Assessment of Using Cement, Dead Sea Sand and Oil Shale in Treating Soft Clay Soil

Bassam Z. Mahasneh

Mutah University, Civil and Environmental Engineering Dept.

Abstract

This work present utilizing the use of Cement, Silty Sand (Dead Sea soil), and Oil Shale to treat soft clay soil. The major physical soil properties of the combined materials inspected and analyzed for liquid limit, plastic limit, specific gravity, grain size distribution (sieve analysis), the hydrometer test, permeability, direct shear, consolidation, and Triaxial test. The benefits gained from using some soil stabilizers is to solve some problems that may face Geotechnical Engineers before, during and after performing the construction. The effect of adding the above mentioned materials enhance the physical properties of the soft clay soil. Some recommended percentages of the used materials been accounted in this work to enhance the physical properties of the soft clay to make it capable to resist the applied loading comes from super structure stated as; 4% of silty sand could improve the soft clay soil. Natural oil shale of 14% could improve the clay soil behavior. Using up to 12% of the Ordinary Portland Cement in mixing with soft clay soil could as well improve the physical properties of the soil and the cost is reasonable.

Keywords: Soft Clay Soil, Stabilization, Oil shale, Silty Sand, Cement, Consolidation, Permeability, Triaxial test, USCS.

http://www.europeanjournalofscientificresearch.com/issues/EJSR_128_4.html