Sub-standard soil stabilization with Engineered Base Stabilizer (EBS)

Sub-standard Soil Stabilization

Sub-standard soil stabilization: Introducing our alternative technology to the traditional stabilization method of using cement or bituminous products for the stabilization of sub-standard materials as a sub-base or base course for road construction. There is an ongoing shortage of bitumen and refineries are continuing to shut down and the environmental impact of using these types of products is growing substantially. There is an alternative that is likely to achieve the desired equivalent material strength of at least a BSM1 material while remaining more flexible, but with inherent strength (friction angle and cohesion improved).

We at Soil Solutions understand the importance of sub-standard Gravel Material Stabilization and what negative effect Cement and Bituminous products, availability and price, has on the road construction industry.

Soil Solutions delivers a Positive Impact Solution (EBS) as an alternative stabilizer with similar if not increased Tensile strength, Flexibility (Elasticity), Durability, and Water Resistance.

Chemical stabilization with nano modified emulsions:

The use of chemical stabilizers or nano modified emulsions to improve in-situ or imported materials is a realistic feasible alternative. The main objective of chemical stabilization is to enhance the suitability of locally available natural gravels for pavement construction, thereby avoiding the need to import other materials.

This can often lead to more cost-effective use of available materials with the following beneficial properties by comparison with the untreated parent material:

increased strength or stability
improved load-spreading capability
increased resistance to erosion
reduced sensitivity to moisture changes
improved workability of clayey materials

MORE ABOUT ROAD STABILISATION

When chemical stabilization or modification of in-situ soils is considered as the most economical or feasible alternate, the selection of the stabilizer is based on the plasticity and particle size distribution of the material to be treated determined by testing in an accredited laboratory.

Use of Nano-Modified Emulsions (NME)

Engineered Base Stabilizer (EBS) supplied by Soil Solutions is a nano-modified emulsion.

Extensive laboratory results conclude that NME materials perform significantly superior to standard bituminous materials, which may have direct implications for improved cost-effective pavement design alternatives.

According to Jordaan et al. (2017b), NMEs have improved distribution, coverage and stabilisation characteristics which allows for the use of smaller quantities of residual bitumen to obtain the required design strength criteria. The implementation of NMEs in road construction materials therefore has the potential to reduce the overall cost of road construction and rehabilitation as well as improve its long-term performance.

The use of such technology may also minimize the practice of hauling new materials to site, as well as provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional modification and construction techniques. The costs associated with transportation and production of good quality materials are therefore predominantly annulled, leading to cheaper and greener construction of roads, without cutting back on the quality or workability of the provisioned road infrastructure.

Extensive laboratory testing has shown that using Engineered Base Stabilizer (EBS), a nano modified emulsion, mixed in as a stabilizer shows promise to perform like better quality BSM1 and BSM2 material, therefore more flexible, but with inherent strength (friction angle and cohesion improved).

The EBS stabilization is likely to achieve the desired equivalent material strength of at least a BSM1 or C3/2 or that of a G2/1 material equivalent.

Benefits of stabilization with nano modified emulsions:

Reduced risk of cracking
Improved performances
Required bearing capacity is obtained in a relatively short time using low percentages of the stabilisation agent
Enables the cost-effective use of locally available materials at a low risk
Improved resistance to water damage
Ease of construction