable
The permeability is defined as the property of a porous for coarse grained soil.
material which permits the passage or seepage of water
through its interconnecting voids 7.3. Atterberg’s Limit
6.2. Plasticity The water content at which the soil changes from one state to
other state are known as consistency limits or Atterberg‟s
It is defined as the property of a soil which allows it to be limit .The Atterberg‟s limit which are useful for engineering
deformed rapidly, without elastic rebound, without volume purposes are; Liquid limit, plastic limit and shrinkage limit.
change. These limits are expressed as percent water content.
8. Stabilization
Lime stabilization helps in increasing the strength, durability
and also minimizes the moisture variations in the soil and
lime must be well compacted for obtaining sufficient strength
and durability by maintaining OMC and the same assumption
is made in the experimental determination of the required Figure 2: Diagrams Illustrating Plastic Limit Test
lime proportion. Quality of lime to be added depends upon
the specific surface area of soil particles and it is more for 8.3. Plasticity Index
fine grained soils even up to 15 % by weight of soil. The
stabilization of black cotton soil with lime has been done in The plasticity index of a soil is the numerical difference
three different ratios of lime i.e. 0%, 4% and 6%. After the between its liquid limit and its plastic limit, and is a
stabilization of soil with lime in above percentage the various dimensionless number. Both the liquid and plastic limits are
tests have been performed – moisture contents.
California bearing ratio is the ratio of force per unit area Calculation of plastic limit of black cotton soil -
required to penetrate in to a soil mass with a circular plunger Sample taken = 100gms
of 50mm diameter at the rate of 1.25mm/min.
Table 4: Plastic Limit Comparison
S. No. Composition Plastic Limit
1. B. C. Soil + 0% Lime 31%
2. B. C. Soil + 4% Lime Non-Plastic
3. B. C. Soil + 6% Lime Non-Plastic