Geotechnical and Foundation Engineering October 19, 2016

EXPERIMENT # 5

DETERMINATION OF UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE

STRENGTH OF COHESIVE SOILS STABILIZED WITH CEMENT
5.1 OBJECTIVES
The basic purpose of the unconfined compression test is to quickly obtain a
measure of compressive strength for those soils that possess sufficient
cohesion to permit testing in the unconfined state
To perform unconfined compression test on cement stabilized cohesive soils to
determine their unconfined compressive strength (qu) and undrained shear
strength (su).
The determination of the unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soil in
the intact, remoulded, or reconstituted condition, using strain-controlled
application of the axial load.
Provides an approximate value of the strength of cohesive soils in terms of total
stresses.
5.2 APPARATUS:
Unconfined Compression Device (Electrically driven strain controlled)
Re-molding Device
Deformation Dial Gage
Balance (L.C. = 0.01 gm)
Spatula
Moisture tins

5.3 RELATED THEORY:

The geotechnical process of improvement the required characteristics of soil are
known as ground improvement. It has two types

i. Surface Stabilization
ii. Deep ground improvement

5.3.1 SURFACE STABILIZATION

This method for stabilization can be grouped into:

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Mechanical Stabilization
Physical Stabilization
Chemical stabilization
Physio-Chemical Stabilization

5.3.1.1 MECHANICAL STABILIZATION:

In this method, mechanical energy is used to improve the soil mass and the method
is known as compaction. For the embankments for roads, railways, dams, levees, etc.
generally rollers, vibratory plates, and tampers are used compaction. Choice of roller
or tamper usually depends on the degree of improvement required and the type of soil
being compacted.

5.3.1.2 PHYSICAL STABILIZATION:

In this method, the physical properties of the material (soil) are improved by blending
two or three soils, together so as to improve the grading of mixture to well graded
material. This technique is mostly used in road construction when more than one type
of soils is readily available at or near the site. In physical method, some additive like
cement, lime and bitumen is added in the soil.

5.3.1.3 CHEMICAL STABILIZATION

Chemical stabilizer also known as soil binders or soil palliatives provides temporary
soil stabilization. Materials made of vinyl, asphalt or rubbers are sprayed onto the
surface of exposed soils to hold the soil in place and protect against erosion from
runoff and wind. Chemical used for stabilization are easily applied to the surface of the
soil, can be effective in stabilizing area where vegetative practice cannot be
established, and provide immediate protection.

5.3.1.4 PHYSIO-CHEMICAL STABILIZATION

In this method of soil stabilization, a combination of both physical and chemical

methods such as lime stabilization are used.

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5.4 PROCEDURE
If density and moisture content of the soil is known, calculate the weight of the
dry soil needed for preparation of soil sample of 1.5 diameter and 3 height.

5.4.1 PREPARATION OF SAMPLE

We have pressure at sample

= 18 /

= 11 %

Volume =

.
Volume = 3 = 5.3014

=0.0000868 m3
.
W o =180.0000868 = 1.56 = .

= 160

Moisture content 3% 6% 9%

Cement (g) 4.8 9.6 14.4

Water Content (g) 17.6 17.6 17.6

Soil (g) 137.6 132.8 128

Add specified amount of water and percentage of cement (3%, 6%, 9%) and

mix them thoroughly.

Put the sample in mold and prepare soil column.

Cure the sample at least 7 days in desiccator to cure the sample.

After 7 days carefully align the specimen in the compression machine.

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Set the load dial gage to zero and set the deformation dial to zero. At this time

a very small load should be on the sample.

Turn on machine and take load and deformation dial readings as follows 10,

20, 30, 40, dial divisions thereafter, until of the following:

Load decreases on sample significantly.

Load holds constant for 4 readings.

Deformation is significantly past 20% strain.

Compute the unit strain, corrected area, and the unit stress, for enough of the

reading to define the stress-strain curve adequately. Plot the results on the

graph paper from the test results, show qu as the peak stress of each test and

show the average value of qu for three tests. Be sure to plot strain as the

abscissa.

5.5 OBSERVATIONS& CALCULATIONS

Height of specimen= = 3" = 76.2
Diameter of specimen= = 1.5" = 38.1
Area of specimen
38.1
=
4
= 1140

Volume of Specimen=AreaHeight= 114076.2 = 86875

Proving Ring Constant= PRC = 2.43 lb/div.

Deformation dial gage constant=0.01 mm
Weight of soil sample= 160 gram
Initial Moisture Content= 11 %

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5.5.1 FOR 3% CEMENT CONTENT

Load
Deformation
Dial Sample Unit Axial Corrected Axial
Sr# Dial Gauge Axial Load
Gauge Deformation Strain Strain Area Stress
Reading
Reading
- lb./Div. mm mm/mm % mm2 lb. kN kPa
1 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1140.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2 10.00 4.00 0.10 0.00 0.13 1141.50 9.72 0.04 37.88
3 20.00 5.00 0.20 0.00 0.26 1143.00 12.15 0.05 47.28
4 30.00 6.00 0.30 0.00 0.39 1144.51 14.58 0.06 56.67
5 40.00 6.00 0.40 0.01 0.52 1146.02 14.58 0.06 56.59
6 50.00 6.50 0.50 0.01 0.66 1147.53 15.80 0.07 61.23
7 60.00 4.00 0.60 0.01 0.79 1149.05 9.72 0.04 37.63
8 70.00 3.00 0.70 0.01 0.92 1150.57 7.29 0.03 28.18
9 80.00 2.00 0.80 0.01 1.05 1152.10 4.86 0.02 18.76

5.5.2 FOR 6% CEMENT CONTENT

Load
Deformation
Dial Sample Unit Axial Corrected Axial
Sr# Dial Gauge Axial Load
Gauge Deformation Strain Strain Area Stress
Reading
Reading

- lb./Div. mm mm/mm % mm2 lb. kN kPa

1 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1140.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

2 10.00 10.00 0.10 0.00 0.13 1141.50 24.30 0.11 94.69

3 20.00 15.00 0.20 0.00 0.26 1143.00 36.45 0.16 141.85

4 30.00 18.00 0.30 0.00 0.39 1144.51 43.74 0.19 170.00

5 40.00 20.00 0.40 0.01 0.52 1146.02 48.60 0.22 188.64

6 50.00 25.00 0.50 0.01 0.66 1147.53 60.75 0.27 235.49

7 60.00 21.00 0.60 0.01 0.79 1149.05 51.03 0.23 197.55

8 70.00 20.00 0.70 0.01 0.92 1150.57 48.60 0.22 187.89

9 80.00 18.00 0.80 0.01 1.05 1152.10 43.74 0.19 168.88

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5.5.3 FOR 9 % CEMENT CONTENT

Load
Deformation
Dial Sample Unit Axial Corrected Axial
Sr# Dial Gauge Axial Load
Gauge Deformation Strain Strain Area Stress
Reading
Reading
- lb./Div. mm mm/mm % mm2 lb. kN kPa
1 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1140.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2 10.00 10.00 0.10 0.00 0.13 1141.50 24.30 0.11 94.69
3 20.00 15.00 0.20 0.00 0.26 1143.00 36.45 0.16 141.85
4 30.00 20.00 0.30 0.00 0.39 1144.51 48.60 0.22 188.89
5 40.00 23.00 0.40 0.01 0.52 1146.02 55.89 0.25 216.94
6 50.00 22.00 0.50 0.01 0.66 1147.53 53.46 0.24 207.23
7 60.00 15.00 0.60 0.01 0.79 1149.05 36.45 0.16 141.11
8 70.00 14.00 0.70 0.01 0.92 1150.57 34.02 0.15 131.52
9 80.00 13.00 0.80 0.01 1.05 1152.10 31.59 0.14 121.97

5.5.4 Graphs
GRAPH BETWEEN AXIAL STRESS VS AXIAL STRAIN

250.00

200.00
AXIAL STRESS

150.00
3% Cement
6% Cement
100.00
9% Cement

50.00

0.00
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20
AXIAL STRAIN

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5.6 RESULTS

( ) =
2
Group # % Cement % Strain
KPa KPa

1 3 61.23 0.66 30.61

2 6 235.49 0.66 117.74

3 9 216.94 0.52 108.47

5.7 REFERENCE
ASTM D2166-06

Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil

5.8 COMMENTS
This test is basically a comparison b/w unconfined compression test by using simple
soil and by using soil and cement together. Form the graph we observed that the axial
stress of the 9% cement content sample shows less strength which may be due to the
errors in the apparatus or the error in the proper preparation of the sample.

This graph shows that the strength increases up to certain limit and then decreases.
We performed this test on 18kN/m3 dry density and 11% optimum moisture content.

This test can be performed on both types of sample i.e. (Disturbed and Undisturbed)
the strength of the material can be determined. This method of determining strength
is suitable only for soils that can retain a stable specimen shape in the remoulded
state. For soils that will not retain a stable shape, a vane shear test is performed

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