Differences Between Stabilization & Modification of Soil

• Oct 27, 2015

• #2

GeoPaveTraffic

Geotechnical

Nov 26, 2002

1,557

US

Responses are likely to be very different depending on region and context.

Mike Lambert

 

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• Oct 28, 2015

• #3

darthsoilsguy2

Geotechnical

Jul 17, 2008

579

US

could be anything.... most engineers use generic terms like this once they define it earlier in a report so they don't have to repeat themselves.
off the top of my head .... soil stabilization could be chemical, subgrade strength, or deal with slope failure.
soil modifying could be just about anything.... adding/drying moisture, compacting/tilling, mixing in aggregate or lime.....

 

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• Oct 29, 2015

• #4

Panars

Geotechnical

Apr 18, 2005

298

US

For calcium based stabilization (cement, lime, lime kiln dust), modification generally means adding a little chemical to help dry out the soil and allow it to be compacted. Stabilization requires more chemical so that you get some bonding of the soil and gain strength that way. For cement, you are generally using 1-2% (by weight) for modification and 3-5% for stabilization.

 

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• Oct 30, 2015

• #5

Ron

Structural

Sep 24, 1999

16,336

US

You can modify soil without stabilizing it; however, you cannot generally stabilize soil without modifying it. Modifying soil is changing it in some manner. Stabilizing soil results in a greater resistance to load deformation.

 

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• Nov 6, 2015

• #6

Terratek

Geotechnical

Oct 17, 2014

269

US

For pavement subgrades, we typically referenced stabilization when using lime and modification when using cement to improve the subgrade. But this is pretty much a firm preference, not even regional, necessarily. I agree with others that the correct answer is "it depends...".

'Improve' is another word that can be interchangeable with modify and stabilize in most cases.

 

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