Geotechnical Properties of Polymer-Treated Clay

In recent years, the stabilization of weak soil has generated considerable interest. The use of polymers is one of several means to stabilize weak soil. In this study, the effect of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) on the geotechnical properties of high plasticity clay soil (CH) was examined by mixing the natural clay soil with HDPE at different percentages of dry soil weight (0, 1, 3, and 5%). At their Maximum Dry Density (MDD) and Optimum Moisture Content (OMC), the HDPE-treated soil samples were compacted. An experimental program has been carried out to determine the consistency limits of untreated and HDPE-treated soil samples, compaction characteristics, permeability coefficient (k), compression index (CC), and shear strength parameters. The results revealed that the plasticity index (PI) of the untreated soil dropped with the addition of HDPE. The OMC and the MDD of polymer-treated soil significantly decreased with an increase in HDPE content. Although the permeability coefficient (k) of polymer-treated soil maximized, the soil’s compression index (CC) decreased at different contents of HDPE. Obviously, the cohesion (c) of soil steadily decreased with the increase in HDPE content, while the friction angle (φ) significantly increased. Overall, the addition of HDPE can modify the geotechnical properties of the studied soil.