Changes in Properties of Soil Due to Disposal of Waste

Abstract

Due to increase in population and industrialization, there is increase in construction activities in the cities and industrial area leaving very little locations of good soils for new projects. There are some open plots of land which are filled by liquid and solid wastes coming from municipal and industrial areas. The fill material, decayed organic soils and soils having continuous contact with sanitary fill environment loose their desired geotechnical properties. The specific gravity of polluted soil is decreased due to decay of lighter weight particles present in the soil. Organic matters have broken down to the smaller size particles of the soil and thus increasing clay size particles. This has resulted in increased plasticity of polluted soil. Liquid limit of polluted soil increases due to more number of smaller size particles present in the soil. Dry density of polluted soil is decreased due to decay of lighter weight organic matters present in the soil. Shear strength parameters of polluted soil also decreased. Angle of internal friction depends on void ratio and shape of particles, decay of organic matters and other pollutants to make the soil particles more granular. It reduces the angle of internal friction but increases the cohesion of the soil. Waste water affects the agricultural properties of the soil. Proper land filling increases the space for extra land filling. Using dynamic compaction light weight construction can be done on filled area. Taking into consideration all these factors, before starting a new civil engineering construction projects on polluted soil, study of changes in properties of soil due to disposal of waste is very essential.