Journal of Asian Scientific Research 2(11):587-592 587 EFFECT OF NANOMATERIAL TREATMENT ON GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF A PENANG SOFT SOIL Zaid Hameed Majeed 1 Mohd Raihan Taha 2 ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the effect of addition of different nanomaterials, including nano Cu, nano MgO, and nano clay, on the geotechnical properties of soft soil samples from Penang State. Various amounts of nanomaterials (0.05% to 1%) were added to the soil to study their effect on the soil’s compaction characteristics, consistency limits, and compressive strength. Improvements in these geotechnical properties depended on the type of nanomaterials added, and increasing the percentage of each of the added nanomaterials increased the maximum dry density of the soil. The linear shrinkage and plasticity index decreased with increasing nanomaterial content. The unconfined compressive strength increased as the nanomaterial content increased up to a certain percentage in the soil and then decreased afterwards. Key Words: Soil Stabilisation; Nanomaterials; Consistency Limit; Unconfined Compressive Strength. INTRODUCTION Generally, soft soil includes large fractions of fine silt, peat, and loose sand deposits below the ground water table (Nagaraj, 2001). Among the soils, soft soil has the smallest particle size, usually less than 2 μm. It is produced from weathering processes, hydrothermal activities, or sediment deposits. The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) classifies soft soil as a small-particle soil of which 50% passes through Sieve No. 200 (US Specification, 0.075 mm). Soft soils (Taha, 2009) possess high moisture contents of up to over 85% and high compressibility and sensitivity; they can also be easily interrupted by activities on its surface. Structures constructed on soft soil can encounter engineering problems, especially during settlement and stabilization. Soft soil is found in coastal and lowland areas with high compressibility and low shear strength. Thus, enhancing such properties is of great interest for researchers (Mirlohi, 2011). 1 Department of Civil and Structural Engineering University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia. 2 Department of Civil and Structural Engineering University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia. Journal of Asian Scientific Research journal homepage: http://aessweb.com/journal-detail.php?id=5003