B. R. Phani Kumar

Bio: B. R. Phani Kumar is an academic researcher from University of Bradford. The author has contributed to research in topics: Expansive clay & Pile. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 407 citations.

Effect of fly ash on engineering properties of expansive soils

Abstract: This note presents a study of the efficacy of fly ash as an additive in improving the engineering characteristics of expansive soils. An experimental program has evaluated the effect of the fly ash content on the free swell index, swell potential, swelling pressure, plasticity, compaction, strength, and hydraulic conductivity characteristics of expansive soil. The plasticity, hydraulic conductivity and swelling properties of the blends decreased and the dry unit weight and strength increased with an increase in fly ash content. The resistance to penetration of the blends increased significantly with an increase in fly ash content for a given water content. Excellent correlation was obtained between the measured and predicted undrained shear strengths.

Compressive load response of granular piles reinforced with geogrids

Abstract: Results are presented from a series of tests performed to investigate improvement in load-carrying capacity and reduction in bulging of a granular pile in soft clay by geogrid reinforcement. The st...

Fundamentals of soil stabilization

Abstract: Clayey soils are usually stiff when they are dry and give up their stiffness as they become saturated. Soft clays are associated with low compressive strength and excessive settlement. This reduction in strength due to moisture leads to severe damages to buildings and foundations. The soil behavior can be a challenge to the designer build infrastructure plans to on clay deposits. The damage due to the expansive soils every year is expected to be $1 billion in the USA, £150 million in the UK, and many billions of pounds worldwide. The damages associated with expansive soils are not because of the lack of inadequate engineering solutions but to the failure to identify the existence and magnitude of expansion of these soils in the early stage of project planning. One of the methods for soil improvement is that the problematic soil is replaced by suitable soil. The high cost involved in this method has led researchers to identify alternative methods, and soil stabilization with different additives is one of those methods. Recently, modern scientific techniques of soil stabilization are on offer for this purpose. Stabilized soil is a composite material that is obtained from the combination and optimization of properties of constituent materials. Adding cementing agents such as lime, cement and industrial byproducts like fly ash and slag, with soil results in improved geotechnical properties. However, during the past few decades, a number of cases have been reported where sulfate-rich soils stabilized by cement or lime underwent a significant amount of heave leading to pavement failure. This research paper addressed the some fundamental and success soil improvement that used in civil engineering field.

Soil and clay stabilization with calcium- and non-calcium-based additives: A state-of-the-art review of challenges, approaches and techniques

Abstract: Soil stabilization is a technique to improve the engineering and geotechnical properties of soils such as mechanical strength, permeability, compressibility, durability and plasticity. Much has been learned about soil stabilization techniques and additives over the past century. The state of the practice in stabilization techniques and challenges is presented with a discussion. Moreover, available studies regarding the effects of various types of stabilizing agents on the engineering and geotechnical properties of stabilized soils are reviewed here. These stabilizing agents include both calcium-based and non-calcium-based additives. Eco-friendly additives as alternative materials to conventional stabilizing agents are also discussed in this paper. In addition, the problems associated with the presence of disruptive salts and sulfate as well as the techniques to overcome these problems in soil stabilization projects are reviewed.

Stabilization of a Clayey Soil with Fly Ash and Lime: A Micro Level Investigation

Abstract: Pavement structures on poor soil sub grades show early distresses causing the premature failure of the pavement. Clayey soils usually have the potential to demonstrate undesirable engineering behavior, such as low bearing capacity, high shrinkage and swell characteristics and high moisture susceptibility. Stabilization of these soils is a usual practice for improving the strength. This study reports the improvement in the strength of a locally available cohesive soil by addition of both fly ash and lime. Analysis using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, zeta potential and pH value test was carried out in order to elucidate the stabilization mechanism. The micro level analysis confirmed the breaking of montmorrillonite structure present in the untreated clay after stabilization. In the analysis, it was also confirmed that in the stabilization process, pozzolanic reaction dominated over the cation exchange capacity.