Study of Enhancement of Strength of Clayey Soil Stabilized with Acrylic Polymer

The need for soil improvement is increasing due to pressures to build and rehabilitate infrastructure and other civil works on sites with marginal soils. If the infrastructure cannot be relocated or adapted to the soil conditions, then the soil must be stabilized. Soil stabilization methods are typically mechanically or chemically based. A laboratory test program was undertaken to evaluate a series of engineering properties for three types clayey soil with different range of plasticity to develop understanding of the engineering significance of polymer amendment. Three soils were prepared and tested with varying ranges of plasticity. Index properties of all the three soils were determined by Sieve analysis and Atterberg limits and classification done by plotting the fine grained soils on plasticity chart. Performance evaluation of the polymer addition was carried out by determining dry unit weight / moisture content relationships through compaction tests; shear strength through unconfined compression strength tests and CBR tests. The polymer addition rate required to achieve peak engineering performance ranged from 2% to 5%, based on soil type. Polymer modified the engineering properties of soil through physical bonding. It was determined that polymer amendment had an optimal addition percentage that resulted in the greatest increase in engineering parameters. Polymer amended soils displayed an improved performance of soils.