To Enhance the Durability of Black Cotton Soil Using Terrasil

The swelling and shrinkage phenomenon in Black Cotton soil is one of the major issues that damages the civil engineering structures. Black Cotton soil has montmorillonite as primary mineral composition, which exhibits high volume change when subjected to moisture variations. In this study, experimental tests were conducted on different expensive soil to investigate the effect of nanotechnology-based material, Terrasil (Developed and manufactured by Zydex industries). Soil samples were collected from Chamarajanagar. Liquid limit, plasticity index and swelling potential of treated soil were found to be reduced significantly by adding Terrasil. The addition of Terrasil increases dry density while decreasing the optimum moisture content. The optimum dosage of Terrasil is found to be approximately 2-3% by weight of dry. Test results are compared to study the changes occurred after the mixing of Terrasil in soil. Terrasil altered the properties of Black Cotton soil significantly and can give the solution for swelling and shrinkage behavior of soil. The test findings indicates that, due to the inclusion of Terrasil, the swelling characteristics decreased along with its cohesive behavior. Apparently the UCS value of the treated soil declines with an increase in Terrasil dosage.