Evaluation of Using Different Nanomaterials to Stabilize the Collapsible Loessial Soil

Construction over problematic soils is a common problem in many parts of the world, and one of the effective procedures to tackle this problem is soil stabilization. Accordingly, the current study provides the finding of a laboratory investigation into the effect of three kinds of nanomaterials, including nano-silica (NS), nano-clay (NC) and nano-calcium carbonate (NCC) on the properties of a loessial collapsible soil. To accomplish this issue, reconstituted samples of the stabilized loessial soil were prepared for unconfined compression and consolidation tests. The results illustrated that an insignificant amount of nanomaterials (less than 1% of the total dry weight of the soil when is used in as a liquid prepared solution) could considerably improve the mechanical behavior of the soil. The values of additives which gave the maximum unconfined compressive strength (UCS) were determined to be 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4% of the total dry weight of the soil, respectively, for NS, NCC, and NC. The most efficient improvement was the stabilized sample with 0.2% NCC which resulted in the highest UCS after 28 days of curing. In addition, the results of consolidation tests showed that the degree of collapse potential (CP) of the tested stabilized loess improved from moderately severe for unstabilized soil to moderate for all of the stabilized soils with different stabilizing agents. Hence, stabilization using these nanomaterials could partially improve the collapse potential of the tested loessial soil.