A Study on Stabilization of Expansive Soil with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Sodium Silicate

Abstract

Utilization of industrial waste materials in the improvement of soils is a cost efficient and environmental friendly method. Stabilization of the expansive soil is studied by using Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and sodium silicate. This paper includes the evaluation of soil properties like compaction, unconfined compressive strength test and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test. Detailed experimental study has been undertaken to investigate the characteristics and behavior of expansive soil mixed with GGBS and Sodium Silicate at different percentage. From the experimental results, it has been observed that various properties of soil added with these stabilizers at certain percentage show remarkable positive changes as compared to the natural soil. The value of compaction parameters has increased enabling increase California Bearing Ratio in both soaked and unsoaked conditions which indicates that improved in strength. From these results, it was found that optimum GGBS (20%) gives the maximum increment in the CBR value and 4% sodium silicate compared with all the other combinations.