Effect of polymers on swelling potential of expansive soils

This paper introduces new soil stabilisers for reducing the swelling potential of expansive soils. In this study three different polymers (furan, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA)) were utilised as soil stabilisers. For evaluating the effect of these polymers on swelling potential and microfabric of expansive soils, three soil samples of high plasticity index were selected. First the engineering, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the untreated soils were determined, and three different pairs of dry density and water content (dry of optimum, optimum and wet of optimum) were chosen, from standard Proctor compaction curve. Treated soil specimens were prepared at 3%, 5% and 10% of furan content and 1%, 3% and 5% of polymethyl methacrylate and polyvinyl acetate content. The addition of polymethyl methacrylate and polyvinyl acetate can also diminish the swelling potential of soil specimens, but to a lesser degree. The addition of additives produced aggregations and clay-granular matrices within the fabric, which reduced the swelling potential of the soil samples.