ISSN (Print) : 0974-6846

ISSN (Online) : 0974-5645

Indian Journal of Science and Technology, Vol 11(14), DOI: 10.17485/ijst/2018/v11i14/121543, April 2018

Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of

Modified Soils
Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri
Department of Civil Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi– 75270, Pakistan;
gulmohammad@neduet.edu.pk, amanmuri@neduet.edu.pk

Abstract
Objectives: To identify difficulties during sample preparation and testing of the reinforced stabilized soils; and provide
appropriate solutions to these difficulties. Methods: Sandy and clayey soils were used as base materials; while cement,
lime, gypsum were used as stabilizing agents whereas, wheat straw and polypropylenes were used as reinforcing agents.
Zero to ten percent of the modifying agents was mixed into the soil for sample preparation in different combinations.
Difficulties in the sample preparation and testing as compared to untreated soil were particularly noted for consistency,
Triaxial and electrical conductivity tests. Findings: It was observed that it is difficult to break all the lumps in the cohesive
soils, it is less likely to achieve a homogeneous mix composition at the micro level, the layering effect during compaction
may not be fully avoided, preparation of loose samples with dry pluviation method is difficult as compared to wet plu-
viation method, higher contents of fibre resulted to roughness of the samples, curing and soaking of gypsum stabilized
soils cannot be carried out in water, achieving the required degree of saturation in the cemented samples is relatively
difficult at conventional pressure during saturation ramp, higher content of fibre and cementing agents results to fluc-
tuations in the consistency parameters, surface roughness and inadequate surcharge loading results to variation in the
electrical conductivity characteristics, surface pores in the loosely cemented samples and sharp edges of the samples re-
sults to membrane puncture during Triaxial compression. identification and possible solutions of the reported various
difficulties during sample preparation and testing for a wider range makes it unique and novel and value addition to the
existing knowledge. Application: The proposed solutions recommended in the present study may be of significance in
the preparation and testing of reinforced stabilized soils in reflecting the actual behaviour of the composite materials.

Keywords: Difficulties, Reinforcement, Sample Preparation, Soils, Testing, Stabilization

1.  Introduction and Background
Preparation of a representative sample followed by testing
either undisturbed or re-moulded is the fundamental stage
for the prediction of actual soil behavior. The addition of
soil reinforcing and stabilizing agent’s further makes these
processes more complicated. The reinforced and stabilized
soil specimens are consisted of composite materials i.e.,
the base material mixed with one or more suitable type
of soil reinforcing and stabilizing agent(s). It is a tedious
task due to various challenges to obtain a homogenous
and consistent specimens of composite materials; such as
breaking of soil lumps if any, flocculation of cementing
agents, homogeneous mixing, controlled density, sample
extrusion from the mould, layering effects due to compac-
tion in layers, curing of specimen, flushing and saturation
as pre-test where required, etc. Comprehensive review of
the literature reveals that some of these issues were also
reported in the literature with proposed recommenda-

*Author for correspondence

 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils
tions. The problem of lumps were addressed by removing
these using sieve . To maintain the homogeneity of the
1
mixture the materials first grounded then sieved before
addition of water in the materials . For adequate mixing
2 3
adopted the technique to store the base material in plas-
tic containers added with required quantity of stabilizing
agents and then mixed (this would avoid the dust blowing
as well).
Different fibre mixing procedures reported in the lit-
erature ; mixed the soil with water and then added fibers;
4
on the other hand , mixed the soil with fibre in dry state
5
then added required amount of water for sample prep-
aration; while6, used the dry mixing of fibre in soil and
then special oscillatory and helical action mixer is used to
avoid fiber dragging and floating problems. The effect of
stabilizing and reinforcing agents are sometimes analysed
while keeping the density constant . Adopted the method
7
of optimizing compaction efforts for keeping the density
controlled i.e., a given weight of soil mixed with various
Percent contents of stabilizing agents is compacted in a
mould of known volume. To determine the unconfined
compressive strength of remoulded clay applied three 8
different methods in moulding samples; which were
proctor compaction method, hand operated soil compac-
tor and miniature mould methods for this all the samples
were remoulded with same density . Placed the soil uni-
9
formly in the testing mould and compacted in layers in
fix and controlled thickness to obtain the target density.
According to10 the density can be controlled by vibration
or impacts.
For easy sample removal from the mould either undis-
turbed or remoulded various methods have been tried,
such as extrusion from cylindrical intact mould, two-way
split mould, three-way split mould, mould lubrication,
placing transparency sheet etc. While preparing samples
in layers and compacting each layer with certain blows
may leave layering effect and ultimately an intact sample
may not be produced. According to7 even carefully scari-
fying the surface of each layer prior to the placement of
subsequent layers, the layering effect could not be avoided
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completely. Lime and cement stabilization is usually fol-
lowed by the soaking; however, gypsum cannot be soaked
in water or subjected to a wet environment because gyp-
sum is soluble in water11. Therefore, the soaking process
of gypsum is different from that of lime and cement. The
effect of surcharge load on the electrical and thermal
conductivity characteristics is not well defined in the
literature. In the present study no relevant literature has
been found addressing the effect of the surcharge load.
To avoid membrane puncture at high confining pres-
sures (up to 67 MPa)12 used up to five 0.64 mm thick latex
membranes with silicon grease in between13. Used up to
two neoprene membranes for avoiding the testing failures
due to membrane puncture in this study remoulded sam-
ples of sandy and clayey soils were prepared using various
types of soil stabilizing agents such as lime, cement, gyp-
sum, wheat straw, and polypropylene fibers. Difficulties
in sample preparation from various perspectives such as
natural grain size, breaking of clay lumps, homogeneity,
uniform compaction, layering effects, soaking condi-
tions, etc., were taken into consideration. Remoulded
samples were prepared for various types of testing such as
shrinkage limit, consistency limits, electrical conductiv-
ity, thermal conductivity, uniaxial compression, isotropic
compression, and triaxial compression tests.
2. Materials
2.1  Type of Soil
Sandy and clayey soils were used as base material. From
long experience it has been realized that there should
be a sufficient stock of the raw materials for a particular
research project. There is likelihood that some of the
properties of one batch of materials may be different from
other batch. The storage of the material is also important
it is very likely that the soil stock may get mixed with
vegetation, humidity or rainwater, dust settling due to
wind blow which ultimately may result to the change
in some of the chemical and physical properties of the
material. The storage of the material is shown in Figure 1.
Indian Journal of Science and Technology
 Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri

Figure 1.  Storage of materials

Humidity may also affect the characteristics of cementing 2.2  Type of Soil Modifiers
agents such as lime, cement and gypsum as well as
Various soil stabilizing and reinforcing agents are usu
the fiber materials such as wheat straw, rice husk, etc.
ally used for ground improvement. In this study, cement,
quicklime may change into hydrated lime if not prevented
lime, gypsum, wheat straw, polypropylenes were used as
from humidity.
shown in Figure 2.

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 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils

a) Cement b) Lime c) Gypsum

d) Wheat Straw e) Polypropylene Fibre

Figure 2.  Different soil stabilizing agents.

3.  Control Parameters 3.1  Quantification of Mixed Composition

While preparing the composite materials, the specific
During the specimen preparation and testing some of the
gravity of each ingredient may be different; therefore, for
parameters would be the control parameters and other set
the specific gravity of the solid particles of the composite
of the parameters may vary for the determination of the
material (for instance fiber reinforced cemented soil) the
effect of such variables. The proper estimation and mech-
weightage average specific gravity may be used applying
anism of control parameters is the key for the test result
eq. (1).
outcome. For example the density, initial void ratio, etc.

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(1)
For a mix composite if the total mass is taken as Mtotal
then the mass of soil, reinforcing and stabilizing agents
added as Percent of dry mass of the soil can be deter-
mined using eq. (2)-(4) respectively.
(2)
(3)
(4)
Where,
L is the percentage of lime
F is the percentage of fiber
3.2  Average Specific Gravity
The average specific gravity depends upon the specific
gravity of the stabilizing agents for instance the addi-
tion of gypsum results to a considerable decrease in the
average specific gravity14 on the other hand the addition
of cement results to increase in the average specific grav-
Figure 3.  Effect of modifying agents on average specific gravity.
Vol 11 (14) | April 2018 | www.indjst.org
Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri
ity of the composite. This is because the specific gravity
of gypsum is usually lesser than the base soil and that of
cement is greater than the base soil. For example, the spe-
cific gravity of clayey soil is 2.6 and that of lime, cement,
gypsum, polypropylene and wheat straw are 3.3, 3.15,
2.32, 0.905, and 0.36 respectively. Therefore, increase
in lime and cement content results to an increase in the
specific gravity; whereas, increase in the gypsum, poly-
propylene and wheat straw contents results to decrease in
the specific gravity of the composite materials. The effect
of increase or decrease in the specific gravity is as shown
in Figure 3. Differences in the specific gravity of the stabi-
lizing agents and the base material would also change the
density of the composite material, thus leading to differ-
ent mechanical response.
3.3  Targeted Unit Weight
Applying mass replacement method, if the volume of the
mould/sample size is fixed for instance 50 mm diam-
eter and 100 mm height then the unit weight will be the
function of mass/weight of the specimen. For a constant
targeted unit weight (unit weight to be achieved while
preparing the sample) the total mass of the composite
material should also be the constant is given in eq. (5).
Therefore, if the L% of lime and F% of fiber is to be added
to a soil mass to achieve the same targeted density, then
the mass of soil, lime and fiber can be calculated using the
eq. (6)-(8) respectively.
Indian Journal of Science and Technology 5
 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
3.4  Volume of Solids Determination
It’s worth mentioning here the volume of solid as it is
independent of the relative density of the material, i.e.,
either the sample is prepared at loose, medium dense or
dense state, the volume of solids will remain unchanged.
However, the bulk volume will change due to the change
in relative density.
(9)
From eq. (9) and (10) the volume of solids may be cal-
culated as given in eq. (11).
(10)
(11)
3.5  Void Ratio Calculation
The volume of voids is an important factor for subsequent
mechanical analysis of a sample, the proper estimation of
initial void ratio of the specimen is one of the important
controlling parameter. For a given size of sample with
diameter (D) and height (H) the total volume of the sam-
ple may be determined using eq. (12).
(12)
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Therefore, the volume of voids may be determined
using eq. (13).
(13)
As void ratio is the ratio of the volume of voids to the
volume of solid; therefore, the void ratio can be deter-
mined using eq. (14).
(14)
3.6  Targeted Relative Density
Initial relative Density has significant effect on the
mechanical behavior of soils particularly in granu-
lar materials. The relative density can be determined
from the maximum and minimum void ratio of the
soil. Maximum and minimum void ratios can be mea-
sured through ASTM D 4254 and ASTM D 4253
respectively.
(15)
If the sample is to be prepared to a given relative den-
sity (Dr), then the amount of soil to be added into the
mould of known volume can be determined through back
calculations. For instance, for a given relative density Dr,
the initial void ratio e, of the sample can be determined
from eq. (15). The porosity η of the sample is therefore,
can be measured applying eq. (16).
(16)
As the volume of the sample or of the mould Vt is
given; therefore, the volume of voids Vv can be deter-
mined applying eq. (17).
(17)
Therefore, the volume of solids can be determined
applying eq. (18).
Indian Journal of Science and Technology
 Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri

(18)

The mass of solids is therefore, can be measured

through the specific gravity of the composite materials Gs
and the volume of solids Vs by applying eq. (19).

(19)

Where γw is the unit weight of water.

4.  Difficulties in Sample

Preparation
The nature of difficulties in the sample preparation and
testing was found to be mainly based on the type of soil
and the type of soil stabilizing agents. Use of different soils
and soil modifiers having different challenges, in mixing,
Figure 5.  Clayey sample after breaking the lumps.
homogeneity, pluviation, compaction, sample extru-
sion from the mould, soaking, curing, degree saturation,
membrane punctures during high confining pressure,
etc.

4.1  Clay Lumps

Challenges in the preparation of specimens mainly based
on the type of soil and soil stabilizing agents; for instance,

Figure 6.  Existing small lumps.

in the case of cohesive soils the breaking of all the lumps

without disturbing the natural gradation of the material is
important. Practically, it is hard to assure that all the soil
lumps are broken into actual grain size particles. Similarly,
Figure 4.  Clay lumps.

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 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils

in the case of lime or gypsums (if not in powdered form) 4.2  Mixing and Homogeneity
lumps of these agents need to be broken prior to mixing.
Proper mixing of the samples either without reinforce-
Choice of the type and methods of mixing is also impor-
ment or with reinforcement is necessary to get an
tant, for instance the dry mixing or wet mixing and hand
adequately homogeneous remoulded sample. However,
mixing or machine mixing. The clay lumps are shown in
addition of various types of soil stabilizing agents makes
Figure 4, the lumps were broken using a mallet hammer
it challenging to achieve a homogenous specimen. The
as shown in Figure 5; however, after sieving still certain
issues in the proper mixing of the samples with soil sta-
quantity of lumps were found existing as shown in Figure
bilizing agents are highlighted in Figure 7. Both cement
6, which in turn suggest that it is hard to assure perfect
mixed and fiber mixed samples were prepared with ade-
elimination of all the lumps without compromising the
quate uniform mixing, however, at microscopic level the
actual grain size.

Sand and 8% cement mixed in dry state Sand with 5% cement and 0.4% fibre mixed in dry
state

Figure 7.  SEM image of cemented sand sample: (a) 8% cement; (b) 5% cement and 0.4% fibre.

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 Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri

non-homogeneity in terms of cement coating and fiber

distribution can still be noticed.

4.3  Dry and Wet Pluviation

While preparing the un-cemented samples dry and wet
pluviation methods were experimented as shown in
Figure 8. It has been observed that both dry and wet plu-

Figure 9.  Sample preparation by dry pluviation.

Figure 8.  Sample preparation on the pedestal.

Figure 10.  Sample preparation by wet pluviation.

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 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils
viation methods are feasible for the preparation of dense
samples; however, wet pluviation method was found to
be more advantageous for the preparation of loose to
medium dense samples. For loose samples prepared
by dry pluviation method especially when the mould is
removed or the sample is flushed for saturation it usu-
ally subsides and collapse and therefore, may not keep its
cylindrical shape and verticality as well as its initial density
as shown in Figure 9. On the other hand, sample prepared
by wet pluviation method found to be relatively more
stable while removing from the spilt mould as shown in
Figure 10.
4.4  Non-uniformity in Compaction
Remoulded samples are usually prepared by mixing soil
with various soil stabilizing agents and are compacted
to a required density. Method of under-compaction15
was adopted during the preparation of soil samples.
Preparing a remoulded sample either of cohesive or
granular materials with uniform density is somehow
challenging due to several reasons, such as over compac-
tion, layering effect, and specimen finishing. Even the
conventional method of soil compaction in which soil
Figure 11.  Non-uniformity in compaction.
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is compacted in layers with equal blows on each layer
results to the over compaction of underlying layers on the
other hand if soil is placed in a single thick layer, there
is a possibility of under compaction or non-uniformity
in compaction with gradual decrease in the impact from
top to bottom as shown in Figure 11. Method of under-
compaction and adequate scratching of each layer prior
to the placement of subsequent layer and density con-
trolled vibratory tamping was noticed be relatively better
approach for the preparation of a uniformly compacted
mould.
4.5  Sample Stratification
The stratification or layering effect may result to discon-
tinuity in the specimen. This usually results while sample
is prepared in various layers and each layer is compacted
to a required number of compaction blows, while the sur-
face of each layer is made thoroughly rough prior to the
placement of subsequent layers. Though adequate scari-
fying of the layers prior to the placement of subsequent
layers and use of compaction disc with protruded pins on
the surface resulted to a significant decrease in the strati-
fication; however, it could not be avoided completely as
Figure 12.  Stratification of remoulded specimen.
Indian Journal of Science and Technology
 Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri

Figure 13.  Uniform compaction by DCVT method.

shown in Figure 12. Therefore, some other techniques

were also applied; for example, by Density Controlled
Vibratory Tamping (DCVT) it was noticed that the lay-
ering effect is adequately controlled as shown in Figure
13. However, DCVT method needs to be verified for
other effects such as bleeding and segregations etc. In
DCVT method a known weight of the soil is poured into
a mould of known volume for density control and vibra-
tory tamping method is applied for densification of the
specimen.

4.6  Inadequate Finishing

It is usually noticed that the samples prepared in the
moulds were not adequately finished, either due to the
sticking with wall of the mould or due to rough top and
bottom edges. The cemented soil samples are usually
prepared in the split mould to a targeted density with
addition of required quantity of soil stabilizing agents. Figure 14.  Soil sticking with the mould.
The extrusion of the undisturbed or remoulded soil
tion of any cementing agents such as gypsum, lime or
sample from the sampler or mould needs care and skill
cement; results to the development of bonding with the
to exhume it with minimum disturbance. The prepara-
wall of the mould; therefore, splitting the mould usually
tion of a soil sample mixed with soil stabilizing agents
results to the damage on the specimen surface as shown
in a mould need special care while removing it from the
in Figure 14. As the conventional split moulds are not
split mould. For the specimens prepared with the addi-

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 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils
Figure 15.  Roughness of the specimen edges.
provided with collars; therefore, the top surface layer
may not adequately get compacted and finished. The
sample prepared in a mould without collar is shown in
Figure 15.
4.7  Sample Erection
Vertical erection of the granular samples on the pedestal
after the removal of split mould is difficult because after
the removal of the mould soil tends to bulge out laterally.
Therefore, granular materials prepared on the pedestal
12 Vol 11 (14) | April 2018 | www.indjst.org
Figure 16.  Application of negative suction pressure.
need negative suction pressure prior to the removal of
split mould. Prior to the removal of split mould suction
pressure was applied to keep the sample intact as shown
in Figure 16.
4.8  Sample Extrusion
Sometimes the interior of the split mould is lubricated for
safe removal of the specimen; however, this lubrication
Figure 17.  Folded transparency sheet and split mould.
Indian Journal of Science and Technology
 Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri

may penetrate into the surface layer resulting to change

in soil properties to a certain extent depending upon the
amount of lubrication and the type of soil as observed
during sample preparation. To overcome these challenges
a thin transparency sheet was introduced interior of the
split mould for the safe removal of the cemented specimens
prepared in the mould the process of sample preparation
with the induction of transparency sheet is shown in
Figure 17-19.

4.9  Soaking and Curing

The term soaking and curing should not be confused with
each other. Curing is referred to the process of becoming
hard or solid by drying or crystallization and soaking is
referred to the process of keeping the sample moist for
gaining strength. The remoulded samples stabilized with
various types of soil stabilizing agents are usually cured
or soaked for a certain period of time such as mixed with Figure 19.  Removal of sample from split mould.
cement or lime etc. the soaking is done by submerging
the samples in water or keeping in humidity control
sum or any other fibrous material may not need soaking
room. On the other hand samples stabilized with gyp-
however, may be cured for certain period to develop its
strength16.

4.10  The Modified Split Mould with Collar

Figure 18.  Placement of transparency sheet in the split
mould prior to the placement of soil sample.
In order to overcome the problems of non-uniform com-
paction and finishing of the remoulded samples prepared
for testing in conventional split moulds (Figure 20) a
modified mould offered with collar (Figure 21) and ram-
mer with guide rod and drop height adjustment system
was introduced. The modified split mould with collar,
surcharge weight and rammer is shown in Figure 22.
The modified compaction mould for the preparation of
the samples of size 50 mm diameter and 100 mm height
usually used for uniaxial compression, triaxial compres-
sion and flexible wall permeameter testing was prepared
of stainless steel with the wall thickness of 7.0 mm ,
The modified mould is provided with a collar of height
15 mm was provided, Surcharge load of size 48.75 mm
diameter and 47mm height and weight of 1150g, Rammer
of 40 mm diameter and 100 mm height ,A guide rod

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 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils

Not on scale

Figure 20.  Conventional split mould. Figure 22.  Modified mould with compaction control
accessories

with effective length of 570 mm and diameter of 10 mm

was used for adequate compaction and a jubilee clip as
shown in Figure 22. The compaction efforts per layer esti-
mated from the rammer weight of 920 grams and effective
drop height of 470 mm of the rammer. The compaction
efforts per blow estimated to be 0.4324kg.m.The
comparison of sample finishing prepared with con-
ventional and modified split moulds is shown in
Figure 23. From the figure it can be seen that the
sample prepared in the spilt mould with collar offer-
ing a relatively better finish of the top and bottom
edges.

5. Pre-tests
Some of the tests require pretesting stages prior to con-
ducting the actual test such as triaxial testing. The pre-test
Figure 21.  Modified split mould with collar.

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 Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri

(a) (b)

Figure 23.  . Comparison of the fibre reinforced sample prepared by: (a) conventional
mould and (b) modified mould.

stages comprises of saturation ramp, B-Check and con- 5.2 B-check

solidation.
It is necessary to saturate the specimen prior to con-
solidation testing. It has been noticed that to achieve
5.1  Flushing and Saturation
the required degree of saturation it is relatively easy for
For volume change measurement during compression
coarse grained and loosely packed soils; however, to
and shear tests it is necessary to saturate the soil samples
achieve the required degree of saturation for fine grained
either unreinforced or reinforced prior to testing. The
soils, cemented specimens and intact rock cores is rela-
saturation is usually applied by flushing and saturation
tively difficult. In later case there are little interconnected
ramp using water as pore fluid. The saturation of samples
voids, therefore, the flow of water through the specimen
stabilized with cement, the use of water in the saturation
becomes difficult which is necessary for acquiring the
process found suitable; however, specimens stabilized
required degree of saturation. To overcome this problem
with gypsum, the use of water resulted to the dissolu-
the flushing process for extended duration and saturation
tion of gypsum bonds therefore, silicon oil was used for
ramp at elevated pressure would found to be reasonably
flushing and saturation of the samples stabilized with
effective, even though the full saturation may not be
gypsum.
achieved. For instance, during saturation ramp typically
back pressure was increased to around 350 kPa to 400 kPa

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 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils

for loose samples, around 700 kPa for dense samples and
around 2000 kPa for cemented samples for achieving the
B-value of 95% or above.

6.  Difficulties during Testing

Although with development in the technology, and
used of digital and auto operating systems several of
the difficulties during experimentations were over-
come; however, still there are certain challenges in
various types of soil testing. The nature and the level of the
difficulty may vary depending on the type of material
and the type of testing. In this study the scope of work
comprised of reinforced stabilized soils for conventional Figure 25.  Threads of fibre reinforced soil for plastic limit
geotechnical laboratory testing comprising of consistency test.
limits, electrical conductivity, and triaxial compression
make a grove cut into the soil for liquid limit testing
tests.
and bring the soil into a thread of required uniform
6.1  Consistency Limits size for plastic limit as shown in Figure 24, 25
respectively.
While mixing the wheat straw in soil for the prepara-
tion of samples of liquid limit and plastic limit tests, 6.2  Conductivity Testing
it is noticed that it becomes relatively difficult to
6.2.1  Surface Levelling
For conductivity, consolidation, and shearing characteris-
tics, etc. it is important to avoid unfinished and unlevelled

Figure 24.  Grove made into a wheat straw mixed soil

sample. Figure 26.  Unfinished specimen surface.

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Figure 27.  Finished and levelled specimen surface.
surface of the specimens as shown in Figure 26. The
loading disc can be in full and uniform contact with the
finished and levelled specimen surface as shown in Figure
27.
6.2.2  Surcharge Load Effect
The placement of the specimen between the electrode
discs and the surcharge load is shown in Figure 28. The
Figure 28.  Electrical resistivity without surcharge.
Vol 11 (14) | April 2018 | www.indjst.org
Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri
Figure 29.  Electrical resistivity with surcharge.
application of surcharge load is necessary to ensure the
complete contact of the electrode discs with the specimen
surface (Figure 29). The instrument reading also indicates
the decrease in the resistivity due to the increase in the
contact area. The effect of increase in the surcharge load
was also investigated which is shown in Figure 30. From
the figure it can be seen that after the minimum load at
which the discs come into full contact with the specimen
surface, further increase in the surcharge load having no
significant effect on the electrical resistivity.
6.3  Triaxial testing
A series of samples were tested for the identifications
of various problems during triaxial testing as trial tests.
Various issues of membrane punctures and layering
effects were noticed.
6.3.1  Membrane Puncture and Remediation
Membrane puncture at high confining pressure dur-
ing triaxial testing has been one of the major challenges
(Figure 31). Various causes for membrane puncture were
identified; such as the sharp edges of the cemented speci-
men’s gap between the sample edges and porous discs
(Figure 32). This was avoided by smoothen the edges, fill-
ing the gap between the specimen surface and the porous
Indian Journal of Science and Technology 17
 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils

Figure 30.  Effect of surcharge load on electrical

conductivity reading value.

Figure 32.  Gap between porous disc and sample.

Figure 31.  Membrane puncture along the edge of the

specimen.

disc by a suitable type of filler or applying a membrane

strip as shown in Figure 33. After these remedial mea-
sures the testing was completed successfully as shown
Figure 33.  Membrane strip provided to avoid penetration
in Figure 34.Specimens with porous surfaces (Figure
and puncture at sharp edges.
35) also resulted to membrane puncture at high confin-

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 Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri

Figure 34.  Experiment completed at sample with bulging.

Figure 36.  Membrane puncture due to penetration.

Figure 35.  Pores are present on surface of sample.

ing pressures as shown in Figure 36. This was avoided

by polishing a thin layer of sand-clay mixture paste on
the specimen surface to avoid the membrane penetration Figure 37.  Clay sand mixture applied to fill pores to avoid
membrane punctures.

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 Difficulties in the Sample Preparation and Testing of Modified Soils
Figure 38.  Experiment completed at sample with conju-
gate shear band.
into the pores as shown in Figure 37. After this treatment
the sample was tested successfully without membrane
puncture as shown in Figure 38. The detailed descriptions
about membrane puncture can be seen in7,13.
6.4  Other Tests
However, no worth mentioning difficulties were noticed
in uniaxial compression, one dimensional consolidation,
etc.
7. Conclusions
From the experimental work the following conclusions
were drawn regarding sample preparation and testing:
7.1  Sample Preparation
1. Quantification of the mix composition is essential
such as the consideration of the specific gravity,
Gs based on the weightage average and applica-
tion of mass replacement method. Mathematical
quantification is explicitly highlighted for correct
measurements.
20 Vol 11 (14) | April 2018 | www.indjst.org
2. For cohesive soils it is almost impossible assur-
ing to break all the lumps without grain crushing,
therefore, the remaining lumps can be separated
through sieving.
3. It is difficult to get a homogeneous mix composi-
tion at microscopic level; perfect homogeneity in
the mix composition is less likely.
4. As compared to dry pluviation the wet pluvia-
tion method is relatively more suitable for the
preparation of loose to medium dense remoulded
specimens. Wet pluviation and application of suc-
tion pressure would keep the verticality of granular
samples on the pedestal.
5. The Density Controlled Vibratory Tamping
(DCVT) method is found more appropriate to
avoid over compaction and layer effect.
6. The innovative idea of modified split mould with
collar has been introduced to prepare a remoulded
sample of soil. For the safe removal of the
cemented specimen a thin transparency sheet is
recommended to be placedinside the split mould
before pouring of materials. Provision of col-
lars and induction of transparency sheet into the
mould would result to sample with better smooth-
ness and finish.
Indian Journal of Science and Technology

7. The consistency in compaction drop height was
adjusted by providing a guide rod with a constant
height adjustment.
8. The samples which are stabilized with gypsum
cannot be soaked because the gypsum material
has a tendency to dissolve completely in water.
Similarly, the saturation of gypsum stabilized soils
in the consolidated drained and undrained testing
may be done using silicon oil.
9. Acquiring the required degree of saturation for
cemented samples found difficult by conventional
way of flushing and saturation ramp. To overcome
this problem the flushing process for extended
duration and saturation ramp at elevated pressure
was found to be reasonably effective.
7.2  Sample Testing
1. Increased contents of wheat straw resulted to more
complicate the testing process for consistency lim-
its.
2. Adequate surface levelling and minimum contact
pressure is required for the determination of elec-
trical conductivity.
3. During triaxial testing at high confining pres-
sure, the sharp edges of the cemented specimen
and gap between the porous disc and pores on
the sample surface may result to the membrane
puncture. Provision of membrane strip at the top
and bottom edges due to the sharp edges, double
membrane and surface polishing with sand-clay
mix to avoid membrane puncture at the edges and
surface found effective.
8. Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Geotechnical
Laboratory of NED University of Engineering and
Vol 11 (14) | April 2018 | www.indjst.org
Gul Muhammad and Amanullah Marri
Technology, for providing the required facilities in the
completion of the experimental work.
9.  Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest
regarding the publication of this paper.
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Indian Journal of Science and Technology