Recent Innovations and Practices in Geotechnical Engineering for Sustainable Infrastructure Development

Abstract

AbstractThe scarcity of natural materials such as good native soil, river sand, and aggregates has shifted the focus in recent years toward sustainable solutions in geotechnical engineering. Industrial ash such as fly ash, pond ash, and incinerated ash from other sources are being utilized either as a stabilizing additive or as a replacement of natural geomaterials for filling applications in embankment, bridge abutment, structural fill below foundations, and pavement sublayers. The stabilizing agents such as microsilica, ground granulated blast furnace slag, red mud from mine tailings, fly ash, biosolids, and lignin-based organic stabilizers have been explored by researchers, for improving various geotechnical aspects of different soils. Studies have also explored the application of pond ash for developing flowable fill, an alternative for conventional fill material. In recent years, the potential of old mined municipal solid waste is being explored for its utilization as a potential fill material. The application/utilization of geosynthetics for improving the soil properties is also a step toward sustainable geotechnical engineering. The present review captures some of these recent sustainable innovations and practices in geotechnical engineering that would play a vital role in the development of resilient rural and urban infrastructure.KeywordsSustainableGeotechnical engineeringInnovationReutilizationFill materialStabilization