Locating Sulfate-Bearing Soils Using Electromagnetic Induction in Areas Potentially Used for Highway Construction
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Tom Hallmark | Project Leader | Hallmark@ag.tamu.edu |
| Dr. Cristine Morgan | Co-PI | cmorgan@ag.tamu.edu |
Why are we interested in Sulfate Minerals in Soils?
- When soils that have significant quantities of sulfate combine with lime used for soil stabilization in highway construction ettringite crystals are formed. These crystals expand and occupy larger volumes then their original components, resulting in heave or cracking of concrete structures.
- Lime induced heave in concrete results in millions of dollars spent in highway and road repair.
- If a correlation exists between the presence of sulfate in soil and electrical conductivity readings, using electromagnetic induction would allow us to locate areas of sulfate in a cost and time efficient manner.
To Learn More About Ettringite, Electromagnetic Induction, or Lime Induced Heave:
- THE MINERAL ETTRINGITE
- Soil Electrical Conductivity Mapping
- ELECTROMAGNETICS
- Delayed Ettringite Formation in Concrete
For more Information on this project contact: Dr. Tom Hallmark