Stabilization of highly expansive bentonite soil using polypropylene fiber and ground granulated blast furnace slag

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4. Stabilization of highly expansive bentonite soil using polypropylene fiber and ground granulated blast furnace slag

Expansive soils have been a significant problem in geotechnical engineering due to potential failures to various infrastructure such as buildings, bridges, roads, etc. The present study investigates the use of polypropylene fibre and Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) mixed separately with highly expansive commercially available sodium bentonite to reduce the expansivity index and other swelling & shrinkage parameters. The fibre content were 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0% and the GGBS contents were 0, 5, 10, and 15% mixed with bentonite by dry weight. The measured index properties included the Atterberg limits, specific gravity, and linear shrinkage and the engineering property test included compaction, expansivity index, and one-dimensional consolidation. Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS) tests were performed for microstructural analysis of the soil particle. Also, surface charge has been measured using zeta potential analyser. The results show a significant reduction in the expansivity and swelling index of the bentonite when treated with either of the additives, i.e., fibre or GGBS. The results of this study show that polypropylene fibre and GGBS can be effective for stabilising highly expansive bentonite, utilizing industrial wastes such as GGBS can enhance sustainability.

9th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics (ICEG2023)

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