Application of Sodium Silicate Chemical Grouting to Tropical Regions

Abstract

Recently, infrastructure at ASEAN countries like Indonesia is rapidly growing due to satisfy the high rates of economic growth in this region. The increasing of infrastructure is followed by increasing demand on chemical grouting. Unfortunately, there is no any established chemical grouting considering to the typical tropical soil of this region, which is acid or alkaline. Four decades ago, a chemical grouting has been developed in Indonesia. However, this chemical grouting has completely been prohibited by the government after the chemical is identified generates polymeric chemicals pollution. Based on this experience, this paper investigates the applicability of the chemical grouting of sodium silicate chemicals in tropical region with Indonesia as a case study. In the experiment, the chemical grouts were injected into Indonesian sands. After solidification of the chemical grouts, coefficient of permeability was measured by falling head hydraulic conductivity test. As the conclusion, it is indicated that the sodium silicate chemical grouting is useful to improve tropical acid soil environmentally friendly.