Replacement of Conventional Base Course with Stabilized Lateritic Soil Using Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Alkali Solution in the Flexible Pavement Construction

Abstract

The use of cement/chemical-treated base and sub-bases is widely recommended in the pavement construction. Therefore, this paper investigates the behaviour of stabilized lateritic soil as a base course in flexible pavement by replacing the granular base course. The lateritic soil was stabilized with 25% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) along with the alkali solutions such as sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate at a varying sodium oxide (Na<inf>2</inf>O) contents of 4, 5 and 6%, silica modulus (Ms, a ratio of silica to sodium oxide) of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 and a constant water binder ratio (w/b) of 0.25. The maximum compressive strengths of 5452 and 6593 kPa were achieved for a treated sample consisting of 6% Na<inf>2</inf>O and 1.0 Ms cured for 28 days at the light and heavy compactions, respectively, which is due to the formation of calcium silicate hydrates when calcium oxide-rich GGBFS reacts with water. Further with the curing period results in an increase in strength due to the formation of calcium alumino-silicate hydrates when GGBFS reacts with alkali solutions. The durability of the samples was evaluated by wetting–drying and freezing–thawing tests. The samples passing the required durability criteria were tested for flexural strength and fatigue life. Scanning electron microscope images showed closely packed crystal orientation indicating high strength. Low and high volume pavements were designed using stabilized soil as a base course, and the strains were evaluated using pavement analysis software. It is suggested that the conventional granular base layer can be replaced with the stabilized soil. © 2020, Indian Geotechnical Society.