Mechanical Behaviour of Sand Treated with Colloidal Silica

The present research focuses on the compressive strength characteristics of colloidal silica-stabilized sand in comparison to that of untreated sand of similar relative density (55%). Specimens were prepared in the laboratory by treating sand with different weight percentages of colloidal silica solution. The research on the soil improvement with the addition of colloidal silica is slowly yet increasing day by day due to its mechanical stability with respect to most other chemical grouts. Colloidal silica is also nontoxic, biologically and chemically inert, and has excellent durability characteristics. The sand specimens stabilized with colloidal silica were cured for seven days. It was observed that stabilized sands showed a significant improvement in strength and static loading. This paper is also an attempt to review the technical benefits and feasibility of applying colloidal silica gel as grout in soil stabilization. A number of laboratory unconfined compressive tests and unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests were performed in order to evaluate the shear strength and compressive strength of sand-grouted colloidal silica gel.