Assessing the Influence of Loading Mode and Stabilization on the Deformation of Gypseous soil

Abstract

Gypseous subgrade soil usually exhibit acceptable strength when compacted with optimum moisture requirement and tested in dry condition. However, it loses its strength when came in touch with water. Such behaviour possesses a risk of failure when such soil is implemented in the construction of roadway embankment. In the present investigation, Gypseous soil was implemented in the construction of eight embankment models. The first model was the soil tested in the dry condition, the second model was the soil tested after water absorption by capillary rise of water. The third model was the asphalt stabilized soil and tested at dry condition while the fourth model was the asphalt stabilized soil tested after absorption by capillary rise of water. The four models were subjected to cyclic loading, while the other four models were tested under static compressive loading. The vertical deformation was determined using LVDT. It was noticed that the asphalt stabilized soil exhibit significant resistance to deformation under cyclic or static loading as compared with the control soil, the absorption of water does not exhibit any significant variation in the resistance to deformation when the soil was stabilized with emulsion. However, static loading shows lower deformation as compared with the cyclic loading regardless of the testing condition. Cationic emulsion is recommended to enhance the strength properties of Gypseous soil under dry and absorbed condition regardless of the loading mode.