Reactivity Characteristics of Ballarat Basaltic Clay using Soil Index Properties: Literature Review

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Investigating reactivity characteristics of Ballarat Basaltic Clay using soil index
properties: Literature Review
Iqbal Singh
Civil engineering department, Faculty of Engineering, Fedration University, Mt. Hele,
Australia
Abstract
Understanding reactivity characteristics of a soil is key aspect for consideration
before any civil engineering structures or designs are implemented. There has been
serious repercussions in cases where building foundations and/ or civil structures have
been put in place without prior and careful consideration of the soil characteristics on
site. The repercussions have been reported immediately with some cases arising decades
after the construction or during the whole life of a structure. This project aims to
investigate reactivity characteristics of Ballarat Basaltic Clay using soil index properties
with an aim to mitigate against such repercussions in areas where the Ballarat Basaltic
Clay exist. Generally, it is recommended that adequate soil investigations are carried out
in the initial phase of the project to determine the suitability of the proposed site where a
construction project is to be located.
Key words: Reactivity, Ballarat Basaltic Clay Soil, Soil Index Properties and
Characteristics.
Introduction

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The manner in which the soil responds to changing dampness content is referred to as the
reactivity of a particular soil. The physical properties of soil like Grain measure, porosity,
moisture content, plasticity, Atterberg limits, and so on defines the soil index properties.
Examination of reactivity of soil with the assistance of index properties is achievable by drawing
different graphs/ charts and computing and analyzing the information obtained from the research
and different laboratory tests (Tournassat, Steefel, Bourg & Bergaya, 2015). It is a fundamentally
lab-based examination on how:-Volume change and shrinkage of soil can make the development
procedure troublesome on site and reactivity to particles and alkalis can impact agricultural
activities and development exercises.
As it is imperative to locate the genuine properties of soil before development or some
other action for positive outcomes. Subsequently, this examination will support my insight in
assessing different properties of soil.
Phenol absorption in organo-modified basaltic clay and bentonite have been found to
cause variations in the; moisture content, porosity, temperature etc. Sarah R. (2006) noted, “the
diffident degree of variation employed lead to a rise in coefficient of adsorption as of the base
clays of about two scale reading for HDTMA-Basaltic and TMPAA-Bentonite, an intensification
an estimated intensification of one order scale for HDTMA-Bentonite and TMPA-Basaltic (Soni
et al., 2015). Phenol adsorption to HDTMA adjusted clays is portrayed in straight Freundlich
condition. The adsorption to the TMPA altered clays could be well portrayed by the Langmuir
equation.
All clay soils possess ability to change volume and shift based on the variations in the
level of dampness/ moisture in the soil, a property which makes clay soils to be classified as

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reactive soils (Nelson, 2015). The quantity of soil likely to shift defines the reactivity potential of a
soil.
In 1981, Atterberg proposed Atterberg limits, also called consistency limits. Atterberg
limits indicate the soil condition in respect to connection in respect to grain content of the soil,
the water and changing water content. When cohesive soils absorbs excess amount of water, its
shear stress is lost and achieves viscous properties. At this state the soil exhibits plastic
properties and can be molded with simplicity and if put under cure for some time, it cracks hence
regaining the initial shear stress at a defined water condition. At this stage of regaining strength
is defined as the liquid limitW L. If the soil is further drained, the plastic properties are slowly lost
and disintegrates while rolled along on a level platform; this is the plastic limit, W P. More
decrease in the volume of water does not reduces the soil volume, brittle performance may be
revealed from the soil; a condition is termed as the shrinkage limit.
Consistency limits is a characteristics of basaltic clay soils categorized as fine grained
soil group. These soils have been found to absorb water thus can be solid or liquid based on the
water content. Volume-water content relationships in these soils hence explains limits of
consistency of basaltic clay soils as in figure 1.

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Figure1. Volume-water content relationship of clay soil.
Material
Ballarat Basaltic Clay is used in this investigation and hence the findings presented aim
to understanding the reactivity characteristics of this particular soil.
Basaltic clay soil
The basaltic soils tests to be conducted during my investigation can be ordered in 3
categories: Quaternary basaltic remaining soil, Quaternary basaltic soil and Tertiary basaltic soil.
Advance actions are prepared so as deduce connection amongst Iss and LL in every kind of
basaltic soil. The outcomes are introduced. A progressed connection between Iss and LL would
be observed in the case of Quaternary basaltic soil yet no relationship of Iss with LL for Tertiary
basaltic soil. It ought to be called attention to that Quaternary basaltic remaining soil test from
Point. Small estimation of Iss results from significant levels of calcium carbonate; this example
is most certainly not incorporated into the examination. The calcium carbonate can essentially
decrease the reactivity of the particular soil.
While disregarding the information made by Cook, a sensibly decent connection is
conclusive in among Iss and LL for Basaltic category of soil examined, the condition of the fitted
pattern link what's more, R2values exist as:
y = 0.0576x +2.4054 R² = 0.856
As indicated by quality notable in the connection it is regarded a dependable rectification
between plastic point of confinement and the shrink-swell index.
Experimentation