EFFECTS OF CONTAMINATIONS IN BEARING CAPACITY OF SOIL

Abstract

This paper presents the details of a simple laboratory Electrokinetic remediation model used for removal of chemical effects from an unsaturated soil by keeping in view the plane source model in which the velocity of flow was considered only in one direction and dispersion in two direction. The traced water injected in the saturated porous medium is collected in a set of observation locations and the depositions of contaminants are collected by electrodes attached in the instrument and the bearing capacity is determined with and without contaminants. The obtained values of bearing capacity are checked with the values from graphs drawn and also from thumb rule given by Terzaghi, Prandtl and Meyerhof. This paper also focuses on the model studies of sorption and desorption of Arsenic on different unsaturated soils. It was also observed that maximum decontamination of contaminant occurred within 4 hours (average) in gravel unsaturated soil, where 2 hours in clayey unsaturated soil. The decontamination efficiency range of model was found 65% to 85% depending upon particle size of the unsaturated soil and the concentration of the contaminant.