The 2 Types of Soil Stabilization – A Simple Breakdown…

Every major engineering process and project, from road construction, to buildings and structures, bridges, and anything else you can possibly imagine depends on having a stable foundation upon which to begin construction.  In order to achieve these solid foundations, engineers have developed and refined different types of soil stabilization processes and methods throughout the years.

In modern times, the most cutting edge types of soil stabilization are usually fielded by innovative road construction companies like Global Road Technology, companies which are often backed by amazing new chemical products and admixtures.  These new processes have enabled construction and infrastructure in a wide variety of hostile environments that traditional methods simply cannot accommodate.

The Broad Categories of Soil Stabilization – about Soil Stability

In general, no matter which types of stabilization are employed in any given project, there are two main goals to be achieved; increasing the soil stability to the levels necessary to support the construction from an engineering point of view, and reducing construction costs themselves by skillfully employing as much local, in-situ material as possible in the process itself.  Each method addresses this combination of goals in a different way.

Let’s take a look at the two most broad categories and types of the stabilization of soil, and then drill down further into some of the individual techniques and products that are used to that end:

  • Direct Soil Modification – These types of stabilization techniques all rely on directly impacting the soil itself, without employing any chemical additives, admixtures, or changing the composition of the soil bed itself.  Examples of these types of soil stabilization techniques include compacting the soil, implementing drainage to siphon off excess water and moisture, or similar processes.
  • Modification Through Admixture – These types of soil stabilization techniques instead rely on changing the nature and chemical composition of the soil itself, most typically through an additive.  Both mechanical soil stabilization and chemical stabilization techniques fall under this second category.  Lime, cement, bitumen, or other chemicals may be employed in this manner.

The 2 Types of Soil Stabilization – Where Does GRT Come in?

Typically, they would be categorized in the second broad category: modification through admixture.  However, there are some marked differences between the products GRT currently employs and chemicals used in the past; most of these represent substantial improvements and benefits over more traditional products and techniques.

For example, several of the traditional admixtures and chemicals used in different types of stabilization are hazardous to the environment; you do not want them running off from a construction site and entering the groundwater, or contaminating any other natural water source.

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On the other hand, GRT products do not use these dangerous chemicals; everything used by GRT is perfectly safe for the environment, and completely non-toxic in nature.  This makes their methods and products much safer to employ in general, particularly in urban settings where the types of soil stabilization employed have to make sense and be suitable for deployment in a populated area.

For more information on various types of soil stabilization contact Global Road Technology here: https://globalroadtechnology.com/contact/