Effect of geotextiles on the load-carrying capacity and deformation characteristics of sabkha soil

Abstract

Road construction on sabkha terrain along the coastal regions of the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea is often faced with different types of damage due to the low bearing capacity of sabkha deposits, especially when they are wetted. Such conditions necessitate the improvement of sabkha prior to any construction. The purpose of this investigation was to upgrade the load-carrying capacity of sabkha soil using geotextiles by varying the geotextile type, base thickness, moisture condition and the magnitude of the deviatoric stress. To achieve these objectives, a special mould was fabricated to accommodate the soil-fabric-aggregate (SFA) systems. The performance of SFA systems was evaluated by measuring the permanent deformation under the applied 'dynamic' load. Results of this study indicate that the selection of an appropriate geotextile type can bring about significant improvement in the load-carrying capacity of the water-sensitive sabkha soils, particularly under soaked conditions. The inclusion of a geotextile layer on top of the sabkha subgrade reduced the thickness of the graded base layer by 34%. In addition, the geotextile increased the stiffness of the sabkha subgrade and reduced the permanent deformation after a certain number of load reputations.

Cementitious Grouts for Semi-Flexible Pavement Surfaces—A Review

“…Several techniques have been recommended by researchers to stabilize different layers of pavement around the globe. The properties of weak sub-grade soil have been significantly improved using stabilizing materials, such as: oil fuel fly ash (FFA), cement, foamed asphalt (FA) and foamed sulfur asphalt (FSA), liquid asphalt, hydrated lime, synthetic fibers, a geotextile layer, and polypropylene fibers [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Many professionals have conducted considerable research on modifications of conventional asphalt using different polymers and waste materials.…”

Improvement of Sabkha Soil by Using Geomesh and Addition of Polycoa

“…(3) Classification test is made for the soil include liquid limit and plastic limit which T values are 23%,20% respectively; therefore; the soil is SW-SM type .The chemical properties of Sabkha soil are shown in table (1).…”

“…These features cause several engineering problems in roads and building constructed on the sabkha soil . Sabkha is an Arabic expression to describe recent coastal sediments with a high salt content and are characterized by very low bearing capacities and low SPT values (1). Salt flats or sabkhas are salt bearing arid climate sediments covering vast areas of coasts of Middle Eastern and North African countries .The development of this material is due to low wave energy allowing the settlement of silt and clay particles to take place and then be loosely cemented by soluble .Sabkha sediments are characterized by high void ratios and low dry densities .Accordingly ,upon wetting sabkha soil is renowned for being highly compressible material with low bearing resistance and hence considered among the poorest of foundation material [2,3].…”

Effect of Adding Fine Gravel and Cement on Settlement of Sabkha Soil

“…Sabkha is an Arabic expression to describe recent coastal sediments with a high salt content and are characterized by very low bearing capacities and low SPT values (1) . Salt flats or Sabkhas are salt bearing arid climate sediments covering vast areas of coasts of middle Eastern and North African countries .The development of this material is due to low wave energy allowing the settlement of silt and clay particles to take place and then be loosely cemented by soluble .Sabkha sediments are characterized by high void ratios and low dry densities .Accordingly ,upon wetting Sabkha soil is renowned for being highly compressible material with low bearing resistance and hence considered among the poorest of foundation material (2,3).…”