LABORATORY STUDIES OF THE STABILIZATION OF NONDURABLE SHALES

Research performed to identify suitable chemical additives that could either (a) help break down shales during placement or (b) reduce the deterioration caused by slaking during the service life of a compacted shale embankment is described. Many combinations of durability and strength can be expected when dealing with shales to be used in compacted highway embankments. Hard and durable shales can be placed as a soil fill. The hard and nondurable shales are difficult to stabilize by mechanical means, such as increased compactive effort. However, because of their nondurable nature, they often develop excessive settlements during the service life of the embankment and even cause slope failures. The slake-durability test was used to evaluate the change in durability effected by various chemical additives in the slaking fluid as well as lime in the compaction water. The shales were Indiana shales of both the hard and nondurable and soft and nondurable types. Since the primary slaking mechanism varies among midwestern U.S. shales, the salts tht improve durability also varied with the material. At concentration levels of 0.1 N, sodium chloride, calcium sulfate, or ferrous sulfate produced favorable results. The effects of lime on durability also varied by type of shale, percentage admixture, and curing time, but very substantial improvements were effected by adding lime.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1981/790/790-005.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=LABORATORY+STUDIES+OF+THE+STABILIZATION+OF+NONDURABLE+SHALES&author=M.+Surendra&author=C.+Lovell&author=L.+Wood&publication_year=1981
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Engineering Geology. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Surendra, M
  • Lovell, C W
  • Wood, L E
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 33-41
• Monograph Title: Shales and swelling soils
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 790
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Additives; Calcium oxide; Calcium sulfates; Compaction; Durability; Embankments; Failure; Ferrous sulfide; Fills; Ground settlement; Laboratory tests; Research; Shale; Slaking; Sodium chloride; Soil stabilization; Strength of materials
• Uncontrolled Terms: Stabilization
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Research; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00341163
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309032040
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 28 1981 12:00AM