Gypsum Research Paper

Study on Behavior of Soil using Gypsum Abstract

There are several places in the world particularly middle East Asia and Africa has problem of gypsum contaminated soil known as gypsiferous soil. Gypsiferous soils cover approximately 100 million hectors in the world.

Gypsum not only dissolve in presence of water it also changes geotechnical properties of soil. In the current study effect of gypsum on Atterberg limits and compaction character tics of soil was studied.

Different percentage of gypsum was added with a soil from Raipur to simulate the conditions of Gypsiferous soil. Laboratory test were conducted to determine effect of gypsum content on liquid limit, plastic limit and compaction characteristics of soil. It was noted that with increase in gypsum content liquid limit and plastic limit of soil decreased.

The

Gypsum not only dissolve in presence of water it also changes geotechnical properties of soil.

Therefore detailed investigation is required to find out the change in geotechnical properties of gypsum contaminated soil. In soils with a recent accumulation of gypsum, the salt-affected horizon overlies the gypsic horizon. In the case of old or residual gypsum, the accumulation of soluble salts occurs either in the gypsic horizon or at lower depths.

Results and Discussion:

1. Variation of Swelling (Murram soil)

• Free swelling test was performed on Raipur soil by successive increment of percentage of gypsum by weight.

• Gypsum was added to the soil by 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% by weight. It was noted that increase in gypsum content increases the swelling of soil.

Table 1 Variation of swelling of Murram due to increase in gypsum content

Gypsum content (in %) Swelling in water Swelling in kerosene Initial Final Initial Final

0% 11 12 11 11

2% 11 13 11 11

4% 11 13 11 11

6% 11 13.5 11 11

8% 11 14 11 11

10% 11 14 11 11

2. Variation of Atterberg limits (Murram