Abstract
The three major steel manufacturing factories in Jordan dump their byproduct, steel slag, randomly in open areas, which causes many environmental hazardous problems. This study intended to explore the effectiveness of using fine steel slag aggregate (FSSA) in improving the geotechnical properties of high plastic subgrade soil. First soil and fine steel slag mechanical and engineering properties were evaluating. Then 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% dry weight of soil of fine steel slag (FSSA) were added and mixed into the prepared soil samples. The effectiveness of the FSSA was judged by the improvement in consistency limits, compaction, free swell, unconfined compression strength, and California bearing ratio (CBR). From the test results, it is observed that 20% FSSA additives will reduce plasticity index and free swell by 26.3% and 58.3%, respectively. Furthermore, 20% FSSA additives will increase the unconfined compressive strength, maximum dry density, and CBR value by 100%, 6.9%, and 154%. By conclusion FSSA had a positive effect on the geotechnical properties of the soil and it can be used as admixture in proving geotechnical characteristics of subgrade soil, not only solving the waste disposal problem.
Highlights
The byproduct of steel manufacturing in Jordan, steel slag, is dumped randomly in open areas, which causes many environmental hazardous problems
Liquid limit and plastic limit tests were conducted on each sample prepared with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% of the fine steel slag aggregate (FSSA) additive
The decrease in the liquid limit is larger than the decrease in the plastic limit; for this reason, the plasticity index decreased as the additive content increased
Summary
The byproduct of steel manufacturing in Jordan, steel slag, is dumped randomly in open areas, which causes many environmental hazardous problems. The addition of steel slag resulted in an increase in the specific gravity of the soil, reduction in liquid and plastic limits, and plasticity index.
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