Informatics Publishing Limited

Gupta Harsh ¹, Ashray Patel ¹, Bavishi Himanshu ¹, Preeti Tiwari ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Civil Engineering, Indus University, Ahmedabad - 382115, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

Background: The recent advancements and industrial growth has adversely affected the environment which has direct or indirect impact on geotechnical properties of soil. One of the most perturbed sources of contamination is crude oil contamination, which basically takes place either due to accidental spillage of crude oil or through the industrial waste. This leads to alternation of index properties, chemical properties as well as engineering properties of soil. Methodology: Many researchers have worked on studying the impact of crude oil contamination on various types of soil. Present research work, focuses on not only evaluating the extent of alternation of the index properties (Specific Gravity, Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, Shrinkage Limit) as well as engineering properties (Free Swelling Index) for Kaolinite Clay and fine grained sand due to crude oil contamination but also the effect of rate of crude oil contamination viz. 3%, 6% and 9% of crude oil contamination on both the soil types by performing geotechnical tests in accordance with IS Code:2720 part 3-1 (1980), part 5,6 (1985), part 40 (1977) respectively on non-contaminated soil samples as well as crude oil contaminated soil samples. For this purpose, the crude oil contaminated samples were prepared in the laboratory at water content equal to the liquid limit; simulating the in-situ conditions. Findings and Conclusion: The results thus obtained find its application in comparing the effect of crude oil on fine grained and coarse grained soil. The coarse grained soil (sand) due to its inherent structure and high permeability allows the penetration of crude oil at higher rate than that of fine grained soil (clay) which have low permeability and thus are less liable to get affected due to crude oil contamination. Increment in rate of crude oil contamination can be stated for the deterioration of geotechnical properties for both the soil types.

Keywords

Crude Oil-Sand and Clay Interaction, Engineering Properties, Index Properties.

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Gupta Harsh ¹, Ashray Patel ¹, Bavishi Himanshu ¹, Preeti Tiwari ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Civil Engineering, Indus University, Ahmedabad - 382115, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

Background: Hydrocarbon contamination is one of the perturbed issues of concern in the current scenario of tremendous development in petroleum sector all over the world. Intrusion of such contaminants results in altering the engineering properties of soil which lie in the vicinity of such effected zones. Many research works have been done to evaluate the extent of deterioration of soil properties due to such contaminants on various soil samples. Methodology: The present research work focuses not only on hydrocarbon-clay and hydrocarbon-expansive soil interaction mechanism and effect of hydrocarbon on Kaolinite Clay and black cotton soil which is expansive in nature through laboratory tests viz. specific gravity test, Atterberg's limit test, free swell index test as per IS Code:2720 part 3-1 (1980), part 5,6 (1985) and part 40 (1977) respectively on non-contaminated as well as contaminated soil samples but also the effect of rate of hydrocarbon contamination on both the soil types and generate a comparative plot for the both so as to evaluate the behavior of different soil on subjection with hydrocarbon contamination. Soil sample was prepared by adding water equal to liquid limit of the soil and hydrocarbon in 3%, 6% and 9% of the total mass of soil sample taken followed by performing each test. Findings and Conclusion: Co-relations are obtained for each property w.r.t. % of hydrocarbon contamination for both the soil types through LRA. Using coefficient of regression as a parameter (R2 values) the co-relations obtained are validated. The conclusions were drawn stating that there is a remarkable alternation of swelling and shrinkage characteristics of black cotton soil due to hydrocarbon contamination. The extent of deterioration of geotechnical properties in expansive soils is more distinct then that in clays. Applications/Improvements: With the use of LRA, the co-relations can be validated and comparison for the suitability of a particular soil type at such contaminated zone can be determined.

Keywords

Hydrocarbon Contamination, Index and Engineering Properties, Linear Regression Analysis (LRA).

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