ABSTRACT
Sulphonated petroleum product (SPP) soil stabilisers act as compaction aids and as stabilisers. Successful stabilisation depends on there being sufficient active clay in the soil to permit ion exchange reactions to take place. Several tests useful in identifying soils that will react with the chemical stabilisers, are discussed. These tests do not give estimates of strength, so conventional California Bearing Ratio tests have been used to measure changes in strength due to treatment of the soil with the stabiliser. The dosage should be optimised to give maximum strength gain at the expected field density.
Due to their good solubility in water, chemical stabilisers are easily applied via the water needed for compaction. The solution then migrates through the soil without needing much mechanical mixing, which makes chemical stabilisers suitable for use on labour intensive construction sites. If the chosen stabiliser improves the soil strength sufficiently, in situ or local soils can be used instead of transported gravels.
