EFFECT OF CERAMIC WASTE ON GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT STABILIZED CLAY SOIL

ABSTRACT

A clayey soil collected at Barkindo along Lamurde-Adamawa road, Numan Local Government area of Adamawa State, Nigeria, was stabilized with 0, 2, 4 and 6% cement which was admixed with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% ceramic waste dust (CWD) each.  Index properties test and microstructural tests were conducted on the untreated clay soil while compaction tests and unconfined compressive strength tests were carried out on the untreated clay and clay soil admixed with varied composition of cement and CWD. Results  from  index  properties  showed  that  the  soil  was  classified  as  clay of  high plasticity  based  on  unified  soil  classification  system.  The  microstructural  results revealed that the clay consist majorly of quartz, microcline, kaolinite, brushite and gypsum. The maximum dry densities (MDD) were observed to reduce with increase in cement and CWD while the optimum moisture content (OMC) reduces in the same order. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) increased with increase in CWD for specific cement addition, to maximum of 30% CWD after which the values were observed to drop. 30% CWD is therefore the optimal CWD required for maximum UCS strength. A maximum of 2700kN/m2  was recorded at 6% cement and 30% CWD after 90days  of  curing.  This  maximum  value  satisfied  the  requirement  for  a  stabilized material to be used as base course material for highly trafficked roads. Significant increase in UCS was also observed with increase in curing days which signifies the existence of Pozzolanic reaction in the mixture. 30% CWD can therefore be used for effective stabilization of cement stabilized clay soil.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

The increasing population of the world, especially developing nations has led to increasing demand  for  roadways,  railways,  housing  facilities  and  other  infrastructures.  Soil  with higher stability is required to bear the weight of these structures; generally speaking, the stability of any construction related structure indirectly or directly depends on the soil stability (Balarabe and Mary, 2015).

For the past several years researchers have recognized the use of locally available materials which are cost effective and available from industrial and agricultural wastes to improve the properties of expansive soils. This is aim at reducing stabilization costs, related to conventional stabilizing agents such as cement as well as the emission of CO2  related to cement manufacturing process stability (Balarabe and Mary, 2015).

Soils used as materials for earthworks in foundation of road pavements play an important role in ensuring the stability and durability of roads. Suitable natural soils are, however, getting fast depleted; making some road pavement designers and constructors favour the stabilization of in situ soils with poor engineering properties over their replacement with suitable materials in order to reduce road construction costs (Isaac et al., 2019; Pratico and Puala, 2012; Praticoet al., 2011). A soil can be said to be unsuitable for use as earthwork material if it is difficult to work with (that is, it has a high plasticity), has low strength, has a tendency to retain moisture and a high natural moisture content (Akinwunmi, 2014).

Soil stabilization means the improvement of the stability or bearing power of a deficient soil by the use of compaction; proportioning and the addition of suitable stabilizers or admixtures. Soil stabilization includes chemical, mechanical, physico-chemical methods to improve the soil properties.This process basically involvesthe excavation of soil. These are the techniques for improvingsoil deficiency at shallow depth as in pavements. Stabilization method may be categorized as two main types: (a) improvement of soil properties of existing soil with-out using any type of admixture; and (b) improving the properties with admixtures(Neeraj and Ahirwar, 2014).

Expansive soils swell or increase in volume in when in contact with water and shrink or reduce in volume because of evaporation of water clearing the dry seasons (Balarabe and Mary, 2015).Expansive soils pose challenges to Civil Engineers Worldwide due to their exhibition of high swelling and shrinking behaviour. They are highly fertile for agricultural purposes, but pose severe problems to pavements, embankments, and light to medium loaded  residential  buildings  due  to  cyclic  volumetric  changes  caused  by  moisture fluctuation (Venkateshet al., 2018).

Black Cotton Soils are derived from the weathering action of Basalts and traps of Deccan plateau (Gurugubelliet al., 2017).They are highly fertile for agricultural purposes but pose severe problems to the pavements, embankments and light to medium loaded residential buildings resting on them due to cyclic volumetric changes caused by moisture fluctuation. This volume change behaviour is the reason for cracking to the overlying structures. The reason for this behaviour is due to presence of clay mineral such as montomorillonite(Gurugubelli et al.,  2017).

Stabilization using ceramic waste is one such waste material which can be used for improving the properties of poor clayey soils. Ceramic waste materials are easily available at various manufacturing units and at construction sites. Ceramic waste can be conveniently used   for   soil   stabilization   and   problem   of   their   disposal   can   be   overcome   in environmentally safer way. Thus use of ceramic waste not only improves the soil properties but problem of their disposal  can  also  be solved.  In  the present  study ceramic waste materials will be used to improve the properties of clayey soils and effect of ceramic dust on various soil properties will be evaluated.

1.2       Problem Statement

Road construction in the developing nations has been a major challenge to Government and different specialists in the construction industry. The challenge facing Government is the limited resources available for the construction of roads and the high cost of road building normally put forward by the construction companies. On road construction site, the contractor is faced with the problem of non-availability of suitable road construction materials, within the vicinity of most road projects. A situation that normally results in the usage of materials imported from other locations, resulting in additional costs that does not guarantee economy in road construction ( Chang, 2002).

Also, the environmental challenges posed by most waste materials in our immediate community is at alarming rate and has been a major concern to engineering profession. It is on this backdrop that engineers are finding it necessary to tackling challenges facing our society.   These   challenges   include   global   warming,   environmental   pollutions   and greenhouse emissions ( Hashmiet al.,2007)

1.3       Aim and Objective of the Study

The  aim  of  this  research  work  is  to  determine  the  effect  of  Ceramic  wastes  on  the

Geotechnical Properties of Cement Stabilized clay Soil. The objectives are:

i-         Determined the index properties of the clay soil and micro structural properties of clay soil mixed with varied proportionof Ceramic waste.

ii-        Determined the compaction characteristics of cement stabilized clay soil and clay soil mixed with varied proportion of Ceramic waste.

iii-       Determined the unconfined compressive strength of cement stabilized clay soil and clay soil mixed with varied proportion of   Ceramic waste.

1.4       Justification of Study

One of the ways of ensuring economy is making suitable for road work locally available materials within the vicinity of road projects, through stabilization. One of such materials that are readily available in Nigeria is black Cotton Soil (Manasseh and Joseph, 2013).

Also, In order to reduce the cost of stabilization of materials for road construction, one reasonable alternative is the use of wastes. Researchers have shown that utilization of wastes has resulted in considerable savings in construction costs as well as improvement in soil properties (Umar and Elinwa, 2005).

1.5       Scope of the Study

The scope of the study is to investigate and evaluate the performance of stabilizing clay soil with Ceramic wastes. Geotechnical properties tests such as Particle Size Distribution,Specific Gravity, Moisture Content,Atterberg Limits and Linear Shrinkage will be carried out on the Soil,alsoengineeringproperty tests like Compaction, and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) will be carried out on the untreated and treated soil at varying percentages.

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