Abstract
The clayey soils have the capability to swell and shrink with the variation in moisture content. Soil stabilization is a well-known technique, which is implemented to improve the geotechnical properties of soils. The massive quantities of waste materials are resulting from modern industry methods create disposal hazards in addition to environmental problems. The steel industry has a waste that can be used with low strength and weak engineering properties soils. This study is carried out to evaluate the effect of steel slag (SS) as a by-product of the geotechnical properties of clayey soil. A series of laboratory tests were conducted on natural and stabilized soils. SS was added by 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20% to the soil. The conducted tests are consistency limits, specific gravity, hydrometer analysis, modified Proctor compaction, swelling pressure, swelling percent, unconfined compressive strength, and California Bearing Ratio (Soaked CBR). The results showed that the values of liquid limit, plasticity index, optimum moisture content, swelling pressure, and swelling percent were decreased when stabilized the soil. However, the values of maximum dry density, unconfined compressive strength, and California bearing ratio were increased with the addition of steel slag with various percentages to the clayey soil samples. The steel slag was found to be successfully improving the geotechnical properties of clayey soils.
Highlights
Clayey soils are subjected to massive volume changes that severely affect highways and construction projects
With the addition of steel slag from 0% to 20% to the expansive soil sample, the value of liquid limit reduced by 26%, and the value of the plasticity index decreased from 19.83% to 12.64% and the value of linear shrinkage reduced by 53.6%
The values of liquid limit and plasticity index were decreased by 25.4% and 36.3%, respectively, with an increase in the percentages of steel slag from 0% to 20% added to the soil sample
Summary
Clayey soils are subjected to massive volume changes that severely affect highways and construction projects. Soil stabilization is the process of soil alteration to enhance the physical, mechanical, and chemical aspects of the soil It raises some of the essential qualities of the soil like shear strength, volume changes, and bearing capacity. Steel slag is formed like a liquid, floating on the molten steel as a distinct layer It is a mix of silicates and oxides that become dense and solid upon cooling. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, especially in Sulaimani City, there are steel factories that produce a large quantity of steel slag, and this type of waste material causes several damages to the environment To eliminate this problem, steel slag can be used as a soil stabilizer to improve the geotechnical engineering of expansive soils
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