POTENTIALS OF PROCESSED TERMITE AS A STABILIZING AGENT

ABSTRACT

Clay soil posses a great threat causes problem on civil engineering structures due to its tendency to swell when it is in contact with water and shrinks when they dry out. Stabilization using chemical admixtures is the oldest and popular method of soil improvement. In this study, an investigation was conducted to explore the possibility of using processed termite mound as a stabilizing admixture to improve clay soils. This investigation involves the determination of the swelling potential of expansive soil in its natural state as well as when mixed with varying proportion of termite dust from (0 to 30%). The processed termite  mound  in  this experimental work is obtained from  termite mound (anthill),   dried   and   ground   followed   by   sieving   through   sieve   no.36. Consistency limits, specific gravity, swelling properties were determined for the samples. Addition of processed termite mound decreases liquid limit, plasticity index, plastic limit, shrinkage limit, shrinkage index, specific gravity and activity. Experimental results also showed that the swelling percentage decreased  while  rate  of  swell  increased  with  increasing  percentage  of processed  termite  mound  content.  The  rates  of  swelling  and  swelling percentage  of  the  stabilized  specimens  were  also  affected  by  curing  in  a positive direction such that the effectiveness of the stabilizer increased with termite mound content. The CBR and UCS values obtained also increases with stabilizer content. Based on results obtained from the study, the use of 25%-

30% termite mound is recommended for the improvement of clay as sub-grade material.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

Some partially saturated clayey soils are very sensitive to variations in water content and show excessive volume changes. Such soils,  when they increase in volume because of an increase in their water contents, are classified as expansive  soils.  Problem of  clayey  soils has appeared  as cracking  and breakup of pavements, railways, highways, embankments, roadways, building foundations, channel, irrigation systems, etc. (Wayne et al. 1984).

It is reported that damage to structures due to clayey soils has been the most costly natural hazard in some countries. In the United States damage caused by clayey soils exceeds the combined average annual damage from floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. (Jones and Holtz, 1973). Documented evidence of   the problems associated with clayey soils is worldwide,  having  occurred  in such countries as the  United  States,  India, China, Canada and regions in Europe. (Popescu, 1986). It is reasonable that studies on the problem of clayey soils become more important day by day if the   durative   deficit   of   World   resources   and   economy   is   taken   into consideration. (Ipek, 1998). When geotechnical engineers are faced with clay soils, the engineering properties of those soils may need to be improved to make them suitable for construction. (Muntohar and Hantoro, 2000).

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Clayey soil is a term used for soils which exhibit moderate to high plasticity,   low   to   moderate   strength   and   high   swell   and   shrinkage characteristics (Holtz and Gibbs, 1956). They are often considered a potential natural hazard, likely to cause extensive damage to structures, roads etc if not adequately treated. These soils are more difficult to deal with than collapsible

soils because collapsible is a one way process, whereas clayey soils can shrink and swell as the case may be. Such soils swell when given an access to water and shrink when they dry out (Al-Rawas et al. 2002). Some saturated clayey soils are partially very sensitive to variations in water content and show excessive volume changes. Such soils increase in volume as a result of an increase in water content.

Generally, they have high plasticity and are relatively stiff or dense. Its nature is most obvious near the ground surface where the profile is subjected to seasonal and environmental changes. The pore water pressure is initially negative and the deposit is generally unsaturated. These soils often have some montmorillonite clay mineral present. The higher the amount of monovalent cations absorbed to the clay mineral (e.g. sodium), the more severe the soil problem (Fredlund and Rahardjo, 1969).

Termite clay is obtained from termite mound, while mound is a pile of earth  made by  termite  resembling  a  small  hill.  It  is  made  of  clay  whose plasticity has further been improved by the secretion from the termite while being used in building the mound ( Minjinyawa et al. 2007) It is therefore a better material than the ordinary clay in terms of utilization for moulding lateritic bricks ( Minjinyawa and Odumodu et al. 2007) and this type of clay has been reported to perform better than ordinary clay in dam construction ( Yohanna et al. 2003). The clay from the termite mound is capable of maintaining a permanent shape after moulding because of its plasticity; it is also less prone to crack when compared with ordinary clay. In addition, it has low thermal conductivity and expectedly reduced solar heat flow and temperature fluctuation within an enclosure( Minjinyawa et al. 2007).

The problem of these soils has appeared as cracking and break-up of pavements, railways, highway embankments, roadways, building foundations slab-on-grade members, channel, reservoir linings, irrigation systems, water lines and server lines ( kehew 1995). Detailed and documented evidence of the

problems associated with  soils that are clayey in nature is worldwide. It occurs in most of these countries such as India, Canada, Australia, China, United states, regions in Africa and Europe ( Popescu 1986).

It is important and reasonable that, studies regarding the problem of clay soils  become  imperative  day  by  day  if  the  durative  deficit  of  the  world resources and economy is taken into consideration. When geotechnical engineers are faced with clay soils, the engineering properties of these soils need to be improved to make them suitable for construction ( Okafor et al.

2009). To study the model of strength determination of soil to the processed termite stabilized soil using Scheffe’s second degree polynomials, to check the empirical models results and compare it to the experimental results in the absence of strenuous laboratory results, to check the unconfined compressive strength  ofprocessed    termite  and  the  CBR  values  of  expansive  soil.  The purpose of this experimental study is to investigate the potential ofprocessed termite as a stabilizing agent for expansive soil.

1.2     AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY

     To investigate the potentials of processed termite mound as a stabilizing agent in clay soils.

     To determine if there exist, a relationship between processed termite mound model and the experiment.

1.3     SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

     To develop empirical models that can be used to predict the behaviour of soil  processed termite mound stabilization.

   It will help reduce pressure on the use of cement for soil stabilization

thereby conserving the country foreign reserve.

   To cut-down the cost of unsuitable materials in road construction.

1.4     SCOPE OF WORK

This research work, only covers soils that are clayey in nature.

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