SEMINAR REPORT

TOPIC: IMPROVEMENT OF BLACK COTTON SOIL USING LIME

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 INTRODUCTION

Black cotton soil is the Indian name given to the ‘expansive soil’ deposit. Expansive
soils found in the arid and semi arid regions of the world and are in abundance where
the annual evaporation exceeds the precipitation. Black cotton soil covers nearly a one
fifth of the total area of our country (Karnataka,
maharashtraAndhraPradesh,madhyapradesh and Gujarat) .these soils are also known
as swelling soils ,heaving soils, volume changing soil, shrinkable soil and regur soil.
These soils are well known for cultivation of cotton. But it is a nightmare to the
construction engineers due to the inherent high swelling and shrinkage
characteristics which causes considerable damage to civil engineering structure built
on or with them. These soils seen at a maximum depth of 15m,but normally seen at a
small depth(1m-3.5m)so these soils are highly problematic to the light structures like
road, canals and residential buildings.

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 CAUSE OF SWELLING AND SHRINKABLE SOILS

The black cotton soil refers to soils that contain active clay mineral especially
montmorrilonite. Mont morrilonite has the greatest swelling potential. This mineral is
made of sheet like units. The basic structure of each unit is made up of gibbsite sheet
sandwiched between to silica sheet.

The gibbsite layer may include atoms of aluminium, iron ,magnesium or a

combination of both. in addition ,the silicon atoms of tetrahedral may interchange
with aluminium atoms and result in a net negative charge on the clay minerals. Cat
ions which are in soil water are attracted to the negatively charged clay plates and
exist in a continuous state of interchange the basic units are started one above the
other like the leaves of a book .this is very weak bounding between the successive
sheets and water may enter between the sheets causing an mineral to swell. The
swelling and shrinking is depending upon the nature of the exchangeable cat ions
present.

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PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK COTTON SOILS

Black cotton soil occurring above water table undergo volumetric change with
changes in water content increase in moisture content causes the following effects.

1. expansive soil expand and contract due to change in moisture content of the
soil carrying structured problem through deferential movement of the structure
resulting in severe damage to the foundation, buildings ,roads, retaining walls,
canal linings etc…
2.

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STABILIZATION

An expansive soil causes many problems in fields. To over come all the
problem, we have to improve the quality of soils . so ,incorporates the various method
employed for modifying the properties of a soil to improve its engineering
performance is known as stabilization. Stabilization may be grouped under two types:

o Modification of a soil property of existing soil without adding mixtures by-

compaction and drainage.
o Improvement of the properties with help of mixtures
Eg : stabilization with lime,cement,bitumen &chemical etc…

Lime stabilization

It is the improvement of soil properties using lime as admixture. The

stabilization achieved by the formation of cementatious compounds by reaction of
lime and clay mineral

MECHANISM OF STABILISATION

When lime is added to soil in the presence of moisture, a number of

reactions takes place. some of them immediately while other are slow. Three distinct
stages of reaction have been recognised as they are

I. An early stage that occurs with in a few minutes to an hour and responsible for
“amelioration effect”.
II. The slow long term reaction resulting in growth of cementatious products
known as “puzzalonic reaction”.

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III. “Carbonation” leading to the formation of calcium carbonate on reaction of
lime with carbon dioxide from atmosphere. These effects are discussed below.

Amelioration effects

When line and moist clayey soil are mixed in a loose condition
and almost immediate flocculation effect is observed. This is reflected in
lowering of the liquid limit of soil, raising of plastic and shrinkage limits and
lowering of dry density. This reaction involves any of the three following:

a) Ion exchange of calcium with the ion naturally carried by the soil
b) A depression of the double layer on the soil colloids because of the
increased in cation concentration in pore water
c) Expansion of double layer of soil colloids from the high pH of the lime

Puzzalonic reaction
A second chemical reaction which occurs when lime is added
to a moist cohesive soil is the one which results in slow long term cementing
together of the soil particles at their point of interaction. This reaction,
possibly commence simultaneously with flocculation process. The types of
cementation products formed depend on the condition of reaction and nature
of soil. Various polymorphic forms of calcium- aluminate hydrate and
calcium aluminate silicate have been identified in the all the cases together
with calcium-silicate hydrate species. The increase in the strength during
again was correlated to the promotion of calcium aluminate hydrate and
calcium silicate hydrate compounds.
Carbonation

Carbon dioxide from air and rain water converts the calcium and
magnesium oxides and hydroxides back to their respective carbonates. These
carbonates are weak cement and strength gain due to carbonation is
minimum.

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 FACTORS EFFECTING SOIL LIME STABILIZATION

1. SOIL

It is suggested that soils for soil lime stabilization should contain

15% material passing 424 microns sieve and should have plasticity index
of at least 8.
Other factor that inhibit lime soil reactions are organic
content and sulphate content of the soil. When it is present, the
maximum limits for these are 2% and .2% respectively
2. LIME

Lime stabilization achieved with calcium oxide and calcium

hydroxide. All types of limes produce almost same effect. However
quick lime is found to be more effective than hydrated lime. But
quick lime has a tendency to cause skin burns of unprotected
workman and hence need careful handling and protection. Quick
lime added in slurry form are found to give greater strengths, than
when added in powder. Hydraulic lime give approximately the same
strength used either in powder or slurry form
3. MOISTURE CONTENT AND COMPACTIVE EFFORT

The addition of lime resulted in the decrease of maximum dry

density by several gram per cc with an increase in the optimum moisture
content. Compaction also increases the strength greatly. But the delaying
compaction after ending moist mixing result in lowering of the quality of
soil lime mixtures .IRC stipulates that the maximum time lag between
mixing compaction should not exceed 3 hr.
4. CURING TIME AND TEMPERATURE

Strength is increases with curing period and it is

highly recommended that any soil lime stabilization work should be done in earlier
part of summer. Below 50 degree farad temperature the lime soil stabilization is not
desirable.

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 METHODS OF APPLICATION OF LIME

Normally for road construction lime is intimately mixed to

the pulverised soil, water is added and lime soil mixture compacted thouroghly.lime
slurry injection is another popular technique. in this method , lime slurry is pumped
into the soil under pressure forming a net work of inter connecting sheet like seams,
which act as moisture barriers . lime slurry could be back filled in pre drilled bore
holes. Lime diffuse from the bore holes into surrounding soil improve its properties .

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Laboratory test

The lab test was conducted by pavan kumar p v s. n professor navignane jyothi
institute of engineering and technology Hyderabad to observe the change in
properties of black soils and added with lime

METERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

The black cotton soil use for the study obtain from bachupally lake, ranga
ready district of andrapradesh. The soil was collected from open excavation from a
depth of 1meter below natural ground surface. Table 1 represent the property of soil
Black cotton soil used has minimum pi and particle shape. the soil used for
investigation satisfies the requirement.

Freshly burnt quick lime was used in the experimental work, in pulverised
form. The lime powder preserved in polythene bags and stored in an air tight room to
prevent it from absorbing moisture from atmosphere.

Pulverized soil was air dried and added with different percentages of lime
(2,4,6&8). To consider the periods, soil time mixture were caked in
desiccators at room temperature.
The following test were conducting during the course of investigation,
1) Liquid limits, plastic limits
2) Free swelling index
3) Unconfined compression strength
4) California bearing ratio

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RESULTS AND DISCCUSIONS

 Increase in lime content reduces liquid limit and plasticity index, whereas
shrinkage limit is increased(fig ;2).problem of ultarnate swell and shrinkage
due to moisture variation is eliminated as the gap between P.I.L shrinkage
limit is reduced due to addition of lime , soil shifts from clay of high
compressibility tone to silt of medium compressibility.

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 From fig:3 it can be noted that with increase in lime content free swelling
index is reduced to 40%. according to morth ,expansive soil with free
swelling index prefer that 50% should not be used for construction of
embankments.ie the black cotton soil used in the investigation cannot be
directly used for filling but it should be treated with at least 5% lime.

 CBR value where observed to increase to 32% due to addition of lime (hgh).
Due to increase CBR value total thickens of payment greatly reduced.

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 Unconfined compressive strength is enhanced with addition of lime to black
cotton soil (fig;5). Indicating the increase in bearing capacity and reduction of
different deferential settlements of the super structure. There is an optimum
lime content of about 6% by weight, that produce the maximum strength. If
the soil is lime treated it will improve bearing capacity.

 From fig(5&4) it can be inferred that period of 7 days has a significant

impact on CBN. Strength of lime soil mixture with increase3 in
period 28 day, improvement is observed

 Other advantage of lime treatment is it a water resistant

barrier which impedes surface water from above and capillary moisture from
below, that helping to maintain foundation strength

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 CONCLUSION

From the above results and studies it can be concluded that addition of 6%
of lime to a high expansive black cotton soil used in the prevailing conditions in
laboratory made the soil friable by enhancing the strength , penetration ,resistance
and reducing the swelling and shrinkage behaviour . lime can be successfully used for
treatment of black cotton soil, which can be cost effective with other
admixtures like cement and asphalt providing long life to the structures built on such
soil with least maintenance

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