Feasibility of calcium chloride dehydrate as stabilizing agent for expansive soil

Abstract

The effectiveness of stabilizing expansive soil by enhancing its geotechnical properties using calcium chloride dehydrate (CaCl2.2H2O) as a soil stabilizing agent was investigated in this research. The chemical treatment process using calcium chloride elaborates carrying out experimental laboratory tests on an expansive soil taken from eastern side of Irbid city (Jordan) to check the influence of calcium chloride on its geotechnical engineering properties. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) was added as a solution of 1.0 N concentration with 3:1 solution to soil ratio and soaked to allow for the occurrence of chemical reaction. The main soil properties studied in this work were the consistency limits, maximum dry density, optimum moisture content, the unconfined compression strength of the soil, swelling percentage, swell pressure and the Californian bearing ration test (CBR). Tests results, at different curing time, revealed that calcium chloride can be considered as a good stabilizing agent for expansive soil since its use displayed a significant reduction in swelling potential (80%) and swelling pressure (50%) after 28 of curing. Also, the use of CaCl2 enhances soil strength properties by increasing the unconfined compression strength (qu), increasing the maximum dry unit weight (γd-max.) and increasing the CBR from 2.11 % to 8.32 %.