Evaluation of the Contribution of Bayburt Tuffite (Bayburt Stone) Dust to the After Freeze-Thaw Strength Values of High Plasticity Clay Soils

Abstract

The strength properties of soils that are considered problematic, such as high plasticity clay, need to be improved for the increasing housing needs in parallel with the increasing population growth and the evolving needs of society due to continuous technological developments. In the last twenties, when global climate changes began to occur, improving the geotechnical properties of such soils, which form the basis of engineering structures, has become an important issue. For this reason, many studies have begun to improve and strengthen such soils using natural, synthetic, or various chemicals. For this reason, natural rocks are one step ahead of other healing materials in terms of being economical, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. In our study, Bayburt tuffite was added to the clayey soil by pulverizing it at the rates of 5%, 10%, and 15%, and the strength change after freezing and thawing was examined. Clay soil (CS) + Bayburt tuffite powder (BTP) mixture samples obtained in three different ratios were wrapped with stretch wrap in the laboratory environment (+20oC) and cured for 7, 14, and 28 days, ensuring the opt. moisture content was maintained. At the end of the curing period, the samples were subjected to +20oC, -20oC, 12 hours, and 10 cycles in the freeze-thaw cabinet, and then, Strength values were acquired with a uniaxial testing device. The highest strength value after freezing-thawing; was observed that it was 29.55% in the MIX1 (CS + 5% BTP) mixture cured for 28 days. As a result, it was concluded that this mixing ratio can be used in cold climates and shallow foundation depths with high plasticity clay soil properties.