Durability Studies on the Lateritic Soil Stabilized with GGBS and Alkali Solutions

Abstract

In order to use the locally available lateritic soil as a base course for pavement construction, the engineering properties of the soil need to be enhanced. Hence, the experimental investigation of the lateritic soil stabilized with the ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and combination of alkali solutions such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na<inf>2</inf>SiO<inf>3</inf>) has been conducted. The various parameters which affect the properties of the soil like binder (GGBS) content, sodium oxide (Na<inf>2</inf>O) dosage, silica modulus (M<inf>s</inf>), and water to binder ratio (w/b) are considered. In the present investigation, the GGBS content of 25%, Na<inf>2</inf>O of 6%, Ms of 0.5, and w/b of 0.25 are chosen. The Atterberg's limits, standard and modified proctor compaction tests, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and durability tests were conducted on the stabilized soil. The UCS of 28 days cured and stabilized samples at standard and modified proctor densities is showing 775% and 580% increase with respect to natural soil and 98% and 142% increase with respect to 0 days cured samples respectively. The chosen combination of soil mixture passes all 12 cycles of wetting and drying (WD) and freeze and thaw (FT) with weight loss of 5.2% and 1% at standard proctor density and 8% and 2.5% at modified proctor density respectively after 7 days of curing. © 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.