If you are working in the construction industry, then you most definitely already understand the importance of soil when it comes to building just about anything. Furthermore, you also understand that this material often needs to be modified in order to fit certain standards and create a more stable construction platform. In fact, soil amendments are also done when it comes to gardening, as certain plants require it, and that’s further explained here.
Anyway, we are not here to talk about gardening today. Instead, we will stick with the construction industry, since this is an important process in that industry, and you need to learn more about it, with the aim of getting a better understanding about what it is, how it works, and why it is important. Sure, as mentioned above, you have most likely heard of the process already. That, however, does not mean that you know everything about it.
Well, you might not know a lot about this process right now, but you are definitely about to learn. As explained, getting your facts straight on this topic is quite important. Once you do that, you will no longer be confused when someone mentioned soil modification, and you’ll know exactly what to do in order to make the working platform for your construction operations stable and perfect. So, let’s start learning.
What Is Soil Modification
As already mentioned above, this process serves to create a more stable and practically a perfect working platform for any construction work that you need to have done in a certain area. This is probably clear to you by now, but there is one thing that you are wondering. What does the actual process include?
Here’s how to prevent soil damage if that’s what you’re interested in: https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/benefits-managing-soil-built-environment
Since you are wondering what the actual process includes, let us now cut to the chase and make that clear for you right away. Basically, this process consists of improving the plasticity of the soil, optimizing the moisture content, improving shrink-swell potential, bearing capacity, as well as maximum dry density. If you think about it for a moment, you will realize that all of those things are extremely important in any types of construction projects.
Benefits Of Soil Modification
The fact that those processes are important in various construction projects brings us to the next significant question that you need to have answered. In short, you are probably wondering what the actual benefits of soil modification are, and we are now going to talk a bit more about that. This way, you will get to understand exactly why this is something that you absolutely need to do and why it should not be up for debate.
By improving optimum moisture capacity (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD), this process will actually increase the workability of the soil. How so? Well, for instance, a rather weak and extremely wet soil can be modified with the aim of decreasing the actual amount of drying that would be necessary to reach MDD and thus achieve optimal compaction. I suppose you do understand how important this can be.
Another benefit that you should keep in mind is the fact that this process works towards lowering the plasticity index (PI). If this index is high, the soil will have plastic properties and it will be rather easily deformed, which is not a good thing. So, the modification of soil will help you lower the index and provide you with the perfect working conditions when it comes to handling this material.
The shrink-swell potential reduction is another important benefit of this entire process. If the amount of water is not held constant, the volume changes will lead to damaging conditions that will ultimately negatively affect any particular structure that will be built on a specific surface. The process of modification can minimize the shrinking and swelling possibilities, which leads to an overall stable foundation, which is undeniably a huge factor in construction.
How To Do It
Now that you have a better idea as to what this process is and why it is beneficial in the construction industry, there is only one thing that you are most probably wondering. In short, you want to learn how to do this the right way. Well, let me first tell you that there are various different techniques that you can use in this process, meaning that you should get familiar with all of them in order to choose the best one for you.
Of course, incorporating a calcium-based regent into the soil is the most common technique that people use in these cases. That is where quicklime comes in. If you decide to use this technique as well, you’ll have great success, just as long as you make sure that you’re using great quality quicklime.