Understanding the impacts of binary additives on the mechanical and morphological response of ameliorated soil for road infrastructures
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of King Saud University-Engineering Sciences
Abstract
In an attempt to promote a cleaner environment, the deployment of waste materials in soil amendment
protocols have been a major concern for civil engineers. Recent discoveries in the study of soil mechanics
have revealed the pozzolanic tendencies demonstrated by these waste materials, which are beneficial in
the development of road infrastructure. This has necessitated the need for this research to document the
impacts of exploring the usage of combined solid waste derivatives in ameliorating the geotechnical
parameters of deficient soil. The current stabilization exercise was geared towards the improvement of
the mechanical properties of soil and surpassing the detrimental tendencies especially caused by seasonal
variations. Moving forward, the microstructural response of the unaltered and additive ameliorated
soil was investigated via qualitative means such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier
transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The additives including cement kiln dust (CKD) and rice husk
ash (RHA), were added by air-dried weight of the soil and compacted based on the standards of British
Standard Light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS) and British Standard Heavy (BSH). With regard to
the compaction exercise, incorporation of these additive materials into the soil facilitated a gradual
increase in the maximum dry density (MDDs) followed by a decrease in the optimum moisture contents
(OMCs). In view of these research findings, soil treatment studies facilitated a substantial upsurge in the
strength (California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS)) values of the ameliorated
soil, in agreement with the requirements of Nigeria general specification for all compactive
efforts. Finally, the usefulness and efficacy of combining these wastes in deficient soil treatment were validated
qualitatively via the SEM and FTIR strategies. The results of the SEM analysis revealed some disparities
between the unaltered and altered soil specimens, providing insights into the direction of calcite
formation in the additive-treated soil.
Description
Keywords
Cement kiln dust, Compaction energies, Soil treatment, Strength response, Micro-structural arrangement, Fourier transformation Infrared band
Citation
Attah, I. C., Etim, R. K., Ekpo, D. U., & Onyelowe, K. C. (2021). Understanding the impacts of binary additives on the mechanical and morphological response of ameliorated soil for road infrastructures. Journal of King Saud University-Engineering Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksues.2021.12.001