Stabilisation Testing at i2 Analytical
Soil stabilisation testing is a process of treating a soil in such a manner as to maintain, alter or improve the performance i.e strength and durability, of the soil as a construction material.
The use of lime stabilisation of clay in construction is over 5,000 years old. The Pyramids in Tibet were built using compacted clay and lime and in both China and India, there is a long history of using lime in various ways. In the 1950’s limited amounts of lime stabilisation was carried out in the UK but with increased usage, stabilisation is now used on many construction projects on an annual basis, from smaller shorter contracts through to massive earthworks contracts for major schemes.
Testing of stabilised materials has also adapted over time and is now an important requirement in the design process as well as the compliance and monitoring process during construction.
i2 Analytical has vast experience of testing stabilised materials. In the laboratory, classifications, chemical testing and stabilisation trials are undertaken at an early stage with the site services team engaged as the stabilisation earthworks progress, testing for contract compliance and performance requirements, including lab CBR testing and plate load testing.
Our UKAS accredited laboratory can carry out testing to British and European Standards including the following:
Test | Methodology | UKAS Accredited Test |
---|---|---|
Stabilised Materials | ||
Reference Density & Water Content 2.5kg - Proctor | BS EN13286:2010 | Yes |
Reference Density & Water Content 2.5kg - Large Proctor | BS EN13286:2010 | Yes |
Reference Density & Water Content 4.5kg - Proctor | BS EN13286:2010 | Yes |
Reference Density & Water Content 4.5kg - Large Proctor | BS EN13286:2010 | Yes |
Reference Density & Water Content - Vibrating Hammer | BS EN13286:2021 | Yes |
Lab CBR/Immediate Bearing Index on remoulded specimen @ NMC | BS EN13286:2021 | Yes |
Soaking and monitoring of Swell | BS EN13286:2021 | Yes |
Moistre Condition Value - MCV | BS EN13286:2003 | Yes |
Compressive Strength of stabilised cube specimen | BS EN13286:2003 | No |
Site Testing | ||
Incremental Plate Load | BS1377:1990 | Yes |
In-situ California Bearing Ratio (Plate) | SHW IAN 73/06 | Yes |
In-situ California Bearing Ratio (Plunger) | BS1377:1990 | Yes |
Insitu Density by Nuclear Density Gauge | BS1377:1990 | Yes |
Insitu Density by Non-Nuclear Density Gauge | IHM | Yes |
Insitu Density by Sand Replacement Method | BS1377:1990 | Yes |
Insitu Density by Core Cutter Method | BS1377:1990 | Yes |
Moisture Condition Value MCV | BS1377:1990 | Yes |
Moisture Condition Value MCV Shear Strength by Hand Shear Vane | NZ Geo Society 2001 | Yes |
Dynamic Cone Penetrometer | DMRB CD 229 | Yes |
Dynamic Plate Tests (LWD) | IHM | No |