Soil Improvement by Electrokinetic Injection

In this study, a non-plastic silt is grouted by sodium silicate in an electrokinetic cell. The silicate solutions are injected through the reservoir next to the anode electrode. The injection of Na- silicate solution increases the strength adjacent to the anode electrode between 5 to 8 times compared with the base soil. Increasing silicate concentration generates lower increase in strength across the specimen. This means that decreasing the silicate concentration increases the penetration length of the grout. Neglecting the results for anode side of the specimens, the maximum increase in strength has been observed for injection of 5% silicate solution through the anode with acid in the cathode chamber. The obtained strength is 3.3 to 4.0 times greater than the strength of the base soil with the highest penetration length. The application of this technology for increasing the strength of the soil underneath an existing foundation or generation of pile through the soil is proven.