Studies on soil engineering properties and stabilization of Purulia soil by chemical treatment with sodium salts

A systematic investigation was made on the modification of soil known as stabilization for improvement of the properties of soils by controlled chemical treatment. The studies were made on Purulia soil stabilization by chemicals like NaCl, Na2SiO3, Inferences regarding the stabilization were drawn from the comparison of the change in the soil index and engineering properties like the liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), plasticity index (PI), compaction compression index, shear permeability and consolidation characteristics etc. of the stabilized soils vis-A-vis the normal soils. Sodium chloride was found to be ineffective and sodium silicate was found to be beneficial to some extent. It may be due to gel forming ability and stabilizing influence of sodium silicate. Physico-chemical interpretation has been given and inferences are drawn regarding the chemicals used for stabilization.