TITLE:
Stabilization of Clay Soil for the Durability of Structures: Case Study of the Soils of the Locality of Zalimé, Commune of Zogbodomey in the Republic of Benin
AUTHORS:
Koffi Judicaël Agbelele, Ernesto Cabral Houehanou, Abalo P’Kla, Isaac Ai Dossou, Houngan Comlan Aristide
KEYWORDS:
Improvement, Swelling Clay, Cotton Stalk Powder, Silt, Dry Density
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Civil Engineering,
Vol.13 No.1,
March
17,
2023
ABSTRACT: Structures erected on swelling clay soils are
subjected to several stresses which are at
the origin of the premature deterioration of the infrastructures. The soils being supports for the works, the improvement of their weak
characteristics with cotton fibers will not only increase the bearing
capacities of these soils and the resolution
of the environmental problem, by eliminating the CO2 produced by the
burning of the stems after harvest. The objective of this study is to
contribute to the improvement of the characteristics by cotton stalk powder of
the swelling clay soils used as the foundation of the infrastructures in order
to guarantee their durability. Identification and mechanical parameterization
tests were carried out on raw soil samples taken at 1.5 meters deep and on
samples improved with cotton stalk powder at different levels (3%, 6% and 10%).
The results from the physical tests reveal that the soil studied is very
plastic silt. As for the mechanical tests, it appears that by adding 3% cotton
stalk powder to dry density which goes from 1.435 t/m3 compared to
the control sample with a dry density of 1.50 t/m3; which reflects
an improvement in the compaction characteristics of the soil studied. The dry
densities are 1.445 t/m3 and 1.29 t/m3 for the samples
improved with 6% and 10% cotton stalk powder.