Methods of Soil Stabilization and their Benefits

Soil stabilization methods involve the use of a mechanical process or use of chemicals and additives for ground improvement. These methods increase the density of the soil by getting rid of the air spaces in the soil making it compact. Stabilized soil has increased load-bearing ability and reduced porosity. Some of the soil properties that are enhanced during stabilization include soil strength, permeability, and compressibility. The methods of soil stabilization are mostly applied in the construction of airfields, landfills, parking lots, roads, mining sites, foundations, agriculture among any other activities. Some of the methods applied in soil stabilization include

In-Situ Stabilization

This method of soil stabilization involves the use of a stabilizing agent. The agent is applied to the soil site without the removal of the bulk soil. It is best Drivhus Til Salgs effective when improving soil for deep foundations, contaminated sites, and shallow foundations. The process begins by first choosing and inspecting engineering properties of the soil and enhanced ground. The improved site needs an assessment of its dimensions to establish if it will serve the functional requirements which are stability and settlement. This method is carried out by injecting materials such as cement or lime in either wet or dry conditions.

Deep Mixing Method

This is an in-situ ground adjustment technology that stabilizes soil at a large depth. It is done by injecting dry or wet binder into the deep soft soil then mixing the two components using a mechanical mixer or a rotary mixing tool. The resulting layers produced include single pattern, panel pattern, block pattern, and stabilized grid pattern. The main purpose of this method is to produce stabilized soil that interacts well with the natural soil. It increases the strength and stability of the soil hence a suitable interaction when doing load distribution.

Wet Mixing

This method of soil stabilization involves the injection of the binder in slurry form. The slurry is introduced into the soil using a nozzle of a soil driller i.e. auger. The tool used for mixing has three parts that simplify the application method namely drilling rod, transverse beams, and drill head. There are new technological modifications that have been done to facilitate this process such that the slurry can be mixed with the soil beneath without excavation.

Dry Mixing

Dry mixing is considered a clean method of soil stabilization and produces minimal vibrations and no effluent for disposal. It involved the mixing of moist soil with a dry binder which is applied through injection. First, the soil is premixed using a special tool that drills downwards up to the desired depth. A dry binder is then introduced as the tool is removed. The dry binder is mixed with the premixed moist soil hence a hardened column of mixed wet soil. The strength of the resulting stabilized soil depends on the amount of binder injected into the soil. The efficiency of this method also depends on the moisture content of the soil. Soil with the least water content like sand is the least stabilized using this method.

Conclusion

Soil stabilization mainly enhances soil properties while adding more benefits like dust control and soil erosion control. These methods also help to ensure that construction processes are environmentally friendly by reducing the amount of particulate matter emitted during construction. The methods work by trapping the fine soil particles i.e. through sealing, therefore, making the dustless airborne.