Effect of Diatomaceous Earth on Desiccation Cracking of Expansive Soils

Abstract

Expansive soils shrink and swell, causing considerable density differences as the moisture content varies and cracks develop as the soil dries. This cracking condition has a detrimental effect on the stability of infrastructure built on expansive soil, such as road embankments. This paper investigates the influence of diatomaceous earth (at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% DE percent by mass) on the desiccation cracking of expansive soils. The report demonstrates an image analysis technique to describe soil surface cracking quantitatively. The geometric features of cracks, such as surface crack area and crack connectivity, were estimated and examined. The study considers soil crack area ratio and cracking index to investigate the effect of diatomaceous earth on expansive soil surface cracking. The crack area ratio and cracking index analysis results show that the expansive soil surface cracking is uneven and significant. The soil matrix containing 10% and 20% diatomaceous earth has reduced surface cracking and a homogenous radial cracking pattern. The image analysis approach, an essential method to quantitatively quantify soil desiccation cracking, revealed that diatomaceous earth substantially affects surface crack reduction.