Enhancing Soil Stability: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Terrasil Nanotechnology in Soil Stabilization

Abstract

Background: Conventional techniques for stabilizing soil frequently use expensive and occasionally hazardous materials like cement and artificial polymers. Thus, stabilization of soils with chemical additives has drawn up a lot of interest from construction sector, because it can improve the engineering qualities of problematic soils. Nanomaterials have the potential to improve soil qualities without the disadvantages of conventional additives because of their special qualities and high surface area to volume ratio.  Terrasil is a water-soluble nanochemical that has demonstrated promise in improving soil qualities by decreasing permeability and boosting strength, thus making it an appealing choice for soil stabilization. Aims: In this study, the performance and resilience of soils stabilized with Terrasil based on nanotechnology was investigated Methodology: Two soil samples, Sample A (cohesive) and Sample B (non-cohesive) were treated with Terrasil Nano chemical, at dosages of 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%. The additive, predetermined dosages of Terrasil, were first diluted in water and then thoroughly mixed with the soil samples to ensure uniform distribution. Geotechnical properties of soil such as CBR, shear strength and consolidation were investigated. The effectiveness of Terrasil stabilization was then evaluated through these geotechnical tests, and the results were compared with untreated soils (0%) and benchmarked against typical performance ranges reported for traditional stabilizers such as lime and cement. Results: The results shows that there is significant improvement in both CBR and shear strength with increasing Terrasil dosage, particularly for Sample A, where cohesion increased markedly from 23 kN/m² at 0% to 75 kN/m² at 9% dosage. Total settlement decreased significantly with increasing dosage, according to settlement analysis, falling from 0.0369 mm to 0.02405 mm for Sample A and from 0.03117 mm to 0.02428 mm for Sample B. The coefficient of consolidation also demonstrated a downward trend, indicating improved soil stability and reduced compressibility. Conclusion: This confirms that Terrasil is a dependable additive improving the resilience of soils for performance applications related to highway construction and civil engineering.