An Experimental Investigation on Soil Stabilization using Terrazyme

Abstract

Soil is defined as minerals, gases, organic matter, liquid and organisms which together supports the life. Black cotton soil being clayey, deep, and impermeable, expands and becomes sticky during rainy season and contracts during the dry season engendering deep cracks. Black cotton soil being more expansive in nature, the shear strength is very less and thereby, lowering the bearing capacity too. To overcome the problem of low strength and bearing capacity of locally available soil and to stabilize soil for a longer life of buildings, improvisations have become a necessity. In this present study an effective technique is provided for ground improvement for soil stabilization using bio enzyme. Bio-enzyme namely Terrazyme is added to improvise Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) value of soil, and these are further compared with virgin soil’s CBR and UCS values. The laboratory tests were conducted like California Bearing Ratio Test, Atterberg Consistency Limits and Compaction test on soil samples with differential Terrazyme. Percentages for redefining the properties. From the results, it is evident that Terrazyme has proven to be a most satisfying add-on that helps in improvising the supreme characteristics of the soil with the usage up to 0.2 - 0.4 ml. Being economical and eco-friendly makes it to stand out of all and has made it more preferable than other enzymes. The study concludes, the soil has become more stable to support a greater life span and more strengthened in the presence of Terrazyme. The experimental investigations and further discussions concerning Terrazyme usage can be more precisely contemplated in the paper.