Treatment of Swelling Soil using Salt and Phosphogypsum

Abstract

Swelling soils are a worldwide problem that poses several challenges for civil engineers. Such soils swell when given an access to water and shrink when they dry out. The climate in Egypt is arid, with high evaporation rates, so that there is always a moisture deficiency in soils and rocks. The common method for stabilizing these soils is using admixtures that decrease volume changes. Extensive studies have been carried out on the stabilization of swelling soils using various additives such as lime, cement, fly ash, industrial waste products.

The main objectives of the study were to treat and improve the physical and mechanical characterization of swelling soil. Bentonite, is considered as a bold example of swelling soil, which is mixed by different concentration of salt and phosphogypsum mixes. The study was carried out through a series of laboratory tests, including chemical analysis, mineralogical analysis, consistency tests and swelling properties tests. Chemical analysis tests carried to determine the variation of TDS, Cl, pH and SiO2. In addition to, three