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From problematic soil to engineered fill: Transforming granite residual soil with clay improvement
Fang Dang1,2,3, Hong Guo1,2,3, Ya Wang1,2,3
1School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, China.
Plos One
|March 6, 2026
Summary
Adding clay to granite residual soil improves its mechanical properties. Optimal clay content enhances soil compaction and water retention, making it suitable for roadbed filling.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Soil Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Granite residual soil in the Qinba Mountains presents engineering challenges.
- Improving soil mechanical properties is crucial for infrastructure development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the enhancement effect of clay on granite residual soil's mechanical properties.
- To determine the optimal clay content for improving soil engineering characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory tests including liquid and plastic limit determinations, compaction, compression, and direct shear tests.
- Microscopic structural observations to understand clay-soil interactions.
Main Results:
- Increasing clay content enhances plasticity index and maximum moisture content.
- 30% clay content maximizes dry density (21.4% increase) and minimizes compression coefficient (75% reduction).
- Cohesion increases linearly with clay content, while the internal friction angle decreases and stabilizes above 30% clay.
Conclusions:
- Clay is an effective additive for improving the engineering properties of granite residual soil.
- The study provides a reliable reference for using clay in roadbed filling applications.
