Experimental study for stabilizing clayey soil with eggshell powder and plastic wastes

Abstract

Using of chemical admixtures such as lime, cement, bitumen etc. in soil stabilization is highly expensive. Therefore, it is preferable to replace these manufactured materials by another kinds of soil additives to reduce the cost. This research investigates an experimental study for stabilizing a clayey soil with eggshell powder as a replacement of commercial lime and plastic wastes strips in order to reduce the brittleness of soil stabilized by eggshell powder, and its effect in the engineering properties of the soil. Three various proportions of eggshell powder (2%, 5% and 8% by weight of dry soil) and plastic wastes strips (0.25%, 0.5% and 1% by weight of dry soil) have been used to make nine groups of stabilized soil samples to obtain the optimum percentage of each additive. The analysis was done by conducting compaction, unconfined compression, swelling potential, direct shear and California bearing ratio tests. It was observed that eggshell powder, plastic waste fibre contents and curing duration had significant effect in the engineering properties of the stabilized soil. The results showed that the unconfined compression strength, California bearing ratio values and shear strength parameters had increased with increase in eggshell powder content up to certain limit, thereafter it will slightly decrease, while an increase in eggshell powder led to a reduction of swelling potential. On the other hand, an increase in plastic wastes fibre content led to an increase in the strength properties mentioned and reduction of swelling potential. Moreover, it is observed that curing duration had significantly improved the strength properties mentioned of the stabilized soil samples.