AN INVESTIGATION OF GRANULATED CALCINED CLAY IN LANDSCAPING

The purpose of this investigation was the evaluation of calcined clay as a modifier of topsoil for backfill for landscaping plants. The calcined clay modified topsoil was compared with Illinois Standard Specification backfill using peat moss. The results of laboratory tests indicate that peat moss is more effective in altering the void ratio, capillary porosity, liquid limit, and moisture storage capacity than is calcined clay. The results of field trials established in Interstate highway landscaping projects indicate that soil modification obtained with calcined clay is essentially permanent and calcined clay modified backfill is more stable structurally than peat moss modified backfill. No significant differences in growth or mortality rates were found between calcined clay sections and peat moss sections. The cost of calcined clay treatments was approximately double the cost of peat moss treatments. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This study was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Illinois Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Physical Research
  126 East Ash Street
  Springfield, IL  United States  62704-4766
• Authors:
  • McKenzie, L J
  • Fowler, D D
• Publication Date: 1977-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 61 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Backfilling; Calcines; Clay; Costs; Field studies; General surface features of the earth; Granular materials; Moisture content; Peat soils; Porosity; Soil stabilization; Topsoil; Void ratios
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis; Landscape; Moss; Soil treatment
• Old TRIS Terms: Backfills
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00172870
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-IL-PR-70 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: IHD-1
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 12 1978 12:00AM