Utilising tile waste as an additive to enhance lime-based subgrade stabilisation

Abstract

This study aimed to enhance the mechanical characteristics of the road subgrade layer by incorporating ground tile waste and lime as a soil stabiliser. The investigation on the effectiveness of tile waste as a supplementary additive to lime in subgrade stabilisation involved adding 7% of lime and varying percentages of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of tile waste. The study analysed the plasticity, compatibility, unconfined compressive strength, pH, the results of the indirect tensile test and microstructure of the soil samples. The results indicated that incorporating a mixture of lime and tile waste into the soil significantly enhanced soil strength. Adding higher percentages of tile waste to the soil-lime blend resulted in a proportional improvement in the soil’s mechanical properties. In summary, using recycled tile waste for subgrade stabilisation can provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution for improving road and pavement performance and reducing the environmental impacts of road and pavement construction.

Keywords

• Tile waste
• Subgrade
• Mechanical properties
• PH
• Recycled materials
• Soil stabilisation