Sodium Chloride Stabilization of Urban Soils Prone to Tubing Phenomena

Authors

Alvarado, Cinthya

Pérez, Aaron

Rosas, Luz

Alvarado-Quintana, Hernán

Abstract

In this research, it is proposed to stabilize the soil surrounding the water and sewerage networks with sodium chloride to avoid the formation of holes produced by leaks that cause fines dragging that weaken the soil and cause collapse, a phenomenon known as piping or internal erosion. The soil was characterized by the SUCS and AASHTO methods, carrying out the tests of sieving granulometry, sedimentation granulometry, consistency limits and natural humidity. The compaction test was carried out by means of the modified Proctor test on the standard sample and the samples with the addition of NaCl, to obtain the maximum dry density and humidity, using them as a reference in the unconfined compression, CBR and permeability tests. For each test, 4 repetitions were carried out for the standard samples and for the samples that were added with NaCl whose doses were 1.5, 3 and 4.5% by weight. At the end of the tests, it was determined that the type of standard soil is a sandy clay soil with medium plasticity, classifying it as a “CL” soil according to the SUCS method and “A-6” for the AASHTO method. By adding 1.5% NaCl to the clay soil, the best properties are obtained; having a 315% increase in the CBR index, an 82% increase in unconfined compression and a 21% reduction in permeability.