Influence of Steel Slag Addition on Strength Characteristics of Clayey Soil

Abstract

Abstract: The disposal of industrial waste or by-products has become more difficult and expensive as a result of the increasing environmental regulations and shortages of suitable disposal sites. When molten steel is separated from impurities in steel making furnaces, steel slag is produced as a by-product of the process. In the construction industry, steel slag has long been used in various applications in the construction industry such as aggregates in road construction, railway ballast and hydraulic protection structures. Using steel slag for soil stabilization is a modern application of steel slag. In this study the main approach is to investigate the effect of steel slag on the strength characteristics of clayey soil. Steel slag is blended with clayey soil in amounts of 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% of dry weight. In our study, the optimum content of steel slag was determined by considering the maximum unconfined compressive strength. A series of further laboratory tests have been performed on this optimum mix to evaluate its suitability as a stabilizer material. The test was also conducted with conventional stabilizing material such as l0% fly ash and 5%cement with clayey soil and the obtained optimum mix was determined. Then the results are compared accordingly. In the above study, it has been observed that the addition of steel slag results in significant improvement in strength parameter as compared to fly ash but less strength in case of cement. Also from the cost comparison, it has been observed that cost of optimum mix of steel slag is less as compared to cement. It is therefore used to stabilize clayey soil.