Effect of new soil stabilizers on the compressive strength of dune sand

A new composition comprising a polyanionic component, an aggregating agent and a bridging agent were successfully used to improve quite significantly the compressive strength of dune sands even at low dosages. A dose of 2% of a mixture of sulfonated urea-melamine formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde with 0.25% sodium chloride gave a compressive strength of treated dune sand of 2.4 N/mm(2). The design parameter for constructing road bases requires a compressive strength of 1.75 N/mm(2). The use of the three components together of the present composition gives synergism in their effectiveness in improving the compressive strength of dune sand. The inclusion of inorganic fertilizers like potassium nitrate and potassium di-hydrogen phosphate with the present soil composition reduces the compressive strength of dune sand when all components are used at low dosages and increases the compressive strength when they are used at higher dosages. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.