Buried Infrastructure in Saline Soils: A Review

Zainab Almheiri

Graduate Student

Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics,

McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C3

Mohamed Meguid

Associate Professor

Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics,

McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C3

Abstract:

Saline soil refers to a condition where high concentration of soluble salts exists in dry environments found in different parts of the world. Infrastructure damage caused by saline groundwater cost millions of dollars for the rehabilitation and the replacement of these infrastructure. Saline soils may occur naturally or induced by human activities. Furthermore, in arid regions and coastal areas salt usually accumulates in inland region due to shallow or rising saline groundwater. Change in soil salinity is known to affect the geotechnical properties of soils, which is generally manifested in high compressibility, low swelling capability, and poor bearing capacity.

This study summarizes the effects of saline soils on different types of infrastructures, including foundations, highway embankments and buried pipes. In addition, this study covers the negative impact of the accumulation of soluble salts on the stability of soil structure. The effects of salt content on the geotechnical and mechanical behaviour of soils in terms of hydraulic conductivity, permeability, osmotic suction and shear strength will be reviewed.

Understanding the interaction between saline soil and subsurface structures will allow engineers to properly address design issues and propose proper mitigation techniques and management practices for the affected infrastructure.

Keywords: saline soils, environment, buried infrastructure, geotechnical properties.

Submitted to Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE 2019) Annual Conference