Mitigating Swelling Potential of Oklahoma Soil Through Potassium Chemical Injection

One of the most challenging soil types to contend with is expansive soils due to their unique physio-chemical characteristics that cause volume changes in response to changes in moisture levels. Such soil behavior can lead to long-term structural deterioration and substantial damage to constructions. Oklahoma struggles with the widespread presence of expansive soils, incurring millions of dollars in damages to roads and construction facilities annually. These types of soils frequently, are found after the construction of the structure and may require costly treatment and repair. Soil stabilization is often essential for minimizing the potential of volume changes in foundations and enhancing durability and strength of structures. In recent years, stabilization using chemical injection has emerged as a highly efficient technique for reducing soil volume changes. This method offers a distinctive advantage by minimizing disruptions to existing structures, rendering it an ideal and cost-effective choice for various soil stabilization projects. Potassium injection stabilization is a widely practiced technique to effectively reduce soil volume changes. Potassium has a unique ability to balance the negative charge of the surface of soils without causing water retention. Introducing this innovative soil stabilization methods to Oklahoma, can provide practical solutions for mitigating soil-related challenges. Therefore, the principal objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of Potassium solution in Oklahoma soils. This was achieved through the collection of undisturbed soil samples from various locations throughout Oklahoma. Tests were conducted to determine the basic soil properties, such as Atterberg limits, moisture content, particle size distribution, void ratio and density. The undisturbed samples were then subjected to one-dimensional swell tests utilizing the Potassium solution and water simultaneously, and the corresponding swell percentages were analyzed and compared. The study yielded promising results, indicating that the chemical employed in the technique was highly effective in reducing soil swell percentage. The findings of this study are expected to encourage the transportation industry to consider adopting chemical injection technique for soil stabilization.