Experimental investigation on expansive soils using electro kinetic geosynthetics (EKG) under cyclic loading Suresh Babu a,⇑ , R. Thirumalai a , V. Naveen Nayak a , S. Gopinath b a Department of Civil Engineering, Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur 635109, India b Department of Civil Engineering, VTU Belgaum, Karnataka, India article info Article history: Received 28 May 2020 Accepted 17 June 2020 Available online xxxx Keywords: Expansive soils Electro Kinetic Geosynthetics Cyclic loading disk Plaxis-3D software Electrical CADD abstract New applications for Geosynthetics have been identified if they can provide an active role, initiating bio- logical, chemical or physical change to the matrix in which it is installed as well as providing the estab- lished functions. This can be achieved by combining the electro kinetic phenomena of electro osmosis, electrophoresis and associated electro kinetic functions such as electrolysis with the traditional functions of Geosynthetics. In this paper, a set of detailed experimental and software analysis is done on expansive soils (ie clay and block cotton soil) under various condition non saturated and fully saturated. Prototype of the cyclic loading disk (CLD) is designed, calibrated and installed. Soil samples are tested by using cyc- lic loading disk (CLD). For inducing Electro Kinetic Geosynthetics (EKG) effects and converting Alternate Current AC to Direct Current DC in soil samples, special electrical circuit is drafted from electrical CADD. Copper as Anode, Aluminium as Cathode and Perforated PVC tube as drain system. And Plaxis-3D soft- ware is used for analysis of soil in various conditions. As results and discussion obtained from the above made action, both expansive soils provides the good improvements from lateral sliding and shear strength parameters. Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer- ence on Newer Trends and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering: Materials Science. 1. Introduction In use most geosynthetics play a passive role, e.g. geomebrane barriers stop the passage of liquids; reinforcement provides tensile resistance, but only after an initial strain has occurred; and drains provide a passage for water but do not cause the water to flow. New applications for geosynthetics have been identified if they can provide an active role, initiating biological, chemical or physical change to the matrix in which it is installed as well as providing the established functions. This can be achieved by combining the electro kinetic phenomena of electroosmosis, electrophoresis and associated electro kinetic functions such as electrolysis with the tra- ditional functions of geosynthetics of drainage, filtration, contain- ment and reinforcement to form elect kinetic geosynthetics (EKG). Electro kinetic geosynthetics have been identified as a platform technology, which combines a wide variety of materials, functions and processes to perform such diverse functions as dewatering, strengthening and conditioning in materials such as soils, sludge’s, slurries, tailings and composts. Applications have been identified in a range of industrial sectors including water, mining, civil and environmental engineering, food and sport. Main technical compo- nents which form the backbone of EKG technology was shown in Table 1. Fig. 1. The electro kinetics and geosynthetics have separate functions between them, its shows in Table 2. By combining the different functions, a range of EKG materials can be produced each with unique properties which may be selected and controlled according to:  Materials and settings in which the EKG is used  Physical and chemical design of the EKGs  Electrical control and operation of the EKGs Management of the boundary conditions at the EKGs The diagram characterises the electro kinetic processes that are activated when ground is treated with EKG materials. These include:  Electroosmotic flow from the anode areas towards the cathode  Pore pressure reduction spreading out from anodes https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.06.349 2214-7853/Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Newer Trends and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering: Materials Science. ⇑ Corresponding author. E-mail address: ac14uce108@gmail.com (S. Babu). Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Materials Today: Proceedings journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matpr Please cite this article as: S. Babu, R. Thirumalai, V. Naveen Nayak et al., Experimental investigation on expansive soils using electro kinetic geosynthetics (EKG) under cyclic loading, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.06.349