• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.03a
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• pp.193-200
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• 1999

An experimental study is described in which a 305-mm-diameter instrumented drilled shaft was installed in a moderately expansive clay soil during the dry season and monitored over a period of about 18 months. The purpose of the study was In investigate the effects of seasonal moisture changes in the soil on the shear stresses imposed on the sides of the drilled shaft and movements of the shaft head. The soil in the vicinity of the test shaft was instrumented to measure suction and ground surface movement and the relation between suction, total stress and shear strength of the soil at the test site was determined through laboratory triaxial compression testing. Daily rainfall and temperatures were also monitored at the test site, the National Geotechnical Experimentation Site at the University of Houston, where control on surface grading and vegetation existed. Over the course of the study induced unit side shear values of up to 54 kPa were measured in the test shaft. A simple computational model was developed that related observed suction changes to unit side shear induced by the expansion of the soil through the use of the laboratory suction-total stress-shear strength relation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.173-186
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• 2015

The rapid urbanization in Pakistan is creating a shortage of sustainable construction sites with good soil conditions. Attempts have been made to use rice husk ash (RHA) in concrete industry of Pakistan, however, limited literature is available on its potential to improve local soils. This paper presents an experimental study on engineering properties of low and high plastic cohesive soils blended with 0-20% RHA by dry weight of soil. The decrease in plasticity index and shrinkage ratio indicates a reduction in swell potential of RHA treated cohesive soils which is beneficial for problems related to placing pavements and footings on such soils. It is also observed that the increased formation of pozzolanic products within the pore spaces of soil from physicochemical changes transforms RHA treated soils to a compact mass which decreases both total settlement and rate of settlement. A notable increase in friction angle with increase in RHA up to 16% was also observed in direct shear tests. It is concluded that RHA treatment is a cost-effective and sustainable alternate to deal with problematic local cohesive soils in agro-based developing countries like Pakistan.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.33-40
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• 2023

This study explores the performance of pile foundations in highly expansive soil, incorporating magnesium oxide-based refractory materials. A controlled model chamber, housing a fixed pile, was utilized to induce ground expansion through fused magnesia (FM). The investigation focused on measuring the vertical displacement of FM-sand mixtures and the axial load on the pile in relation to depth and time. The study varied the amount of FM content (FM_c) at 30%, 50%, and 70%. The upward movement exhibited an augmentation with increasing FM_c, tapering off with depth as accumulation progressed toward the mixture surface. Compression and tensile forces were both evident along the pile for FM_c at 30% and 50%, while only a tensile force was observed at an FM_c of 70%. These results offer valuable insights for the analysis of pile behavior within FM-sand mixtures.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2022

Lime stabilization has conventionally been listed amid the key techniques of chemical stabilization. Replacing lime with sustainable agro-based by-products have gained prominence in recent decades. Bagasse ash (BA) is one such potential alternatives, an industrial waste with abundance in production, and industries exploring sustainable solutions for its safe disposal. Supplementing BA with lime could be an ideal approach to reduce lime consumption. However, suitability of BA and lime for the stabilization of expansive clays, such as black cotton (BC) soil is yet to be explored. This paper therefore aims to investigate the suitability of BA-lime mixtures to stabilize BC soil with emphasis to compaction behaviors and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) using standard laboratory procedures. Suitability of BA-lime mixture is then assessed against addition of calcium sulphate which, from previous experience, is detrimental with lime stabilization. Experimental outcomes nominate 15% BA as the optimum value observed from both compaction and UCS data, while addition of 4% lime to 15% BA showed the best results. Mineralogical and microstructural analysis show the presence of cementitious compounds with addition of lime and calcium sulphate with curing periods. While, formation of Ettringite needles were noted with the addition of calcium sulphate in BA-lime mixtures (at optimum values) after 90-day curing, and UCS results showed a decrease at this point. To this end, addition of BA in lime stabilization showed encouraging results as assessed from the compaction and UCS results. Nonetheless usage of calcium salts, with utmost emphasis on calcium sulphate and equivalent should be avoided.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.353-366
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• 2024

Organic soils pose significant challenges in geotechnical engineering due to their high compressibility and low stability, which can result in issues like differential settlement, rutting, and pavement deformation. This study explores effective methods for stabilizing organic soils. Rather than conventional ordinary Portland cement (OPC), the focus is on using environmentally friendly calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, known for its rapid setting, high early strength development, and environmental benefits. Mechanical behavior is analyzed through 1-D free swell, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and bender element (BE) tests. Microstructural analyses, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), characterize the soil mixed with CSA cement. Experimental results demonstrate improved soil properties with increasing cement dosage and curing periods. A notable strength increase is observed in soil samples with 15% cement content, with UCS doubling after 7 days. This trend aligns with shear wave velocity results from the BE test. SEM and FTIR spectroscopy reveal how CSA cement hydration forms hydrated calcium silicate gel and ettringite, enhancing soil properties. CSA cement is recommended for reinforcing organic subgrade soil due to its eco-friendly nature and rapid strength gain, contributing to improved durability.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.361-372
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• 2016

The soil-concrete interface shear strength, although has been extensively studied, is still difficult to predict as a result of the dependence on many factors such as normal stresses, surface roughness, particle sizes, moisture contents, dilation angles of soils, etc. In this study, a well-known rigorous statistical learning approach, namely the least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) realized in a ubiquitous spreadsheet platform is firstly used in estimating the soil-structure interface shear strength. Instead of studying the complicated mechanism, LS-SVM enables to explore the possible link between the fundamental factors and the interface shear strengths, via a sophisticated statistic approach. As a preliminary investigation, the authors study the expansive soils that are found extensively in most countries. To reduce the complexity, three major influential factors, e.g., initial moisture contents, initial dry densities and normal stresses of soils are taken into account in developing the LS-SVM models for the soil-concrete interface shear strengths. The predicted results by LS-SVM show reasonably good agreement with experimental data from direct shear tests.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2015

This article presents the result of laboratory study conducted on expansive soil specimens treated with lignin, rice husk powder (RHP) and rice husk ash (RHA). The amount of lignin produced from paper industry and RHP were varied from 0 to 20% and RHA from 0 to 10% by weight. The treated specimens were subjected to unconfined compressive strength (UCS),swelling test and Atterberg limit tests. The effect of additives on UCS and atterberg limit test results were reported. It was observed that the additives and curing duration had a significant effect on the strength value of treated specimens. Generally (except the sample treated with 20% RHP for 3-day) with increasing additive and curing duration the UCS value increases. A RHP content of 15% was found to be the optimum with regard to 3-day cure UCS.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1789-1795
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• 2007

Railroad, the structure maintenance and restoration project was increased and widely performed in concrete pavement road and airport, building at downtown area, bridge abutment, and other concrete structures. Especially, the ground reinforcement technique by quick-reaction expansible resins is the most effective countermeasures against differential settlement and undesired deformation of structure. In this paper, the unconfined compressive strength and some environmental related tests were conducted to evaluate compressive strength and environmental effect of quick-reaction expansive resins and soil mixtures. Also, three case histories of concrete structure and railroad restoration project are presented. Based on the laboratory test, the quick-reaction expansible resins and soil mixture represent the sufficient compressive strength and the leachate material is satisfied the environmental regulation limits. As a result of this study, the structure restoration technology using quick-reaction expansible resins is very effective for restoration of differential settlement and deformation, and it is environmentally sustainable technology.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.497-503
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• 2020

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the shallower depth of the earth's crust is composed of loose dune or beach sand with soluble salts. The expansive behavior of salt bearing soil, fluctuation of ground water table and extreme environmental conditions offer a variety of geotechnical problems affecting safety and serviceability of the infrastructure built on it. Despite spending money, time and other resources on repair and rehabilitation, no significant attention is paid to explore the root causes of excessive differential settlement and cracking to these facilities. The scientific solution required to ensure safety and serviceability of the constructed infrastructure is to improve the strength and durability properties of the supporting ground. In this study, shredded plastic is employed as a low cost and locally available additive to improve strength characteristics of the desert sand. The study shows a remarkable increase in the shear strength and normal settlement of the soil. A seven (07) degree increase in angle of internal friction is achieved by adding 0.4 percent of the shredded plastic additive. The effect of different proportions and sizes of the plastic strips is also investigated to obtain optimum values. Such a long-lived solution will seek to reduce maintenance and repair costs of the infrastructure facilities laid on problematic soil along with reduction of environmental pollutants.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.211-220
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• 2000

An experimental study that included detailed observation of four 305-mm-diameter drilled shafts, one reference shaft of standard design and three test shafts with isolation tubes to mitigate skin friction in the vadose zone of a clay soil profile, is described. The shafts were loaded only by naturally expanding and contraction soil over a period of 17 months. The soil at the test site was instrumented to track suction and elevation changes. Maximum ground surface movements exceeding 40 mm were observed. Heave movements of less than 1.5 mm were observed in the test shafts with isolation tubes, while movements of 5 mm were observed in the reference shaft. Unit side shear loads in the shafts protected by the isolation tubes were minimal compared to those measured in the reference shaft. This indicates that the isolation tubes were very effective.