Framework for in situ soil stabilization based on electrokinetic principles

Abstract

Improving the properties of natural subgrade under existing pavements is an expensive and often challenging process. Traditional soil stabilization requires removal of existing pavement, extraction of weak soil, mixing the soil with different stabilizers, placing the improved soil to its location and repaving. This paper establishes the framework for in situ stabilization of weak and fine soils by using electrokinetic principles to drive the stabilizing substances in the soil matrix. The stabilizers are introduced at the side of the pavement and under the presence of an external electric field they travel through the weak fine soil. A 2D model for a 4-meter wide pavement is examined in this paper. The results suggest that the stabilizer can be transported effectively in the weak soil within reasonable time. A short overview of the experimental setup that is currently being developed to test the proposed technique is also presented in this paper.