Soil is one of main construction materials, without which, almost no construction work can be implemented. However, seasonal moisture makes the soil plagued and contaminated, causing cracks on the constructions. Therefore, to remove the moisture and to make the soil stronger, external stabilizers are incorporated within the soil through the heavy equipment namely soil stabilizers. For removing and replacing the poor quality soil with a very good quality soil, soil stabilizers are the only equipment that we need. It incorporates engineering properties into the soil.

What are the additives that a soil stabilizer incorporates into the soil?

Normally a soil stabilizer stabilizes the soil in two ways: 1) by adding mechanical additives, 2) by adding chemical additives. The mechanical stabilizers or additives are cement, bituminous and lime. On the other hand, Portland cement, Quicklime, Fly Ash, Calcium Chloride, Bitumen etc. are the chemical stabilizers or additives.

How does a soil stabilizer work?

The first thing before stabilizing the soil is to determine what are the properties that re missing in the soil that need to be incorporated. As soon as the engineers determine the additives or the stabilizing agents for the soil, the stabilizing technique is determined. If mechanical stabilizing method is chosen for the process, then all the additives will be mixed properly, as per their required proportion. The soil stabilizer spreads the additive mixture into the soil as soon as it is mixed; this is taken care of in the mechanical method as some of the additives that are used in this technique have a tendency to settle fast. If the additives are not mixed in proper proportions, then they will destroy the soil. Other than mixing, compaction equipment are also used for soil stabilizing, as it provides pressure from above and increases the density of the soil. Soil is also reinforced in the mechanical technique by adding gravels, sands and stones, boulders etc. to prevent the migration of the soil. In the chemical stabilizing method, the stability of the soil is increased by using Calcium Chloride; the soil’s resistance power is increased by the Bitumen and other products. Chemical soil stabilizers efficiently add these stabilizing agents to the soil.

Types of soil stabilizers:

• Tractor-towed soil stabilizers:

This heavy equipment or soil stabilizer has a mixing and milling motor that is driven mechanically. The additives or binding agents for the soil stabilization are mixed in this motor and spread on the soil across the ground, along the full width of the machine.

• Bigger Tractor-towed soil stabilizers:

This soil stabilizer can cut the ground with a 6 foot, 7 inch or even an 8 foot cutter that can cut 20 inch deep into the ground and put the additive mixture into the soil.

• Very Large Soil stabilizers:

This soil stabilizer has the capability of controlling or rather preventing the formation of the dust clouds and thus the stabilizing agent or additives are saved from going out into the atmosphere.