Stabilization of Silty Soil using Cement as Primary Binder and Epoxy Resin as Admixture

Abstract

This research aims for the assessment of the influence of cement and epoxy resin on the stabilization of silty soil. Cement is used as a primary binder and epoxy as an admixture to stabilize the soil by increasing its compressive strength. Disturbed soil samples near the bank of Bagmati river, Chyasal were sampled through excavation. Laboratory tests show that the soil is silt with low plasticity. A Standard Proctor test is done to determine the Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) and Maximum Dry Density (MDD) is done so that the quantity of cement and epoxy required for mixing with the dry soil can be calculated. Cement of proportions (5%,10%,15%) by total weight of dry soil have been used as a primary binder and epoxy resin of proportions (1.25%,2.5%,5%) by total weight of soil as an admixture to prepare soil samples for stabilization for a curing period of 7, 14, 28, 56 and 90 days and the unconfined compressive strength of those samples were determined accordingly. In this paper, the unconfined compressive strength of soil before and after stabilization have been compared. In this research, it is seen that the compressive strength of the stabilized soil drastically improves with the increase in proportions of combination of both cement and epoxy resin. Also, the research shows that the compressive strength increases with increase in curing period.