Polyurethane Foams in Soil Stabilization: A Compressibility Effect
The use of polyurethane foam is so-called as a low cost technique in soil stabilization. The workable characteristic of polyurethane foam suits the construction needs which increase the strength performance while reducing the compression index. The resear
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Abstract The use of polyurethane foam is so-called as a low cost technique in soil stabilization. The workable characteristic of polyurethane foam suits the construction needs which increase the strength performance while reducing the compression index. The research permits a reliable prediction of compressibility effects of stabilized soils in which the polyurethane foam contents are the variables. The unstabilized soils are taken from the current residential projects and the physical properties are investigated. The research is performed by an experimental work in accordance with BS 5930. The compressibility effects of stabilized (with the addition of polyurethane foams) and unstabilized soils are presented by the percentage of compression and swelling indices. These indices reduce between 40– 50 % and the void ratio is also reduced between 30–50 % with the addition of polyurethane foams. The research also presents the physical and engineering properties of the stabilized and unstabilized soils.
Keywords Polyurethane foams Compressibility effects Swelling indices Soil stabilization
Compression index
1 Introduction Many countries are confronted with unstable soil conditions, especially Malaysia, which causes an increment in construction costs for the treatment of unstable soil. It is essential to encounter the unstable soil in construction for safety and economical purposes. A proper analysis needs to be carried out to ensure the safe structure is free from settlement or collapse due to the compressibility of soil [1, 2].
N. Sidek (&) K. Mohamed I.B. Mohd Jais I.A. Abu Bakar Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia e-mail: [email protected] © Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2016 M. Yusoff et al. (eds.), InCIEC 2015, DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-0155-0_33
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The recent ground improvement techniques used have significantly shortened the time consumption for new land opening and secured the economic viability of many projects [3, 4]. The alternative methods of soil stabilization such as surface reinforcement, preloading, chemical stabilization, sand or stone column, prefabricated vertical drains, and pile constructions are well discussed by Noto [5] and Kazemian [6] There are two primary methods used in soil improvement wherein mechanical and chemical approaches [7]. The mechanical approach involves the compaction of soil and the addition of lime and other chemical additives are referred to the chemical approach. These chemical additives improve the load bearing capacity of the existing soil.[8] Polyurethane foams are available in the forms of flexible or rigid foams, solid elastomers (or rubbers), coatings, adhesives and sealants [9]. The versatility of polyurethane foams depends on their chemical contents. For instance, urethanes commonly behave as thermosets and thermoplastic at certain grades of urethanes [10, 11]. Urethanes are prepared by mixing the polyols and isocyanates liquids in certain ratio. In the form of
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