Effect of iron chloride on the strength behaviour of the expansive clay

Abstract

From the fast few decades, several techniques were introduced inorder to modify the behaviour of expansive clays. The use of strong electrolytes like calcium chloride (CaCl2), aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) and iron chloride (FeCl3) were extensively used in various civil engineering applications. Expansive soils possesses alternate shrinkage and swelling with the removal and addition of water from it. Iron chloride was effectively used to alter the swelling and shrinkage and also improve the engineering behaviour of expansive clays. Therefore, in the current work an effort is made for study the influence of iron chloride (FeCl3) on the strength behaviour of the expansive soil. The outcomes from the laboratory investigation proved that the usage of iron chloride (FeCl3) produce reduction in swelling and improvement in the strength. It was found that 1% FeCl3 be the optimum for both the UCS and CBR. Hence, from the investigation it was showed that iron chloride is a valuable stabilizer to enhance the properties of black cotton soil and to create it apt for various applications of Civil Engineering.