Augmenting the Properties of Black Cotton Soil Using Additives

Manjularani.P, Channabasavaraj.W, MdKhajaMoniuddin

Black cotton soil is very susceptible to detrimental volume changes, with changes in moisture. This behavior of soil is attributed to the presence of mineral Montmorillonite which has expanding lattice; Black cotton soils because of their specific physical & chemical make are subjected to volume changes. In many countries including India, these soils are so extensive that alteration of highway route to avoid the material is virtually impossible. Various remedial measures like soil replacement, prewetting, moisture control, lime stabilization etc have been practiced with varied degree of success. Extensive research is going on to find the solutions to black cotton soils. In the present work experimentation is carried out to investigate efficacy of lime, fly ash, Alkalis and other Additives in improving the properties of black cotton soil.