REDUCTION OF UNDER-ROAD PAVEMENT SINKHOLE HAZARDS BY SOIL IMPROVEMENT

Abstract

This study describes a lab simulation that simulates the sinkhole that occurs in the sand bed beneath a road model due to pipeline rupture for any pipeline material beneath the road bed. The objective of this study is to stabilize the underlying sand soil with regular Portland cement in order to increase the time it takes for sinkholes to occur and discover preventive measures. A series of model tests is conducted as part of the investigation on a road model built on a sand substrate, both with and without stabilization. A rectangular box container of dimensions 500 x 350 x 150 mm was constructed. Cement concentrations of 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, and 8% by weight of dry sand were mixed with the sand to create the stabilized sand beds; their percentages of cement content are used by previous studies on stabilizing cement content in soil. According to the findings, cement significantly reduces the likelihood of sinkholes developing. In order to protect the sand from erosion caused by water flowing through pipelines that are beneath roads and to delay the time it takes for sinkholes to form in the soil, cement can be applied. According to the findings, cement percentages of 4% and 5% had little to no impact on when sinkholes arise. The time reported for the 4% or 5% stabilized sand is roughly 30 to 60 seconds, which is also the time at which the sinkhole occurrence of the unstabilized sand substrate occurs. However, sand stabilized with 6% and 7% cement had a significant impact on the sinkhole occurrence time, increasing it by up to 330 seconds. As a result, it is crucial in this field to stabilize the sand bed using such Portland cement ingredients.