SOIL STABILIZATION FOR EROSION CONTROL

The potential utility of small percentages of hydrated lime or of Portland cement in stabilizing construction sites against rainfall erosion is under investigation. A laboratory rainfall simulator has been designed and constructed to provide a reproducible "design storm" (3.25 in. per hour intensity, applied for 1 hour on each of two successive days). Under the test conditions unstabilized (but compacted) Crosby soil eroded to the equivalent of about 90 tons/acre. Treatment with 2.5 percent cement virtually the equivalent of about 90 tons/acre. Treatment with 2.5 percent cement virtually eliminated soil loss; the same level of treatment with hydrated lime reduced it to the equivalent of about 3 tons/acre, but a curing time of several weeks was required. Even smaller percentages, down to 1 percent, resulted in significantly reduced erosion. A test stand of Alta fescue grass on the same soil was not as effective as the cement or lime treatments. Investigations into the stabilization process were carried out and confirmed that aggregation of at least some of the clay into water-stable, millimeter-sized aggregates and partial chemical reaction within these aggregates were involved. It appears that incorporation of small quantities of lime or cement into the top 2 or 3 inches of soil on construction sites may constitute the basis for relatively inexpensive but effective protection against soil erosion. Further investigation is underway.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/C3650H
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with FHWA.
• Corporate Authors:

  Purdue University/Indiana Department of Transportation JHRP

  Purdue University, School of Civil Engineering
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907-1284
• Authors:
  • Diamond, S
  • Kawamura, M
• Publication Date: 1974-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 115 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Calcium hydroxide; Concrete curing; Construction sites; Erosion control; Portland cement; Rain; Simulation; Soil stabilization
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00098568
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• ISBN: C-36-50H
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 18 1975 12:00AM