50th

IGC

50th INDIAN GEOTECHNICAL CONFERENCE

17th 19th DECEMBER 2015, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Venue: College of Engineering (Estd. 1854), Pune, India

A STUDY ON THE SWELLING BEHAVIOUR OF EXPANSIVE SOIL TREATED

WITH VITRIFIED POLISH WASTE (VPW) AND LIME
Prof. R. D. Babu1, Prof. K. Ramu2, Hassan Sk3, G. Kishore Kumar4
ABSTRACT
Soil is one of the most commonly encountered materials in civil engineering. All the structures except
some, which are founded on solid rock, rest ultimately on soil. Geotechnical engineers all over the world
face enormous problems, when the soils founding those structures are expansive in nature. This
expansiveness is imparted to such soils when they contain clay minerals such as montmorillonite, Illite,
Kaolinite etc. in appreciable quantity. It is due to them (clay minerals) that the expansive soils expand on
wetting and are subjected to shrinkage on drying. Depending upon the use of expansive soils as
foundation support or construction materials, their properties need careful studies to estimate their
potential for damages based on volume change with reference to the imposed structural loads and the
tolerance of structures for maximum settlement, differential settlement etc. Considering these
requirements of the structural tolerance, proper remedial measures are to be thought of for controlling the
effect of expansive properties of the soil on the structure. Among several techniques adopted to overcome
these problems posed by expansive soils, lime stabilization gained prominence during the past few
decades due to its abundance and adaptability. Various remedial measures had been practiced over years
with varying degrees of success.
The main objective of this experimental study is to improve the properties of the soil by adding a
relatively new waste material, Vitrified Polish Material (VPW) which causes environmental pollution and
also a binder, lime. The soil properties with and without adding of these materials have been studied. An
attempt has been made to use these waste materials for improving the swell, plasticity, compaction,
strength and penetration characteristics of problematic expansive soil which will also prove environment
friendly.
The soil used was a typical black cotton soil collected from Mummidivaram near Amalapuram, in East
Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh State, India. From the laboratory studies, it is observed that the
Expansive Soil chosen was a problematic soil having high swelling, and high plasticity characteristics.
Tests were conducted in the laboratory on the expansive soil to study the behavior of expansive soil,
when it is treated with the above mentioned materials. The problematic expansive soil is part replaced
1

Dayakar Babu, R., Kakinada Institute of Technology and Science, Divili, AP, India, kitscivilian@gmail.com
Ramu, K., University College of Engineering Kakinada, JNTUK, Kakinada, AP, India, kramujntu@gmail.com
3
Hassan Saheb, SK., Rise Group of Institutions, Ongole, AP, India, hasan.sk1025@gmail.com
4
Kishore Kumar, G., Srinivasa Institute of Engineering and Technology, Cheyyeru, AP, India, kishore7142@yahoo.com

Prof. R. D. Babu, Prof. K. Ramu, Hassan Sk, G. Kishore Kumar

with vitrified polish waste from 0% to 9% with an increment of 3% and further added with lime content
varying from 0% to 9% with an increment of 3%. The above said stabilizing agents made the problematic
expansive soil almost non swelling, non plastic, having better particle orientation under compaction for
9% lime added to 9% vitrified polish waste replacement in virgin expansive soil. This is due to the
pozzolanic reactions between soil, vitrified polish waste and lime resulting in the formation of better
compact soil matrix. Hence the study reveals a relatively new stabilization alternative utilizing a waste
material from emerging industry i.e., vitrified tile industry and a locally available binder, lime, thereby
giving a twofold advantage of mitigating the problems associated with the waste disposal and also the
problematic expansive soil.

Keywords:
Swelling, Shrinkage, Expansive Soil, plasticity Index, Compaction Properties, VPW & Lime

50th
IGC

50th INDIAN GEOTECHNICAL CONFERENCE

17th 19th DECEMBER 2015, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Venue: College of Engineering (Estd. 1854), Pune, India

A STUDY ON THE SWELLING BEHAVIOUR OF EXPANSIVE SOIL TREATED

WITH VITRIFIED POLISH WASTE AND LIME
Dr. R. Dayakar Babu, Professor, Kakinada Institute of technology & Sciences, kitscivilian@gmail.com
Dr. K. Ramu, Professor & Head, CED, UCEK, JNTUK, Kakinada, kramujntu@gmail.com
Er. Hassan Saheb, SK., Asst. Prof., Rise Group of Institutions, Ongole, hasan.sk1025@gmail.com
Er. G. Kishore Kumar, PG Student, Srinivasa Institute of Engineering & Technology, kishore7142@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT: Expansive soils are basically susceptible to detrimental volumetric changes, with changes in
moisture content. With these alternate swells and shrink of the soil, distress the foundation causes development of
cracks in the structures leads to failure. Various remedial measures like soil replacement, stabilization with waste
materials and Chemical stabilization have been practiced to varying degrees of success. An attempt was made in
this paper to study the effect of a relatively new industrial waste Vitrified Polish Waste (VPW) and with Lime on
the properties of expansive soil. The experimental results show promising influence on the properties of expansive
soil
INTRODUCTION:
For centuries mankind was wondering at the
instability of earth materials, especially expansive
soil. One day they are dry and hard, and the next
day wet and soft. Swelling soil always create
problem for lightly loaded structures. As a result
the superstructures usually counter excessive
settlement and differential movements, resulting in
damage to foundation systems, structural elements
and architectural features. Expansive soil deposits
occur in the arid and semi arid regions of the world
and are problematic to engineering structures
because of their tendency to heave during wet
season and shrink during dry season. Expansive
soils are a worldwide problem that poses several
challenges for civil engineers. During the last few
decades damage due to swelling action has been
observed clearly in the semi arid regions in the
form of cracking and breakup of pavements,
roadways, building foundations, slab-on-grade
members, and channel and reservoir linings,
irrigation systems, water lines, and sewer lines [1].
REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
Expansive soils are the soils which expand in
presence of water and shrink in the absence of
water. Soils containing the clay mineral
montmorillonite generally exhibit these properties

[2,3,4,5]. Expansive soils are generally residual

soils left at the place of their formation after
chemical decomposition of the rocks such as basalt
and trap. In India, expansive soils cover nearly 20
percent of the land area and they are called black
cotton soils because of their colour and cotton
growing potential. There are many correlations that
are useful in identifying potentially expansive
soils. It may also be possible to identify them
visually. Visual indications include :
1) Wide and deep shrinkage cracks
occurring during dry periods
2) Soil is rock-hard when dry, but very
sticky and soft when wet
3) Damages on the surrounding structures
due to expansion of soil.
Origin and Occurrence of Expansive Soils:
The key element which imparts swelling
characteristics to any ordinary non-swelling soil is
a clay mineral. There are several types of clay
minerals of which Montmorillonite has the
maximum swelling potential. The origin of such
soil is sub aqueous decomposition of blast rocks, or
weathering in situ formation of important clay
mineral takes place under alkaline Environments.

Prof. R. D. Babu, Prof. K. Ramu, Hassan Sk, G. Kishore Kumar

The depth of expansive soil is shallow at the place

of formation with the parent rock underneath.
Clay Mineralogy:
Clay minerals are primarily the end product of the
chemical weathering of feldspathic rock.
Chemically, these minerals are essentially hydrous
aluminum silicates, although occasionally the
aluminum atoms are replaced with atoms of other
elements, such as magnesium, iron, potassium, or
sodium. Clay minerals are grouped according to
chemistry, and interaction with water. The three
main groups of clay are
a) Kaolinite,
b) Montmorillonite,
c) Illite.
Kaolinite:

The Kaolinite group of clays, of which the mineral

Kaolinite is the principle member, is the most
prevalent of all clays. A Kaolinite mineral is
composed of two sheets, one consisting of silica
tetrahedrons and the other of alumina octahedrons.
These sheets are very strongly bonded together.

Fig 2 Structure of Montmorillonite

Illite:

These minerals fall between the Kaolinite and

Montmorillonite group so far as their structural
arrangement is concerned. The spacing between
the element silica gibbsite silica sheets depends
upon the amount of available water to occupy the
space. For this reason Montmorillonite is said to
have expanding lattice. Each thin platelet has a
power to attract each flat surface, a layer of
absorbed water approximately 200A0 thick thus
separating platelets a distance of 200A0 under zero
pressure.

Fig 1 Structure of Kaolinite

Montmorillonite:

This Crystals form weaker bondage between them.

Those soils containing higher percentage of
Montmorillonite minerals exhibit high swelling
and
shrinkage
characteristics;
Structural
arrangement of Montmorillonite mineral is
composed of units made of two silica tetrahedral
sheets with a central aluminum octahedral sheet.
The silica and gibbsite sheets are combined in such
way that the tips of the tetrahedrons of each silica
sheet and one of hydroxyl layers of octahedral
sheet form a common layer.

Fig 3 Structure of Illite

50th
IGC

50th INDIAN GEOTECHNICAL CONFERENCE

17th 19th DECEMBER 2015, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Venue: College of Engineering (Estd. 1854), Pune, India

Mechanism of Swelling:
The mechanism of swelling in expansive clays is
complex and is influenced by a number of factors.
Expansion is a result of changes in the soil water
system that disturb the internal stress equilibrium.
Clay particles generally are platelets having
negative electrical charges on their surfaces and
positively charged edges. The negative charges are
balanced by cations in the soil water that become
attached to the surfaces of the platelets by electrical
forces. The electrical interparticle force field is a
function of both the negative surface charges and
the electrochemistry of the soil water. Vander Wall
surface forces and adsorptive forces between the
clay crystals and water molecules also influence
the antiparticle force field. The internal
electrochemical force system must be in
equilibrium with the externally applied stresses and
capillary tension in the soil water [6].
Problems Associated with Expansive Soils:
Because of this swelling and shrinking
behavior of soils,
The floor slab of a building is
pushed up, it takes a dome shape
and cracks develop in the floor.
The footing wall is pushed outward
due to swelling.
Cracks occur at the junction
between the wall and the floor slab
and also between the wall and roof
slab because movements are
restricted at these points.
Cracking also occur at the corners
of the window and door openings
because of diagonal cracking of
walls.
Utilities buried in the soil like water
pipes, sewage lines, gas lines,
telephone lines may be damaged.
Pavements become uneven, rough
and subject to cracks which affect
the comfort of road users.

Construction of structures on this

type of soil results in failure
economically and structurally.
LIME:
The use of lime-soil mixture as a construction
material has been known from ancient times in
various parts of the world. Romans used it in their
roads nearly 2000 years ago. The use of lime has
by now gained considerable popularity in view of
its simplicity, efficacy and economy.
Source of Lime:
Lime is manufactured from limestone. Limestone
is a naturally occurring material and is abundantly
available in various parts of the country. In some
states, it is also available in an impure form mixed
with clay, and is popularly known as kankar. In the
coastal areas of the country, marine shells are also
used for the production of lime. Lime waste
available as by-product from carbide, sugar, paper
and PVA industries is another source of lime.
Soil Lime Reactions:
The addition of lime to a soil initiates a two stage
reaction. Short-term reactions show their effect
right after the addition of lime, while long term
reactions are accompanied by a period of time. The
short-term effect of the addition of lime to a clay
soil is to cause flocculation and agglomeration of
the clay particles. For cation exchange takes place
between the metallic ions of the clay particles and
the calcium ions of the lime. It is this process
which is primarily responsible for the modification
of the engineering properties of clay soils when
they are treated with lime. When lime is added to a
clay soil, it must first satisfy the affinity of the soil
for lime, that is, ions are adsorbed by clay minerals
and are not available for pozzolanic reactions until
this affinity is satisfied. Because this lime is fixed
in the soil and is not available for other reactions,
the process has been referred to as lime fixation
[7]. The lime fixation point corresponds with the
point where further addition of lime does not bring
about further changes in the plastic limit. This
therefore is the optimum addition of lime needed

Prof. R. D. Babu, Prof. K. Ramu, Hassan Sk, G. Kishore Kumar

for maximum modification of the soil. Beyond this

point excess lime can only produce cementations
compounds, which bind the flocculated particles
and develop extra strength [8,9].

The commercial Birla lime was purchased from

market for the purpose of stabilizing soil, which
imparts cementing property to the soil mix.
Properties of lime

METHODOLOGY:
Materials used and their Properties:
Soil:

The soil used was a typical black cotton soil

collected
from
Mummidivaram
near
Amalapuram, in East Godavari District, Andhra
Pradesh State, India. The properties of soil are
presented in the Table 1 All the tests carried on the
soil are as per IS specifications.

Lime is a white amorphous solid.

It has a high melting point of 2600oC.
It is highly stable and even fusion cannot
decompose it.
Table 2 Chemical Composition of VPW
S.No

Name of the
chemical

Symbol

Range of % by
Weight

Silica

SiO2

49.52

Alumina

Al2O3

14.7

Ferric Oxide

Fe2O3

0.4

4
5

Magnesium Oxide
Calcium Oxide

MgO
CaO

2.45
1.4

Phosphorous

0.05

Table 1 Properties of Expansive Soil

S.No.

Properties

Value

Specific gravity

2.72

Differential free swell (%)

105

Atterberg limits

3
4

Liquid limit (%)

66.4

Sodium Oxide

Na2O

2.71

Plastic limit (%)

23.5
42.9

8
9

Potassium Oxide
Loss of ignition

K2O

Plasticity index (%)

2.69
26.08

IS soil classification

CH

Table 3 Properties of VPW

Compaction Properties

O.M.C. (%)

28.8

S.No

PROPERTIES

VALUE

M.D.D. (g/cc)

1.52

Specific gravity

2.46

Grain Size Distribution

Strength Properties

Un soaked C.B.R (%)

3.4

Soaked C.B.R (%)

1.6

Shear Properties

Cohesion (Cu), (kpa)

42

Angle of internal friction (u).(degrees)

Vitrified Polish Waste (VPW):

For the present study, the Vitrified Polish Waste

(VPW) has been brought from the dump yard of
RAK Ceramics Pvt. Ltd., Samarlakota, E.G. Dist.,
AP. The major ingredients present in this Vitrified
Polish Waste (VPW) are Silicon, Aluminium and
Iron. The properties of Vitrified Polish Waste
(VPW) are given in the Table 2 & Table 3.
Lime:

Coarse Sand (%)

Medium Sand (%)
Fine Sand (%)
Silt & Clay (%)
Atterberg limits

0
1.43
97.5
1.07
NP

Compaction properties

Optimum Moisture Content, (%)

Maximum Dry Density, (g/cc)

19.4
1.58

Chemical Properties

On hydration, quick lime forms slaked lime

or lime water. When water is added to lime
it becomes hot and cracks to form a white
powder. This is called slaking of lime.

50th
IGC

50th INDIAN GEOTECHNICAL CONFERENCE

17th 19th DECEMBER 2015, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Venue: College of Engineering (Estd. 1854), Pune, India

Calcium oxide is a basic oxide. It can react

with acids to give calcium salts.

With acidic oxides like silicon dioxide and

phosphorus pent oxide, it forms silicates
and phosphates. This property makes lime
useful as a flux in metallurgy to remove
impurities.

Sample Preparation:
The soil was initially air dried, pulverized and then
was sieved through 4.75mm sieve, prior to the
testing. The samples were prepared by mixing the
pulverized and sieved soil with the needed
stabilizing agents in dry condition and then
required amount of water is added to make a
consistent mix by thorough mixing. The following
Table 4 lists the different variables and their
respective contents used in the present study.
Table 4 List of different variables

Lime is routinely used as a soil modification agent

to improve the performance of sub grade soils with
the primary goal of reducing volume change.
Effective mixing of lime and soil is critical to
ensuring that the expected improvements occur
throughout the soil mass.
Lime is produced by burning of lime stones in
kilns. The quality of lime obtained depends upon
the parent material and the production process.
Laboratory Experimentation:
Tests were conducted in the laboratory on the
expansive soil to study the behavior of expansive
soil, when it is treated with chemicals. The
following tests were conducted as per IS code of
practice.
1. Index properties - Liquid limit, Plastic
limit, Shrinkage limit
2. Compaction properties - optimum moisture
content,
maximum
dry
density
All the above tests were conducted on the
various combinations, as listed in the table.
List of tests Conducted:

Specific gravity
Free swell index
Plastic limit
Liquid limit
Compaction

Stabilizing Agent

% Content

Vitrified Polish Waste

0, 3, 6, 9

Lime

0, 3, 6, 9

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

Effect of % vitrified polish waste as
replacement in expansive soil:
Fig 4 shows the variation of Differential Free Swell
index with the % of vitrified polish waste as %
replacement in expansive Soil for different lime
contents. From the graph, it is clear that the VPW
has made the swelling soil, a bit non swelling i.e.,
reducing the virgin differential free swell index by
about 10.5%. From figures 5, 6 and 7 also we can
ascertain the reduction in Plasticity Index by about
11.5%. This clearly gives a reconnaissance idea of
the improvement of the problematic expansive soil
when part replaced with vitrified polish waste. This
is due to the replacement of plastic soil with a non
plastic waste material. Figs. 8 and 9 show the
variation of compaction parameters with the %
replacement of vitrified polish waste. From these
graphs it can be seen that with the inclusion of
vitrified polish waste, there is improvement in
maximum dry density and a marginal decrease in
optimum moisture content.
Effect of lime as a binder on the behavior of
expansive soil mixed with VPW:
From Fig. 4 it is evident that that the addition of
lime improved the differential free swell index of

Prof. R. D. Babu, Prof. K. Ramu, Hassan Sk, G. Kishore Kumar

the virgin expansive soil by about 30% when it is

replaced with 9% vitrified polish waste and further
stabilizing it with 3% lime. When lime is added
further i.e., 6% and 9% the % improvement was
increased to 52% and 115% respectively. This
clearly shows that lime content in the vitrified
polish waste soil mix plays a significant role in
binding the soil particles closer, thereby reducing
the swell of the virgin expansive soil.

Fig 4: Plot Showing the Variation of Differential

Free Swell Index with % of VPW as Replacement
of Expansive Soil for Different Lime Contents.
Figure 5, 6 and 7 show the variation of Atterbergs
limits and induced plasticity index with the %
vitrified polish waste as replacement in expansive
soil for different lime contents. It is clear from the
graphs, that the addition of lime reduced the plastic
behaviour of the virgin expansive soil by about
38% when it is replaced with 9% vitrified polish
waste and further stabilizing it with 3% lime and
also furthermore addition of 6% and 9% lime, the
% reduction in plasticity was about 62% and 190%
respectively. This is due to the addition of non
plastic waste material vitrified polish waste and
also lime as a binder, which binds the soil particles
closer, thereby making the virgin expansive soil
even more non plastic.
Figure 8 and 9 shows the variation of compaction
parameters of expansive soil with the % VPW as
replacement for different lime contents. It is clear
from the graphs, that the addition of lime reduced
the optimum moisture content of the virgin
expansive soil by an amount of 6.27% and

maximum dry density was increased by about

2.63% when it is replaced with 9% vitrified polish
waste and further stabilizing it with 3% lime and
also on increasing the lime content with an
increment of 3% i.e., for 6% and 9%, the %
reduction in optimum moisture content was about
15.2% and 50% respectively. Similarly for
maximum dry density the improvement was about
4.61% and 6.58%.

Fig 5: Plot Showing the Variation of Liquid Limit

with % of Vitrified Polish Waste as Replacement
of Expansive Soil for Different Lime Contents.

Fig 6: Plot Showing the Variation of Plastic Limit

with % of Vitrified Polish Waste as Replacement
of Expansive Soil for Different Lime Contents.
The improvement in maximum dry density is due
to the chemical reactions between lime and silica
present in both vitrified polish waste & soil. This
induced a better orientation in the particle
arrangement resulting in a closer packed soil
matrix. The corresponding reduction in optimum
moisture content is due to the non plastic nature

50th
IGC

50th INDIAN GEOTECHNICAL CONFERENCE

17th 19th DECEMBER 2015, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Venue: College of Engineering (Estd. 1854), Pune, India

attained with the addition of waste material

vitrified polish waste and lime as a binder.
Finally from the above discussions we can
summarize that there is overall improvement in the
behaviour of virgin problematic expansive soil.
The problematic expansive soil is part replaced
with vitrified polish waste from 0% to 9% with an
increment of 3% and further added with lime
content varying from 0% to 9% with an increment
of 3%.
Fig 9: Plot Showing the Variation of Maximum
Dry Density with % of Vitrified Polish Waste as
Replacement of Expansive Soil for Different Lime
Contents.

Fig 7: Plot Showing the Variation of Plasticity

Index with % of Vitrified Polish Waste as
Replacement of Expansive Soil for Different Lime
Contents.

Fig 8: Plot Showing the Variation of Optimum

Moisture Content with % of Vitrified Polish Waste
as Replacement of Expansive Soil for Different
Lime Contents.

The above said stabilizing agents made the

problematic expansive soil almost non swelling,
non plastic, better particle orientation under
compaction, improved strength and penetration
characteristics for 9% lime added to 9% vitrified
polish waste replacement in virgin expansive soil.
This is due to the pozzolanic reactions between
soil, vitrified polish waste and lime resulting in the
formation of better compact soil matrix. Hence the
study reveals a relatively new stabilization
alternative utilising a waste material from
emerging industry i.e., vitrified tile industry and a
locally available binder, lime, thereby giving a
twofold advantage of mitigating the problems
associated with the waste disposal and also the
problematic expansive soil.
CONCLUSIONS:
The following conclusions are made based on the
laboratory experiments carried out in this
investigation.
1. From the laboratory studies, it is
observed that the expansive soil
chosen was a problematic soil having
high swelling, and high plasticity
characteristics.
2. It was observed that the treatment as
individually with 9% vitrified polish
waste has moderately improved the
expansive soil.

Prof. R. D. Babu, Prof. K. Ramu, Hassan Sk, G. Kishore Kumar

3. There is a gradual increase in the

differential free swell index of the
virgin expansive soil by about 30%
when it is replaced with 9% vitrified
polish waste and further stabilizing it
with 3% lime and for 9% the %
improvement increased to 115%.
4. The addition of non plastic waste
material vitrified polish waste and
lime as a binder, which bonded the
soil particles closer, thereby making
the virgin expansive soil even more
non plastic.
5. There is an increase in maximum dry
density with an addition in the lime
content from 0% to 9% to the 9% of
vitrified
polish
waste
as
a
replacement in the problematic
expansive by an amount of 6.52%,
corresponding optimum moisture
content was reduced by about 50%.
6. Finally it can be summarized that the
materials vitrified polish waste
(VPW) and lime had shown
promising influence on the behaviour
of expansive soil, thereby giving a
two-fold advantage in improving
problematic expansive soil and also
solving a problem of waste disposal.

REFERENCE:
1. oka, E., (2001), Use of Class C Fly
Ashes for the Stabilization of an Expansive
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2. Komine, H. and Ogata, N., (1996),
Prediction for Swelling Characteristics of
Compacted
Bentonite,
Canadian
Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 33, pp. 11-22.
3. Rao, K.S.S. and Triphaty, S., (2003), Effect
of Aging on Swelling and Swell-Shrink
Behavior of a Compacted Expansive Soil,
Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 26, No.
1, pp. 1-11.

4. Sivapullaiah, P.V., et al (1996), Swelling

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5. Wayne, A.C., (1984), Construction on
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7. Hilt, C.H. and Davidson, D.E. (1960), Lime
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8. Al-Rawas, A.A., Taha R., Nelson, J.D., AlShab, T.B. and Al-Siyabi, H., (2002), A
Comparative Evaluation of Various
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