Geotechnical investigations on Alccofine stabilized kaolin clay

Abstract

Clay soil having high kaolinite content are strenuous to work with as it has low compressive strength and bearing capacity. They tend to cause failures in supporting structures and pavements overlying them. Chemical stabilization is a viable option to improve the strength of the clay. A new soil stabilizer made from processed GGBS, Alccofine 1109SS , is used for stabilization. Alccofine is being used as a micro filler for concrete. The same has been used in 3,6,9, and 12 % to prepare specimens, and these specimens were tested after controlled curing of 0,7,14 and 28 days. The geotechnical strengths of these specimens were tested for Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and split tensile strength (STS). Mixing 12% of Alccofine led to an improvement of around 500 % in UCS strength fa or cud of 28 days. The UCS strength for K91A9 and K88A12 exceed 1700 kPa, recommended by IS code for sub-base courses in low-volume roads, and thus can be used for it. Soaked and unsoaked CBR values were found to have increased by more than 100 % than pure kaolin clay. Further, the morphological test results of SEM and XRD are discussed. The optimum recommended percentage of Alccofine to be used as a stabilizing agent considering economy and sustainability is 9 %.