Soil Stabilization to Improve Strength and Mitigate Collapse Suscepibility Through Waste Marble Dust

Abstract

The soils that can rapidly settle or collapse the ground is known as collapsible soils. They have caused major structural damages all over the World. These soils show excellent strength and stiffness properties in dry conditions but undergo a sudden reduction in volume when exposed to water. Most of the buildings in Risalpur region show severe signs of distresses in the form of extensive cracking and differential settlements. The present study focused on mitigation of collapse susceptibility using chemical means byvaryingpercentages (5%, 10% and 15%) of waste marble dust. The target soil layer for improvement was at 4 ft which relates to the depth of shallow and deep foundations. The detailed program of investigations included laboratory tests; including basic tests to estimate index properties and classification of soil, moisture density relationship, Unconfined Compression Test and California bearing ratiosoaked as well as unsoaked under different loading conditions. To evaluate the effectiveness of marble dust as a soil stabilizernumber of Laboratory tests were done. The research describedthatgeotechnical parameters of collapsible soil of Risalpur is improved substantially by increasing the quantity of waste marble dustbut up to a particular level of 10%. Significant Plasticity index reductions occurred with Marble dust treatment. Results showed that plasticity was reduced by 15 to 30% and strength increased by 25 to 50 %. The highest strength were achieved at 10 % waste marble dust after 7 days curing. Also we found that with addition of waste marble dust the swell index of the soil was reduced. Concurrently the moisture acceptance from the surrounding was greatly reduced by the soil when compacted at 65 blows with addition ofwastemarble dust. However the soil properties to be used as subgrade or sub base material are also analyzed which shows that with addition of waste marble dustthe California bearing ratio value is also improved.