Enhanced Geotechnical Properties of High Plastic Clay Stabilized with Industrial Waste–Step for Sustainable Development

Abstract

An industrial wastes bagasse ash and steel slag increase in huge quantity year by year, their disposal becomes a very serious problem. It is necessary to utilize industrial wastes effectively for the sustainable development of the country. The study shows the effect of steel slag and bagasse ash mix on problematic high plastic expansive clay. The quantity and type of additives are important to treat expansive clay. It is necessary to choose an additive based on chemical composition and different properties. Atterberg limit, swell properties and compressive strength have been checked for different proportion mix of bagasse ash and steel slag to find an optimum proportion. Wetting–drying cycle tests on an untreated and optimum proportion of all mixes have been carried out to check the durability of the mix under seasonal variation. A relative mix study has been carried out for the optimum blend proportion considering swell characteristics and strength criteria for lightweight structure. The result shows steel slag with the combination of bagasse ash can be considered as a stabilizer to treat high plastic clay of study area, which reduces the swelling characteristics and improves the strength.