Enhancement of Soil Properties by Using Red Mud and Lime

Abstract

In the present scenario, the rapid growth of industries and urbanization produces numerous waste which is hazardous and unsafe. Among all the waste materials, red mud (RM) is one, which is a by-product generated during the invention of alumina (Al2O3) from bauxite using Bayer process. So, to minimize these wastes, it can be used as a construction material. This paper demonstrates the maximum use of solid waste RM for the stabilization and influence of lime on the worth features of RM stabilized soil. Parameters like maximum dry density; MDD, optimum moisture content; OMC, unconfined compressive strength; UCS, cohesion; c, soil fiction angle; φ, and California bearing ratio; CBR were studied. The percentages of RM varied from 30 to 50 with an increment of 10%. Lime was added to RM stabilized soil from 2 to 5% with an addition of 1% by its dry weight. Based on the maximum dry density, OMC, UCS, and CBR values, the optimum percentage of RM was found to be 40%. When the lime is added to RM stabilized soil, the MDD values rise up to 4% and the OMC decreases. In addition, the UCS, cohesion, soil friction angle, and CBR increased by 4%. For effective stabilization, the ratio of soil, RM, and lime was found to be 60, 40, and 4 percentage, respectively.KeywordsRed mudLimeStabilizationUCSCBRSoil