Soil Strengthening by Using Cement and Binders for Concrete Constructions at Mudar Al-Janabi’s school in Kufa

Ministry of Education, Najaf, Iraq

^* Corresponding author: alyaaabdulrazzaq@yahoo.com

Abstract

There are many methods and devices needed to stabilize the ground, and the commonly used method around the world is to inject soil (cement and additives) in the spaces inside the structure, or to displace liquids and gases of within it. The benefit of this method lies in its economic feasibility by reducing the high costs of the soil replacement process and reducing the risk of collapse of some existing buildings, due to irregular subsidence of the structure. There are many factors that cause the irregular subsidence, such as: high groundwater, degree of acidity, percentage of organic materials, percentage of salts and the composition and components of the soil. More important than that is the building’s load on the soil for existing buildings. Therefore, it is good to inject the soil with soil stabilizing chemicals under the foundations at specific locations depending on the type of project. These materials form a secondary foundation under the original foundation of the building. It helps stabilize the building and resists changes in the soil that cause collapses. Choosing the correct method for deep soil stabilization depends on several conditions such as the type and alternative layers of soil, loading volume, location and type of project and other things. In this research, the latest methods of soil treatment, especially gypsum soil, and the techniques necessary for it using sodium silicate as binder were reviewed and studied. Soil was injected into the Mudar Al-Janabi School, and the cost of this school amounted to more than one and a half billion Iraqi dinars. It was in danger of collapsing because its soil was gypsum, and recommendations were made to demolish it. In terms of economic feasibility, the soil was treated after careful technical and advisory evaluation at a total cost that did not exceed 10 million Iraqi dinars. The injection showed satisfactory results through our follow-up for a year by reducing the collapse of the building through a decrease in the width of the shear cracks in the building walls by 50% and 100% after six months of the first and second phase of the injection, respectively.