Evaluation of geotechnical characteristic of surface soil for compressed earth block industry in Shuwan area northern of Kirkuk

Abstract

The study and evaluation of geotechnical characteristics, which included tests of the, grain-size distribution analysis, Atterberg Limits and specific gravity, chemical and mineralogical analyses of samples from the shuwan, northern of Kirkuk, and the possibility of using them as raw materials in the compressed earth block industry, were all part of the research. The samples are composed of 28% clay, 47.2% silt, and 17.6% sand. The results of the soil consistency showed that the soil is of a low to medium plasticity type depending on the plasticity scheme within the standard classification of soils and that it can be formed and take suitable plasticity for the compressed earth blocks industry. Results were classified according to Picard's chart, showing that it is located within the clayey silt field, and this indicates an increase in the ability to form the compressed earth blocks industry. And the results of the specific weight ranged between (2.69 – 2.73), where the data of the results of this study showed the validity of these clays in the brick industry.