Bentonite is widely used for construction of hydraulic barrier in water and waste containment facilities because of its high adsorption capacity and low hydraulic conductivity. Performance of bentonite is questionable under varied physical and chemical environment. Illite is one of the common minerals present in many soils and hence it is important to improve its behaviour as -liner material. Studies have shown that illite alone is marginally suitable for use as liner material. The properties of illite are influenced by the nature of pore fluid. To improve the properties of illite and reduce the sensitivity of illite to pore fluid characteristics, it has been proposed to stabilize illite with 1 percent by weight of cement. In this work the geotechnical properties of cement stabilized illite are studied and evaluated from the consideration of liner or as hydraulic barrier requirements. Results have shown that there is a considerable improvement in the geotechnical properties of illite on treatment with cement. The liquid limit, plasticity index, shrinkage properties and strength of cement treated illite are improved and also shown increase in optimum moisture content and reduced dry density with curing period. The properties of cement treated illite are better suited as hydraulic barrier or liner than that of illite alone.
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