Application of phosphogypsum in soil stabilization

Abstract

This paper describes the application of phosphogypsum with cement and fly ash for soil stabilization. Atterberg limits, standard Proctor compaction and unconfined compressive strength tests were carried out on cement, fly ash and phosphogypsum stabilized soil samples. Treatment with cement, fly ash and phosphogypsum generally reduces the plasticity index. The maximum dry unit weights increase as cement and phosphogypsum contents increase, but decrease as fly ash content increases. Generally optimum moisture contents of the stabilized soil samples decrease with addition of cement, fly ash and phosphogypsum. Unconfined compressive strengths of untreated soils were in all cases lower than that for treated soils. The cement content has a significantly higher influence than the fly ash content. The use of two waste by-products, phosphogypsum and fly ash may provide an inexpensive and advantageous construction product.