Voltage optimization in expansive soil improvement with saline solution on swelling and shear strength

Abstract

One of the problems in the construction of the road network is the presence of expansive clay and loose soil. In Java, expansive clays are generally the result of weathering rock formations including shale and clay, while soft soils are derived from unconsolidated sedimentation. In situ stabilization of clay with chemical solutions will be difficult due to the very low permeability of the soil. Some researchers exploit the phenomenon of electrodynamics, the nature of the electric and hydraulic coupling to reform clay. This paper examines the experimental results of clay reclamation in the laboratory. The study was carried out on clay from Karawang, West Java province, Indonesia, which was injected with saline solution and used different voltages of 12V, 15V, 18V, and 24V. The success of this experiment will be seen by comparing the mechanical properties of the soil before and after electrochemical spraying. The test results show that electrochemical injection with calcium chloride salt solution and a voltage of 15V can reduce swelling characteristics and increase optimal shear strength.