Soil stabilization improves the ground for the project ahead. It will increase the soil’s bearing capacity improve subgrade strength and help reduce water infiltration to expedite your project’s schedule. To optimize your soil stabilization’s performance, it is very smart to complete a mix design to ensure your project’s standards will be met before you start.
Why You Should Invest in a Mix Design for Soil Stabilization
Responsible soil stabilization companies strive to improve the properties of the soil while minimizing the environmental impact of the construction project by using the minimal effective dose of chemicals to improve the soil. This is not only good for the environment, but making a small investment in a mix design can save you thousands in wasteful spending on stabilization materials you may not need.
Why Invest in Mix Design
- Optimized Performance: The soil properties vary from one project to another. A proper mix design will address the needs of a specific soil on the project, improving its durability, environmental resistance, and load-bearing capacity.
- Cost Savings: The goal of a mix design is to identify the correct stabilizing agents or chemicals that will best improve the existing soil as well as the treatment rate needed to achieve the specific strength goal of the subgrade. By optimizing material use, you ensure you get what you pay for and will not overtreat the unsuitable soil.
- Environmental Considerations: Stabilizers are not all environmentally friendly; some are manufactured like cement & quicklime, and others are by-products that are landfilled if a suitable beneficial reuse is not found like fly ash, lime kiln dust, or cement kiln dust. It’s essential that construction and engineering companies make every effort possible to use by products to minimize the environmental impact of their projects. Sustainable stabilization techniques can reduce a project’s carbon footprint, improve the soil quality and conserve valuable natural resources.
General Procedures to Follow
Soil mixing is a sensitive process that must be performed correctly to help ensure the correct number of chemical agents are added to create the required stability. The following are standard procedures to follow in the mix design process:
- Site Assessment: The builder or engineer must conduct a site assessment that considers the soil types, project requirements, and environmental conditions. They will identify whether soil mixing is necessary for the stability of the project.
- Soil Sample Collection: The soil samples from the project must be representative of the entire project site or soil types that may need to be stabilized for a successful project. Often large projects may contain several soil types that may require different stabilizing agents or treatment rates.
- Selection of Stabilizers: Different stabilizing agents are ideal for varying projects. The next step is to choose the stabilizers based on the findings from the site assessment. For instance, Quick Lime works well in fatty clays, and Cement and Fly Ash tend to perform better in silty sandy soils.
- Treatment Rates: After the mix design determines the optimum treatment rate(s) it’s important the contractor applies the correct percentage of material to the project soil. This is typically achieved by using a computerized spreader.
- Quality Control Measures: Soil stabilization techniques require optimal quality control to achieve success. A solid mix is consistent, offering strength and durability across the board. Having your soil engineer perform QC/QA on your project will ensure your contractor is performing within the mix design criteria.
A quality mix design can drastically improve the integrity of a construction project that requires soil stabilization. When done sustainably, it can also reduce the project’s carbon footprint and conserve resources, all while improving the quality of the soil. Sustainable methods for stabilizing soil with a mix design also provide cost-saving benefits by ensuring you only use the stabilizing agents needed to reach the design specification It’s a win-win for your construction company, the environment, and the client.
Rock Solid is a full-service soil stabilization company specializing in finding the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly and efficient ways to build. We believe in creating longer-lasting structures while saving valuable natural resources, time, and money through the art of soil mixing. Contact Rock Solid to learn more now.
