The Effect of Calcium Chloride Solution Concentration on Electric Conductivity in Clay Soil Stabilization Using Electrokinesis

Abstract

Electrokinetic soil improvement has emerged as an effective alternative for improving clay soils. Previous studies have proven that this method increases the shear strength of the soil and decreases soil swelling. The soil's shear angle increases while the soft soil's cohesion value decreases. This condition causes the clay soil to have an increased bearing capacity. The electrokinetic method utilizes an electric current applied to two types of conductors, one with positive charges and the other with negative charges. This potential difference causes a change in the resistance of the clay soil, allowing stabilizing agents to flow from the anion (positively charged) to the cathode (also positively charged). The purpose of this research is to investigate the changes in soil resistance resulting from variations in the concentration of the solution (stabilizing agent) used in electrokinetics. Three different solution concentrations were applied to clay soil from West Java, and it was found that there was a significant effect on the soil resistance value. The higher the concentration of the solution applied to the clay soil, the greater the increase in soil resistance, which also results in a corresponding increase in the flow rate of the solution.