EFFECT OF USING PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPANSIVE SOIL

Abstract

Expansive soil is the soil whose volume changes according to the changing of moisture content included in it. When the soil absorbs water this will lead to an increase in its volume and vice-versa. The swelling of soil leads to structural damage such as kerbs swelling, cracking in borders and reinforced foundation, and finally leads to deformation in floors and doors, these deformations may be light, moderate, and heavy according to the value of swelling. In this research, the expansive soil "that is brought from Karkuke province" has an initial plasticity index (P.I) is (98), Liquid limit (L.L) is (163), and plastic limit (P.L) is (65). In order to improve the properties of expansive soil, petroleum products have been added to the soil in different percentages (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) by soil weight. These different products such as Kerosene, Gasoil, and Cut-back asphalt (MC-30) are brought from AL-Durra Oil Refinery in Baghdad.. After done all the laboratory tests on this type of soil with different percentages of adding petroleum products, it will be noted that the addition of 10% by soil weight of kerosene reduces the liquid limit (L.L), plastic limit (P.L), and plasticity index (P.I). It also reduces the free swell and swelling pressure as shown in this research. For all petroleum products, the increase in adding petroleum products leads to reduce volumetric changes.