Soil stabilization by ground bottom ash and red mud

Abstract

This paper presents results of a compressive investigation conducted on weathered soil stabilized with ground bottom ash (GBA) and red mud (RM). The effects of water/binder ratio, RM/GBA ratio, chemical activator (NaOH and Na2SiO3) and curing time on unconfined compressive strength of stabilized soils were examined. The results show that the water/binder ratio of 1.2 is optimum ratio at which the stabilized soils have the maximum compressive strength. For 28 days of curing, the compressive strength of soils stabilized with alkali-activated GBA and RM varies between 1.5 MPa and 4.1 MPa. The addition of GBA, RM and chemical activators enhanced strength development and the rate of strength improvement was more significant at the later age than at the early age. The potential environmental impacts of stabilized soils were also assessed. The chemical property changes of leachate from stabilized soils were analyzed in terms of pH and concentrations of hazardous elements. The observation revealed that the soil mixture with ground bottom ash and red mud proved environmentally safe.