International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Ritu Mewade, S.S. Kushwaha
Abstract: Rapid urbanization and industrialization have led to environmental challenges, including a shortage of buildable land for infrastructure projects. Construction on clay soils is expensive due to the need for soil stabilization. Initially, engineers relied on trial-and-error methods and mechanical stabilizers; however, understanding the behavior of expansive soils has become crucial. Expansive soils, which are prevalent in southern India, can be stabilized using chemical and mechanical treatments. This study explores the use of industrial waste admixtures like fly ash (FA), rice husk ash, quarry dust (QD), and marble powder (MP) for stabilizing clay soils. The goal is to reduce construction costs and manage industrial waste. Experimental results showed that the dry strength of soils improved with the addition of QD, with the optimal ratio of 70:30 for Soil 1 and Soil 2, and 80:20 for Soil 3. The optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD) were determined for each mixture. Further experiments incorporating single- and double-layer geogrids showed significant reductions in swelling behavior, swell pressure, and improvements in the California Bearing Ratio (CBR), indicating enhanced soil stabilization. The study concluded that QD is the most effective admixture, and the inclusion of geogrids further improved the soil’s stability and strength, as confirmed by Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling with a correlation of 0.95.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17750322
