Comparative Study on Stabilization of Expansive Soil Using Waste Ceramic Dust and Limestone for Weak Subgrade Soil

Abstract

Soil stabilization is one of the ground improvement methods for treating weak soils. Unfit for engineering purpose and makes them suitable for construction purposes. However, there is a need to look toward different industrial waste materials that are being produced in huge quantities and it used for the stabilization works. The expansive soil has a serious threat as it possesses seasonal variations of moisture content. It leads to severe damages to the pavements and foundations of the structure. In order to minimize this problem, it needs to be stabilized. Therefore, the objective of this study was a comparative study on the stabilization of expansive soil using waste ceramic dust and limestone for weak subgrade soil for road construction. For the achievement of this study different materials were collected from Ambo town areas and different laboratory tests were designed and conducted. The laboratory investigation has been made to study the suitability of waste ceramic dust, limestone, and ceramic dust-limestone dust to improve the engineering properties of soil. The experimental tests were conducted to determine moisture content, specific gravity, grain size analysis, atterberg limits, proctor test, free swell test and California bearing ratio tests. The test procedures based on AASHTO, ASTM and IS laboratory test standards. In this investigation, the engineering properties of the soil was determined and the strength characteristics of the soil sample treated with waste ceramic dust & limestone was observed by various percentage of waste ceramic dust from 5 to 25% at an increment of 5% and limestone from 0 to 10% at an increment of 2% by different weight ratio was mixed with soil sample. The comparison limestone stabilized with soil samples gave higher CBR values than waste ceramic dust. For the combination, it was established that replacing optimum 20% WCD and 8% limestone has resulted in better results than the performance of each individual and the soil mixed with limestone -waste ceramic dust was more appropriate and suitable for weak subgrade construction. In generally, expansive soils causes a serious problems on structures, so that it should be avoided or treated properly. This review provides the disposal problem of waste ceramic can be effectively used in stabilization works for weak subgrade soil.