DETERMINATION OF STRENGTH OF SOIL ANDIT’S STABILITY USING ULTRASONIC PULSE VELOCITY TEST

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 09 Issue: 12 | Dec 2022 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
© 2022, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 7.529 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 1423
DETERMINATION OF STRENGTH OF SOIL ANDIT’S STABILITY USING
ULTRASONIC PULSE VELOCITY TEST
Ayush Raj Singh1, Aajeev2, Abhitkarsh3, Kunal Sawlani4
1,2,3,4 Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka,
India
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Abstract – Soil stabilization may be defined as alteration or modification of one or more soil properties to improve the
engineering characteristics and performance of a soil. Utilization of industrial wastematerials in the improvement of soils is a
cost efficient and environmental friendly method. In this study density is found by ultrasonic testing method. This method can
provide fast and simple approach for determining characteristics of compacted stabilized soil. This is a non- destructive
method can be used as an alternative to existing methods to analyze laboratory or field compacted soils. In this study
ultrasonic velocity measurements determine the compactioncharacteristics of stabilized soil. Variation of ultrasonic velocity
with water content and density of compacted stabilized soils was analyzed. Effects of soil type and compaction conditions by
velocity were analyzed.
Keywords: soil stabilization, ultrasonic pulse velocity, non-destructive method, density
1. INTRODUCTION
By examining the relationship between soil's dry density (unit weight) and water content, compaction features of soil can
be identified. In the lab, Proctor compaction tests (ASTM D 698) are frequently used to assess how dry density changes with
water content. A compaction curve is used to show the relationship between the soil's drydensity and water content. To
ascertain whether construction methods are efficient,the compaction parameters of field soils arecompared to those of soils
studied in a laboratory. When in-situ methodology is employed, additional time is required. This study work attempts to
present an alternateapproach to decrease this time: the ultrasonic pulse velocity method. Determinethe characteristics of
compacted soils quickly and easily with ultrasonic testing. To examine laboratory or field compacted soils, this non-
destructive method might be employed in place of the ones now in use.
After performing conventional tests on soilsamples with varying degrees of plasticity, such as clayey soil, the ultrasonic
pulse velocity test was conducted on the samples,and a graph showing the relationship between density and velocity and
water content was created. The association was then established by interpolating the outcomes of earlier conventional
experiments, and an ultrasonic pulse velocity test brought the results to a conclusion. The standard values are obtained
while the laboratory tests are performed, and the results are then confirmed using the laboratory ultrasonic pulse velocity
result. [1].
2. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF PRESENTSTUDY
The procedures call for core-cutting pavement samples to be taken for subsequent laboratory testing in order to do
conventional quality control in the field.
This process is too time-consuming, expensive, and only valuable for official records; it cannot be used to correct errors
discovered while laying and compacting soil subgrade in the field. Therefore quick on- the-spot measurements are required
for thecontrol of the soil subgrade of the pavement layer. These factors contribute to the creation of the ultrasonic pulse
velocity method. The purpose of the research is to assess the physical characteristics of clayey soil and the stabilization of
clayey soil by stabilizers, utilizing an alternative in-situ testing method called ultrasonic testing The main objectives of the
study are:-
 to research how stabilizers affectClayey soil's engineering performance and to determine whether they may be used
as soilstabilizers
 if the soil stabilizer has good volumestability and durability which in turnalso increases strength and stiffnessof the
soil specimen.

 To provide the soil specimen withvolume stability and durability through the analysis of the data acquired through
the ultrasonic pulse velocity test
 To evaluate the project specimen through the non destructive tests toavoid damaging the thing
3. METHODOLOGY
The earth was dug up 1.5 metres below thesurface of the ground, rammed to break upany lumps, and then dried in the air.
Stabilizer that had been oven-dried was combined with clayey soil. The compaction and strength characteristics of mixes in
accordance with IS were ascertained using avariety of soil and stabiliser combinations.
Four such combinations were created in all,and the laboratory tested the mixes' strength and compaction characteristics.
Inorder to determine the P-wave velocity in the test compacted stabilised soil, two transducer arrangements—one for
transmitting and the other for receiving— were used in the ultrasonic tests carried outfor this work.[1]
3.2 Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test [2]
The non-destructive ultrasonic pulse velocity test has been around for a while. The basic idea behind this test is the
relationship between a material's density(ρ) and elasticity modulus(E), or square root of the ratio E/ρ, determines the
velocity (V) of sound in that material (V).Following is the equation using Polish standards:
E = V2. Ρ
This relationship can be used to calculate the elasticity modulus and, as a result, to assess the soil's quality. The test is
therefore valuable for identifying voids, damage from fire or frost, and consistency of soil in related elements. The
ultrasonic pulse velocity test measures the density of the soil and cantherefore be used to determine the strength of the
soil. The time it takes forthe ultrasonic pulse to pass through the soil and the aggregate determines the velocity of the
pulse as it passes throughthe soil. The aggregate's modulus of elasticity and the amount of aggregate in the mix both affect
the soil's pulse velocity.
3.3 About the equipment
 P-wave transducers,
 Pulser-receiver, and
 Data acquisition system.
For measurements, two transducers are utilised, one for transmitting ultrasonic waves and the other for receiving them
after they have passed through the test sample. A pulse receiverthat is attached to the data acquisition system for data
digitization activates thetransducers.

Ultrasonic measurements are used to determine the first arrival time of the waves at the receiving transducer, which is the
travel time for both test techniques. The delay between the time the transmitting transducer applied the pulse andthe time
the waveform arrived in the receiving transducer was used to compute the initial arrival time. The digital data board and
the pulse receiver were synced so that data collection began when the pulse was applied. The velocity of the waves as they
travel from the transmitter to the receiver alongthe compacted earth is also measured along with their journey time. The
data collected are helpful in analysing how soil characteristics and compaction conditions affect velocity.
Traditional compaction plots (dry density vs. water content) and compaction plots generated from ultrasonic
measurements were compared (velocity vs. water content). Using normal and modified Proctor efforts, the soil that has
been stabilised with stabilizer to an increasing proportion is compacted with varied water contents. The ultrasonic pulse
velocity test is performed on the compacted soil mass. Samples were utilisedto measure density, water content, and P-
wave velocity during tests utilising the through-transmission test technique. Each sample that wasutilised to assess the
soils' compaction properties had its velocity determined. Dry density vs. water content and velocity vs. water content were
used to create compaction plots.
4. EXPERIMENT DETAILS
4.1 Material
Soil
Engineers view soil as a complicated substance that results from the weatheringof solid rock. The ongoing geological cycle
that occurs on the surface of the planetresults in the development of soil. The cycle entails weathering or denudation,
transportation, deposition, upheaval, weathering again,and so on.
Stabilizer
GGBS, (Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag) is a cementitious material whosemain use is in concrete and is a by-product
from the blast-furnaces used to make iron. At a temperature of roughly 15000C to 16000C, molten slag floats above the
molten iron as iron, ore, and limestone are permitted to fall into the furnace. After the molten iron is trapped off, the
remaining molten slag is quickly cooled under water, leading in the creation of a glassy granule. The molten slag is
composedof between 30% and 40% silicon dioxide (SiO2) and about 40% calcium oxide. The term "ground granulated blast
furnace slag" refers to this glassy granulated that has been dried and ground to a specific size (GGBS). The degree of
compaction in soil mixtures is influenced by theamount of GGBS added to the soil. Because GGBS has a greater specific
gravity than expansive soil, the maximumdry unit weight increases as the amount of GGBS increases. Additionally, it was
found that when the GGBS content increased, theideal moisture content decreased. [1]
4.2 Sample preparation
The field-received soil sample is dried in the air. To speed up drying, the clods were shattered using a wooden mallet. The
sample is cleaned of any organic material, such as tree roots and fragments of bark. Similar to how oil is segregatedfrom the
main soil mass, shells are another type of non-oil materials.
When samples are taken for estimation of organic content, limecontent, etc., the complete sampleis taken for estimation
without removing shells, roots, etc., and these removals are noted togetherwith their percentage of the total soil sample.[3]
4.3 Laboratory Tests to be conducted:
1. Specific Gravity test of soil
2. Grain Size analysis of soil
3. Hydrometer analysis of soil
4. FSI(Free Swell Index) test of soil

5. DATA ACQUISITION
The physical and chemical properties of thespecimen(soil and stabilizer) are given below
S.NO PROPERTY SOIL
1 Specific Gravity
2 Grain size analysis
% of gravel
% of sand
% of silt and clay size
3 Atterberg’s limits
Liquid limit %
Plastic limit%
4 Plasticity index
5 Soil classification
6 Free swell data
7 Compaction characterstics
Max. dry density(kN/m3)
Optimummoisture content(OMC)%
TABLE 5.1 Physical properties of soil
S.NO PROPERTY SOIL
1 Specific Gravity
2 Grain size analysis
% of gravel
% of sand
% of silt and clay size
3 Atterberg’s limits
Liquid limit %
TABLE 5.2 Physical properties of stabilizer
Plastic limit%
4 Plasticity index
5 Free swell data

SL No Chemical composition Percent age
1 SiO2 40%
2 MgO 3.6%
3 CaO 39.2%
4 Al2O3 13.5%
5 Fe2O3 1.8%
6 SO3 1.7%
7 L.O.I 0.2%
TABLE 5.3 Chemical properties of stabilizer
The results of the various tests to be conducted in the laboratory were also takeninto account while doing the analysis and
drawing out the conclusions for the experiment.
5. DATA ANALYSIS
Through various tests that are conducted throughout the whole project, the effect onthe various properties of the soil
with the influence of stabilizer at different percentages are obtained by evaluation and generating the relation between
various parameters of stabilized soil.
The results are depicted using the nature ofthe graphs derived from data from various experiments,
For light compaction,

The different nature of graphs show the influence of different amount of stabilizer (GGBS) on the water content and
density ofthe soil for light compaction on the soil.
For heavy compaction,

The different nature of graphs shows the influence of different amount of stabilizer (GGBS) on the water content and density
ofthe soil for heavy compaction on the soil.
6. CONCLUSION
From the obtained analyzed results, thefollowing conclusions were drawn:
 Since stabilizer has considerablyimproved the geotechnical characteristics of soil, it can be utilized to stabilize clayey
soil.

 With the addition of stabilizer to thesoil, maximum dry density increasedwhile ideal moisture content fell.
 The soil's tendency to swell hassignificantly decreased.
 Ultrasonic technology was used toexamine the compaction characteristics of soil with the addition of stabilizer.
 As stabilizer percentage increases,plastic limit, liquid limit, and plasticity index decrease. In the stabilized soil, p-wave
velocity is measured using ultrasound measurements.
 With the same water content, it wasfound that there was no difference in the variation of either velocity or density.
 Compacted soil mass was examinedin several stages, and the results show that high solid contents, low water and air
voids, and low solid contents and high water and air contents result in an increase in velocities, respectively.
 For varying percentages of stabilizeradded to soil, different proportion of stabilizers, the rate of velocity increases
with density was higher.
 The mixed dirt complies with the MORTH (Ministry Of Road Transportand Highways) sub grade criteria.
7. REFERENCES
[1] Dr. Vinay A, A.V.Pradeepkumar , Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity assessment of GGBSstabilized soil
[2] Jack Katzer and Janusz Kobaka, conferencepaper September 2006 ,Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test of SFRC
[3] Nitesh Ashok Bhange, Pritiradhe shyam nandagawali, Engineering Characterization of Clayey Soil by UltrasonicPulse
Velocity Tests
[4] Slavova, D. Z., Weidinger, D. M., Sevi, A. F., & Ge, L. (2010). Evaluation of compactedsilt characteristics by ultrasonic
pulse velocity testing. Proc. of GeoFlorida, 1284- 1293.
[5] Weidinger, D. M., Ge, L., & Stephenson, R. W. (2009). Ultrasonic pulse velocity tests on compacted soil.
Characterization, Modeling, and Performance of Geomaterials, Hunan, ASCE, Geotechnical Special Publication, (189),
150-155.
[6] Vinay. A, Dr. A. V.Pradeepkumar, Dr. M.R Rajashekhara (2018), "Alternate assessment of strength characteristics of
clayey soil for compaction using ultrasonic pulse velocity method", International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7
(2.1) (2018) 15-19
[7] Vasanth S.D, Vinay.A, A.V Pradeep Kumar, Shubhalakhsmi B S(2018), "An Experimental Study on Physical Properties
of Clayey Soil by Using Destructive and Non Destructive Tests", International Journal of Engineering Research &
Technology(IJERT) ISSN:2278-0181
[8] Vinay M, Vinay A, A V Pradeep Kumar(2019), "Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Assessment of Cement Stabilized Soil",
International Journal of Scientific Researchand Engineering Development-– Volume 2Issue 3,May-June 2019
[9] Maciej Miturski , Wojciech Sas, Algirdas Radzeviˇcius, Raimondas Šadzeviˇcius, Rytis Skominas, Mateusz
Stelmaszczyk and Andrzej Głuchowski(2021), "Effect of Dispersed Reinforcement on Ultra sonic Pulse Velocity in
Stabilized Soil ", Materials 2021, 14, 6951.
[10] Kondekar, V. G., Jaiswal, O. R., & Gupta, L. M. (2018). Ultrasonic pulse velocity testing of gadhi soil adobe bricks. Int.
J. Eng.Re

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