Use of slag (with cement) for improving the performance of expansive soil of road pavement subgrade

Abstract

The study presented in this paper evaluates the suitability of using slag (with cement) as a stabilizer, for improving the performance of expansive subgrade soil in road pavement. Several laboratory tests were conducted to determine the geotechnical engineering characteristics of the expansive soil and associated mechanical engineering performance. The tests conducted include the particle size distribution, standard Proctor compaction, Atterberg’s limits, free swelling, permeability, California bearing ratio (CBR), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and repeated load triaxial (RLT). In this study, the use of slag (with cement) as a stabilizer followed three proportion schemes, and the selection of a specific stabilizer proportion was determined based on UCS value that satisfies the required standard as a subgrade for road pavement. The results recommended a stabilizer proportion for the soil studied to be 13.5% slag + 1.5% cement at 28 days curing time. This mixture resulted in a remarkable increase in the UCS value of eight times higher than the UCS value of the non-stabilized soil. The CBR value of the mixture was four times higher than the minimum required value for design of road pavement. The study presented herein confirmed that the exploitation of the by-product material of slag can indeed be useful, both in terms of improving the performance of the subgrade soil for road pavement and sparing the environment a spread of significant potential pollutant.