Analytics of swelling potential on highly expansive (plastic) clayey soils behavior for sustainable admixture stabilization

Abstract

The swelling potential analytics and the ion exchange reaction of highly expansive soils in a soil stabilization process have been reviewed. The importance of these factors in deciding suitable construction materials and chemical additives utilized as alternative or supplementary binders in clayey soil stabilization has been discussed also. The outcome of this study has shown that Al3+, Si4+, and Ca2+ are the most suitable exchangeable cations with OHas the suitable exchangeable anion leading to the formation of C-A-S-H, which is the compound responsible for strengthening. The swelling potential analytics also proposed the expression wsT = 0.00216 × as the total swelling potential with respect to the depth of a foundation material constructed with clayey soil. This study revealed that during the wet season, hydraulically bound foundation materials experience undesirable volume changes with the highest swelling potential expected at the surface within the active (unstable) zone of the foundation. Generally, the treatment of highly expansive soil with very high swelling potential should be concentrated at the surface and reduced along the depth of the foundation matrix. With this proposed guide, the utilization of alternative or supplementary cementing materials as construction materials in the stabilization of clayey soil to improve swelling can be conducted with a more sustainable approach.