Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the stabilization effects of an expansive soil using three different nontraditional chemical additives, in this case: white cement and nano-silica as admixture, waste granite dust, and a new liquid polymer soil stabilizer (i.e. liquid granite). The engineering properties such as soil consistency, linear shrinkage and soil swelling behaviour of a bentonite treated with these stabilizing agents were investigated. Furthermore, the bearing capacity of the stabilized bentonite was analyzed through the California Bearing Ratio test (BCR) and a laboratory foundation model. The experimental program consisted of three series of tests. In the first series, the tests were performed on an expansive soil reinforced with 2%, 4%, 8%, and 10% of white cement combined with 2% of nano-silica. Another series of tests consisted of samples mixed with different percentages of granite powder (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). In the third series, liquid granite as a soil stabilizer was blended with soil specimens at various concentrations (1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%). For all admixtures, the results showed a marked improvement in soil consistency, an important decrease in linear shrinkage, a considerable reduction on the expansion index, and a significant improvement of CBR and soil bearing capacity. Moreover, two empirical correlations were proposed between the bearing capacity parameters (i.e. CBR and Improvement factor) and the expansion index.

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