Skip to main content
Log in

Soil improvement of electroosmosis with the chemical treatment using the suitable operation process

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Acta Geotechnica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous studies show that improved soil strength is usually limited to regions near the anode or cathode in electroosmotic chemical treatments. Laboratory studies have shown that a suitable operation process strengthens soft clay for the entire specimen, from the anode to the cathode. The suitable operation process first injects a calcium chloride solution until the current decreases, and then injects a sodium silicate solution until there is no drain from the cathode during electroosmosis. A field test was carried out in this study to verify the suitable operation process and to assess the effectiveness of this treatment. The results indicate that the region of improvement was expanded from the anode to the cathode (except near the anode) by the suitable operation process and reveal homogeneous strength distributions over the region of improvement and an overall increase in strength. The largest cone resistance was near the cathode and measured 4,500 kPa, an increase in 300 %. A significant increase in cone resistance was also found near the middle, between the anode and cathode, and measured 3,700 kPa, which is an increase in 280 %. The average cone resistance and undrained shear strength from the anode to the cathode increased 125–130 %. The suitable operation process of electroosmosis chemical treatment is therefore proven to be effective in a field-scale test.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abdullah WS, Al-Abadi AM (2010) Cationic–electrokinetic improvement of an expansive soil. Appl Clay Sci 47:343–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Alshawabkeh AN, Sheahan TC (2003) Soft soil stabilization by ionic injection under electric fields. Ground Improv 7:135–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Asavadorndeja P, Glawe U (2005) Electrokinetic strengthening of soft clay using the anode depolarization method. Bull Eng Geol Environ 64:237–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Chang HW, Krishna PG, Chien SC, Ou CY, Wang MK (2010) Electro-osmotic chemical treatment—a study on distribution of calcium in kaolinite and its effect on strength and pH. Clays Clay Miner 58:154–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chien SC, Ou CY, Wang MK (2009) Injection of saline solutions to improve the electroosmotic pressure and consolidation of foundation soil. Appl Clay Sci 44:218–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chien SC, Ou CY, Lee YC (2010) A novel electro-osmotic chemical treatment technique for soil improvement. Appl Clay Sci 50:481–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chien SC, Ou CY, Wang YH (2011) Soil improvement using electroosmosis with the injection of chemical solutions: laboratory tests. J Chin Inst Eng 34:863–875

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Diamond S, Kinter EB (1965) Mechanisms of soil-lime stabilization—an interpretation review. Highway Res Rec 92:83–102

    Google Scholar 

  9. Mitchell JK (1993) Fundamentals of soil behavior. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  10. Otsuki N, Yodsudjai W, Nishida T (2007) Feasibility study on soil improvement using electrochemical technique. Constr Build Mater 21:1046–1051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ou CY, Chien SC, Wang YG (2009) On the enhancement of electroosmotic soil improvement by the injection of saline solutions. Appl Clay Sci 44:130–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ou CY, Chien SC, Lee TY (2013) Development of a suitable operation procedure for electroosmotic chemical soil improvement. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000819

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ozkan S, Seals RK, Gale R (1999) Electrokinetic stabilization of kaolinite by injection of Al and PO4 3− ions. Ground Improv 3:135–144

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fu-Chen Teng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chien, SC., Teng, FC. & Ou, CY. Soil improvement of electroosmosis with the chemical treatment using the suitable operation process. Acta Geotech. 10, 813–820 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-014-0319-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-014-0319-y

Keywords

Navigation