Description:BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a strengthening of soil and particularly to a method for strength analysis of the soil.
Description of Related Art
[002] Expansive soil presents significant challenges due to their tendency to undergo substantial volume changes in response to varying moisture levels. During the monsoon season, these soil absorbs water, causing swelling and softening, consequently reducing their water-bearing capacity. Conversely, in dry seasons, water evaporation leads to shrinkage and increased hardness.
[003] To mitigate these issues, enhancing the geotechnical properties of the soil is crucial. One key geotechnical property is soil compression strength. Various combinations of admixtures have been employed to bolster the soil's compression strength and address the undesirable volume change behavior. In addition, soil has poor strength due to its significant shrinkage and swelling characteristics. The behavior of this soil is highly unpredictable, particularly with varying moisture levels. Moreover, its high clay content and tendency to harden and form clods when dry present obstacles for farming. Effective soil management techniques, including the addition of organic matter and utilizing appropriate irrigation methods, are crucial to maximize its agricultural potential.
[004] However, existing methods to improve the strength of Soil have limitations, notably in terms of cost. Soil stabilization techniques, such as the addition of specific chemicals or extensive mechanical processes, can contribute to soil pollution and may not be economically viable, especially for smaller-scale projects or regions with limited resources. Additionally, soil stabilization processes often necessitate curing and testing, causing delays in construction schedules, and making them less suitable for projects with tight timelines.
[005] Furthermore, the use of stabilizing agents, especially chemical additives, raises environmental concerns by introducing non-environmentally friendly chemicals into the soil. Some Soils do not respond well to stabilization methods, leading to limited achievable improvement in strength. This limitation is a significant drawback when dealing with particularly challenging soils.
[006] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced method for improving and evaluating the strength of the Soil that can administer the abovementioned limitations in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a method for strength analysis of soil. The method comprising a step of obtaining first proportionate amounts of the soil from a specified source; determining a dry density and a moisture content of the obtained soil from a compaction test; compacting the soil using a split mould; mixing a second proportionate amount of a strengthening agent with the compacted soil using a normal mixing method; allowing the mixed soil and the strengthening agent to cure for a specified curing duration; conducting a compression teston the cured soil; and analyzing the strength of the soil using a stress-strain curve generated during the unconfined compact test.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention may provide several advantages depending on configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for strength analysis of soil.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for strength analysis of soil that is easily reproducible.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for strength analysis of soil that prevents soil degradation and promotes soil stability.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for strength analysis of soil that increases a compressive strength of the soil.
[0012] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for strength analysis of soil that increases shear strength.
[0013] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0014] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible by utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1A depicts soil, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1B depicts a strengthening agent, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of components used for strength analysis of the soil, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for improving and evaluating the strength of the soil, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0022] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0023] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0024] FIG. 1A depicts soil samples 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, a sample of the soil samples 100 may be obtained in a first proportionate amounts. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sample of the soil samples 100 may be obtained from a specified source. In an embodiment of the present invention, the specified source to obtain the soil samples 100 may be, but not limited to, a semi-arid region, a poor drainage area, a good drainage area, a wet area, a dry land, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any source from where the soil samples 100 may be obtained, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first proportionate amounts may be in a range from 100 grams (gm) to 150 grams (gm). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first proportionate amounts of the soil samples 100 may be 130 gm.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, type of the soil samples 100 may be, but not limited to, hardpan soil samples, fertile soil samples, saline soil samples, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the soil samples 100, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0027] FIG. 1B depicts a strengthening agent 102, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, a type of the strengthening agent 102 may be, but not limited to, a sodium lignosulfonate, a magnesium lignosulfonate, a calcium lignosulfonate, an ammonium lignosulfonate, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type the strengthening agent 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the strengthening agent 102 may be derived from a plant source. In another embodiment of the present invention, the strengthening agent 102 may be derived using methods such as but not limited to, a traditional sulfite pulping, a modified sulfite pulping, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the method used to obtain the strengthening agent 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the strengthening agent 102 may be utilized in a form such as, but not limited to, a powder, granules, a liquid solution, a semi-liquid solution, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any form of the strengthening agent 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the strengthening agent 102 may be added and mixed in a second proportionate amount in the soil samples 100. The second proportionate amount of the strengthening agent 102 may be in a range of 3.5 percentage (%) to 7 percentage (%) of the first proportionate amounts of a dry weight of the soil samples 100, in an embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second proportionate amount of the strengthening agent 102 may be 5%.
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of components 200 used for improving and evaluating the strength of the soil samples 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The components 200 used to improve and evaluate the strength of the soil samples 100 may be, a split mould 202, a mixing apparatus 204, a curing apparatus 206, and a testing apparatus 208.
[0032] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the split mould 202 may be configured to conduct a compaction test on the soil samples 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the compaction test may determine a dry density and a moisture content of the soil samples 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the dry density and the moisture content of the soil samples 100 may be determined to establish a baseline for subsequent improvements in the strength of the soil samples.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, a diameter of the split mould 202 may be in a range of 35-millimeter (mm) diameter to 40 millimeter (mm). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the split mould 202 may be 38 mm. In another embodiment of the present invention, a length of the split mould 202 may be in a range of 74 mm to 78 mm. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the length of the split mould 202 may be 76 mm. In an embodiment of the present invention, the split mould 202 diameter and length may be selected to simulate real-world soil samples conditions.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the split mould 202 used for compaction may be cleaned and prepared to prevent contamination and maintain an integrity of the compacted soil samples 100 during testing. In an embodiment of the present invention, the split mould 202 may be, but not limited to, a two-plate mould, a three-plate mould, a multilevel injection mould, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the split mould 202, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the mixing apparatus 204 may be configured to mix the second proportionate amount of the strengthening agent 102 with the compacted soil samples 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the mixing apparatus 204 may be, a hand blender, a mixer, a stirrer, a spoon, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the mixing apparatus 204, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the mixing of the second proportionate amount of the strengthening agent 102 with the compacted soil samples 100 may be conducted using methods such as, but not limited to, a hand mixing pattern, a machine based mixing, a blending mixing pattern, a conventional missing pattern, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mixing method is a normal mixing. In an embodiment of the present invention, the normal mixing of the strengthening agent 102 with the compacted soil samples 100 involves mechanical agitation to uniformly distribute the strengthening agent 102 throughout the soil samples 100. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the methods used for the mixing, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0037] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the curing apparatus 206 may be configured to allow the mixed soil samples 100 and the strengthening agent 102 to cure for a specified curing duration. In an embodiment of the present invention, the specified curing duration may be in a range from 24 hours to 48 hours. In an embodiment of the present invention, the curing may be allowed at an ambient temperature for optimal interaction between the strengthening agent 102 and the soil samples 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the curing apparatus 206 may be, but not limited to, a curing chamber, a container, a plate, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the curing apparatus 206, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies
[0038] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the testing apparatus 208 may be configured to conduct a compression teston the cured soil samples 100 for analyzing the strength. In an embodiment of the present invention, the strength of the soil samples 100 may be analyzed using a stress-strain curve generated during the unconfined compact test. In an embodiment of the present invention, the stress-strain curve generated during the compression test May be analyzed to identify critical points such as, but not limited to, a yield strength, an ultimate strength, and so forth. In another embodiment of the present invention, the stress-strain curve may be analyzed coupled with a microscopic examination of the cured soil samples 100 to understand the structural changes and interactions induced by the strengthening agent 102 at a microscopic level, providing insights into the soil samples strengthening mechanism.
[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, multiple compression test results may be recorded and compared on soil samples 100 samples treated with varying proportions of the strengthening agent 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the testing apparatus 208 may be configured to perform a shear strength test on the cured soil samples 100 to quantify the improvement in shear strength achieved through the addition of the strengthening agent 102.
[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the testing apparatus 208 for conducting the compression test may be, but not limited to, a deformation dial gauge, a vernier calipers, a compression test apparatus - (sicsuca-01), a compact testing machine, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the testing apparatus 208, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0041] Fig. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for improving and evaluating the strength of the soil samples 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] At step 302, the soil samples 100 may be obtained in the first proportionate amounts from the specified source.
[0043] At step 304, the dry density and the moisture content of the soil samples 100 may be determined from the compaction test.
[0044] At step 306, the soil samples 100 may be compacted using the split mould 202.
[0045] At step 308, the second proportionate amount of the strengthening agent 102 may be mixed with the compacted soil samples 100 using the normal mixing method.
[0046] At step 310, the mixed soil samples 100 and the strengthening agent 102 may be allowed to cure for the specified curing duration.
[0047] At step 312, the shear strength test may be performed on the cured soil samples 100 to quantify the improvement in the shear strength achieved through the addition of the strengthening agent 102.
[0048] At step 314, the compression test may be conducted on the cured soil samples 100.
[0049] At step 316, the strength of the soil samples 100 may be analyzed using the stress-strain curve generated during the unconfined compact test.
[0050] At step 318, the multiple unconfined compact tests conducted on the soil samples 100 may be recorded and compared treated with varying proportions of the strengthening agent 102.
[0051] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
[0052] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A method (300) for strength analysis of soil samples (100), characterized by the method (300) comprising steps of:
obtaining first proportionate amountss of the soil samples (100) from a specified source;
determining a dry density and a moisture content of the obtained soil samples (100) from a compaction test;
compacting the soil samples (100) using a split mould (202);
mixing a second proportionate amount of a strengthening agent (102) with the compacted soil samples (100) using a normal mixing method;
allowing the mixed soil samples (100) and the strengthening agent (102) to cure for a specified curing duration; and
conducting a compression test on the cured soil samples (100); and
analyzing the strength of the soil samples (100) using a stress-strain curve generated during the unconfined compact test.
2. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a step of recording and comparing results of multiple unconfined compact tests conducted on the soil samples (100) samples treated with varying proportions of the strengthening agent (102).
3. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a step of performing a shear strength test on the cured soil samples (100) to quantify the improvement in shear strength achieved through the addition of the strengthening agent (102).
4. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dry density and the moisture content of the soil samples (100) are determined to establish a baseline for subsequent improvements in the strength of the soil samples (100).
5. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compaction test is conducted using the split mould (202) of 38-millimeter (mm) diameter and 76 millimeter (mm) length to simulate real-world soil samples conditions.
6. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curing duration is between 24 hours to 48 hours at an ambient temperature, allows for optimal interaction between the strengthening agent (102) and the soil samples (100).
7. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the split mould (202) used for compaction is cleaned and prepared to prevent contamination and maintain an integrity of the compacted soil samples (100) during testing.
8. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stress-strain curve generated during the compression test is analyzed to identify critical points selected from a yield strength, an ultimate strength, or a combination thereof.
9. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the analysis of the stress-strain curve is coupled with microscopic examination of the cured soil samples (100) to understand the structural changes and interactions induced by the strengthening agent (102) at a microscopic level, providing insights into the soil samples strengthening mechanism.
10. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the normal mixing of the strengthening agent (102) with the compacted soil samples (100) involves mechanical agitation to uniformly distribute the strengthening agent (102) throughout the soil samples (100).
Date: October 16, 2023
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant