Materials Today: Proceedings 52 (2022) 1644–1652

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Materials Today: Proceedings

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Amelioration of fat clays with reusable wastes

Mounusha Naidu a, Y. Raja Veerendra b
a
PG student Department of Civil Engineering, Velagapudi Ramakrishna Siddhartha Engineering College, Kanuru, Vijaywada – 520007
b
Assitant proffesor Department of Civil Engineering, Velagapudi Ramakrishna Siddhartha Engineering College, Kanuru, Vijaywada – 520007

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: This study provides how waste materials can be used to stabilize the soft soil. Utilization of three differ-
Available online 9 December 2021 ent waste materials in stabilizing the soft soils is focused in this paper. In this analysis, various by prod-
ucts of different industries such as bagasse ash from sugar cane industries, ground granulated blast
Keywords: furnace slag (GGBS) from manufacture of iron and ceramic tile dust from construction waste are used
Bagasse ash as chemical agents to increase the strength and durability of the soils. First the baggase ash and ceramic
Ceramic tile dust tile dust are mixed with soil and tested with three different proportions of same each as 4%, 6% and 8%.
Ground granulated blast furnace slag
The best among those proportions is determined by the test results of Maximum dry density (MDD),
Maximum dry density
Optimum moisture content
Optimum moisture content (OMC), and California bearing ratio (CBR). Secondly with the optimum con-
tent of 15% of GGBS and ceramic tile dust of four percentages as 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% are added to the
soil and tests are conducted with that different proportions. Finally from the results obtained the best
proportion which provides good stabilization with more feasibility in most economic way is determined.
Copyright Ó 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer-
ence on Smart and Sustainable Developments in Materials, Manufacturing and Energy Engineering

1. Introduction
The most commonly used technique by most of the Civil engi-
neers for improving soil strength is the soil stabilization process.
Different stabilizing agents are used to enhance the engineering
properties of soft soil. The more economical and environment pol-
lution free method of improving the strength of soft soils is using of
Recycled waste components which is most significant and attract-
ing more attention by the current researches.
In India, Soil stabilization is one of most important techniques
because of its large geological area and large infrastructures like
buildings, roads which are used by the public [1]. Each and every
infrastructure such as sky scrapers, railways, bridges, high ways,
rural roads etc., uses the wide technique of soil stabilization in dif-
ferent ways as required. The soil is nothing but combination of
clay, slit and small rock particles. Physical properties of soils are
improved by the soil stabilization which is called in general as soil
alteration [2]. Bitumen, lime, fibers, waste materials and etc are the
different stabilizers, which are used in soil stabilization [3]. Work-
ability and durability of the soil is increased in the soil treatment
method by using above stabilizers, on the other hand some disad-
vantages as sulphate attack and carbonation effects are contained
with these stabilizers which are having high impact on the envi-
ronment [4].
Geotechnical engineering properties of soil are challenging the
soil in many concerns. Excessive settlement, disperse, collapse, lack
of strength and expansion are some challenges faced by soil. So soil
type, nature, mineralogy, soil composition and structure are
mainly disturbed by lack of some features. These types of chal-
lenges results from either human or naturally occurred. The
changes in below characteristics or parameters are affecting the
soil properties:
 Unsuitable management during planning, construction and
maintenance.
 Lack of suitable local characteristics maintenance these as
terrain, traffic spectrum, and soil type and climate
conditions.
 During the processes of winning, transportation and dump-
ing having unsuitable management.
Therefore a strong platform for working is provided by the soil
stabilization and makes the basic concepts for other projects. Per-
manent pozzolanic reactions formation occurs in the weak soils
after the stabilization process, which implies that soils are not

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.11.281
2214-7853/Copyright Ó 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Developments in Materials,
Manufacturing and Energy Engineering
M. Naidu and Y. Raja Veerendra
liable to escape and resulting in Potential shrink/swell reduction
with freeze thaw resistance increment in the procedure of soil
stabilization,
1.1. Soil stabilization
The modification of soil chemical and physical aspect is called
as soil stabilization and soil physical properties are improved in
this method. Subgrade load bearing capacity improvement and soil
shrink-swell properties controlling action are done with the soil
stabilization process. Number of subgrade materials is treated with
the stabilization concept from expansive clays to granular materi-
als [5].
The building required conditions of soil are brought by the soil
stabilization. Reduce settlement, increased bearing capacity and
risk of liquefaction or water permeability are improved with exe-
cution of soil stabilization [6]. Number of soil stabilization meth-
ods existed depending on the type of additive and mixing
proportions with soil. Desired level of soil properties modification,
gaps filling and soil grains with additive material bonds are
increased with stabilization.
Industrial wastes such as bagasse ash, cement, lime, fly ash,
bitumen, granite dust(GD), marble dust (MD), boron (BR) dust etc
are used as additives in soil stabilization [7].
Environmental pollution is mainly caused through the improper
management of waste products from industries [8]. The stabiliza-
tion of soil using these waste materials as additives which
decreases the environment pollution and available at less cost.
Sugar cane waste burning in sugar-producing factories gives the
Bagasse ash [9]. One of the cementing properties indication is
amorphous silica contained in the bagassae ash. With this amor-
phous silica weak soil grains bonding are efficiently developed.
High percentage of clay materials are used to produce ceramic
products [10].
Gradational change gives the improvements in the soil properties
which is called as mechanical stabilization. Applying the mechanical
energy with different equipment like rammers, rollers, blasting etc.,
and different vibration techniques includes densification and soil
compaction in mechanical stabilization. In this method, change in
soil inherent properties gives the soil stability [11].
Soil stabilization is widely used in pavements for durability and
economical constraint. As stabilization reduces the thickness of
pavement [14,15].
The designing process of flexible pavement for cumulative traf-
fic of 1 to 8 msa (million standard axles) is used in the study of sta-
Fig. 1. Comparison of Pavement Thickness.
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Materials Today: Proceedings 52 (2022) 1644–1652
bilization in terms of economy. Both the stabilized and
unstabilized soil CBR values are can be obtained from the IRC:
37-2001 provided guidelines (Flexible Pavements design guideli-
nes). For both stabilized and unstabilized soil pavement thickness
comparison is represented in below Fig. 1.
From Fig. 1, it is clear that pavement thickness is decreased in
unstabilized soil from 650 mm to 814 mm whereas, in stabilized
soil from 491 mm to 674 mm for overall 1–8 msa of cumulative
traffic.
2. Scope of the research
The following are the objectives of the study:
 To improve the properties of the soil.
 To find the best outcome of two different combinations of
stabilization.
 To obtain the effective content of the additive.
 To analyze the micro level changes in soil after
stabilization.
3. Materials
3.1. Bagassae ash
In the sugar manufacturing industries a large amount of sugar-
cane waste named bagasse is produced and management of this
bagasse plays an important role in environmental point of view
[12]. More amount of silica is present in the bagasse ash so the poz-
zolanic reactivity is increased. Bagasse is also used as an additive in
soil stabilization of cement and lime [13]. Cement prices are
increasing day to day so cement is replaced with bagasse ash in
a developing country like Ethiopia. Therefore the cost of overall
project is reduced so it is also called economic and eco friendly.
A sample of bagasse ash is collected from The Andhra Sugars
Limited Bhimadolu Sriramavaram Andhra Pradesh. XRF test analy-
sis gives the bagasse ash chemical composition, and these results
are described below.
SiO2 67.33%
CaO 12.51%
K2O 4.11%
Al2 O3 3.45%
Fe2 O3 3.39%
P 2 O5 3.10
SO3 2.81%
MgO 2.04%
Cl 0.46%
TiO2 0.28%
3.2. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS)
One of the steel and iron industry byproduct is ground granu-
lated blast furnace slag (GGBS). GGBS acts as a soil binding material
and having the cementitious property. The GGBS is having less cost
and easily available in environment. Strength of soil is increased by
CSH (calcium silicate hydrates).
(1) Specific gravity-2.24
3.3. Ceramic tile dust
Continuous action of heating and subsequent cooling forms the
nonmetallic and inorganic cement tile. So demolition and con-
struction sites waste and broken ceramic tile pieces are collected.
M. Naidu and Y. Raja Veerendra Materials Today: Proceedings 52 (2022) 1644–1652

Table 1 tubes thoroughly with the glass rod and allow settling for 30 min
Properties of soil. and keeping a tab on the initial reading and the final reading is
Properties Value taken after 24 h.
Free swell index 72%
OMC 19% 4.2. Modified proctor test
MDD 1.56 g/cc
Specific gravity (Gs) 2.5
As per Indian standard code IS: 2720 (Part 8) 1983, heavy com-
Liquid limit (%) 69%
Plastic limit (%) 21% paction is conducted to determine the engineering parameters like
Direct shear Cohesion 0.64 optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of the soil
Angle of internal friction 180 samples for further research.
CBR (soaked) 1.18%

4.3. California bearing ratio

As per Indian standard code IS: 2720 (Part 16) 1987, Califor-
Table 2 nia bearing ratio is conducted for soaked condition for 24 hrs
Properties of soil treated with ceramic tile dust and baggasse ash.
where the specimens are tested by standard loads. Higher the
Test name 4% of mixture 6% of mixture 8% of mixture value of CBR, less the thickness required for the pavement.
OMC (%) 18 15.6 13 The above proposed percentage of additives of both combina-
MDD (g/cc)) 1.59 1.62 1.64 tion 1 & 2 are mixed with raw soil and conducted experiments
CBR (%) 3.81 5.2 6.4 as above.
Free swell index (%) 46.51 39.3 32.33

5. Experimental results and discussion

With the help of rammer, ceramic waste products are crushed into
The above proposed percentage of additives of both combina-
powder and sieved by 4.75 mm sieve
tion 1 & 2 are mixed with raw soil and conducted experiments
as above
(1) Specific gravity-2.82

Combination 1:
3.4. Characteristics of natural soil
Table 2 the increase in amount of additive increasesparameters
From Hanuman junction Andhra Pradesh soil samples are col- such as CBR, MDD and gradual decrease in FSI, OMC.
lected for this study, at a depth of 2–3 m. Soil physical properties
are represented in the below Table 1. Basic soil tests are performed
5.1. Effect of bagasse ash and CTD on CBR
and obtained soil properties are as follows:Table 2

As CBR is conducted in soaked condition for 96 hrs and tested

3.5. Preparation of specimens
Fat clay: Raw soil is allowed to air dry for a period of 24 hrs and
subsequently oven dried for another 24 hrs, eventually pulverized
and sieved as per the experimental requirements.
by gradual loading. As increase in addition of bagasse and ceramic
tile dust increased the value of CBR gradually. As the addition of 8–
8% of bagasse ash and CTD resulted in increase in cbr value of 6.4
which is improved when compared to normal soil by the addition
of stabilizers Fig. 2.

Combination 1:
5.2. Effect of bagasse ash and CTD on MDD

First the bagasse ash and ceramic tile dust are mixed with soil
In this test, addition of stabilizer improved the engineering
and tested with three different proportions of same each as 4%,
properties like maximum dry density. As the percentage of additive
6% and 8%.
is increased the MDD value is increased which concludes that the
strength is attained upon addition of the stabilizer. The addition
Combination 2:
of 8–8% additive increased the MDD to 1.64 g/cc which is usually
more than the normal soil Fig. 3.
Secondly, soil is treated with three different percentages of
GGBS i.e. 15%, 20% & 25%. The optimum content of 15% of GGBS
is chosen from obtained desirable properties and economical feasi-
bility. An optimum content of 15% of ggbs and ceramic tile dust of
four percentages as 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% are added to the soil and
tests are conducted with that different proportions.

4. Methods

4.1. Free swell index

As per Indian standard code IS: 2720 (Part 40) 1977, free swell is
conducted by taking a soil sample passed through 425microns
sieve. Taking two samples each of 10 g and transfered one sample
into the kerosene filled test-tube of 100 ml capacity and the other
into the distilled water test tube of 100 ml capacity. Stir the test Fig. 2. Effect of bagasse ash and CTD on CBR.

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M. Naidu and Y. Raja Veerendra Materials Today: Proceedings 52 (2022) 1644–1652

Fig. 3. Effect of bagasse ash and CTD on MDD. Fig. 5. Effect of GGBS and CTD on MDD.

Combination 2:

Natural soil is now mixed with different percentages of GGBS as

15%, 20% and 25%, and their respective values are given in below
Table 3.
An optimum content of 15% of GGBS is mixed with ceramic tile
dust (CTD) because of the obtained desirable properties and eco-
nomical feasibility. Then ceramic tile dust of four percentages as
10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. The results with respect to OMC, MDD
and CBR are noted in below Table 4.
The increase in amount of additive increases parameters such as
CBR, MDD and gradual decrease in FSI, OMC.

5.3. Effect of GGBS and CTD on CBR

Fig. 4. Effect of GGBS and CTD on CBR.

The percentage increase in the amount of GGBS and CTD

increased the CBR of the treated soil. There is a gradual increase additive percentage of 15% GGBS & 40% CTD which is improved
in the CBR value in every proportion. The GGBS content of 15% comparatively with the normal soil Fig. 5.
and CTD of 40% recorded the highest CBR value of 11.89 which is
a hike when compared to normal soil Fig. 4.
5.5. Crux of the comparison

5.4. Effect of GGBS and CTD on MDD The soil stabilization is more efficient in GGBS with CTD (com-
bination 2) than bagasse with CTD (combination 1) in terms of
In this analysis the MDD goes on increasing with increase in the OMC, MDD, CBR and FSI parameters. So the XRD and SEM analysis
percentage additive. A highest MDD of 1.7 g/cc is noted with an is conducted for combination 2(GGBS & CTD).

6. XRD analysis
Table 3
Treatment of soil with GGBS in different percentages. In the process of XRD analysis, the theta raw data is coverted to .
rd form by using a software called powdll converter. The .rd form
Parameter 15% mixture 20% mixture 25% mixture
data is exported into xpert high score plus software where the
OMC 17.4 14 11.6 mineralogy of treated and untreated soil is determined by the data
MDD 1.62 1.64 1.7
base file fed into the software. Later the graph is plotted between
Free swell index 39.45 33.33 29.20
CBR (soaked) 4.35 4.75 5.54
intensity and 2-theta in the origin 8 pro software along with the
mineralogy.

Table 4
Soil treatment with 15% of GGBS + CTD percentages.

Parameter Soil + 15% Soil + 15% Soil + 15% Soil + 15%

GGBS + 10 % CTD GGBS + 20 % CTD GGBS + 30 % CTD GGBS + 40 % CTD
OMC 19 18.8 17.6 17.2
MDD 1.61 1.63 1.64 1.7
Free swell index 36.71 18.33 17.33 8.18
CBR (soaked) 5.81 6.60 8.32 11.89

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M. Naidu and Y. Raja Veerendra Materials Today: Proceedings 52 (2022) 1644–1652

Fig. 6. Analyzed XRD data of normal soil.

Fig. 7. Analyzed XRD data of normal soil + 15% GGBS + 10 %CTD.

From the above analysis, normal soil contains minerals like 7. SEM
montrmollionite, quartz, albite etc., Addition of 15% of GGBS as
constant proportion along with different percentages of ceramic SEM images of GGBS with CTD soil stabilization is given below.
tile dust formed different minerals like Tosudite, bytownite, rich- Figs 12 and 13
terite, saponite, anorthoclase, etc.,Figs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11

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M. Naidu and Y. Raja Veerendra Materials Today: Proceedings 52 (2022) 1644–1652

Fig. 8. Analyzed XRD data of normal soil+%GGBS + 10 %CTD.

Fig. 9. Analyzed XRD data of normal soil + 15 %GGBS + 30 %CTD.

From the above SEM images it could be concluded that reduced the void space between the subsequent particles of
the formation of new minerals occurred by the addition of soil. It also indicates a wide variation of stabilized and unsta-
stabilizing agents like GGBS and ceramic tile dust which bilized soil.

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M. Naidu and Y. Raja Veerendra Materials Today: Proceedings 52 (2022) 1644–1652

Fig. 10. Analyzed XRD data of normal soil + 15 %GGBS + 40 %CTD.

Fig. 11. XRD graph for normal soil + 15% GGBS + different percentages of CTD in origin.

8. Conclusion  An optimum content of 15% of GGBS is mixed with ceramic tile

dust (CTD) because of the obtained desirable properties and
The following conclusions are obtained from this study: economical feasibility.
 A highest MDD of 1.7 g/cc is noted with an additive percentage
 The addition of 8–8% additive i.e. bagasse ash and ceramic tile of 15% GGBS & 40% CTD which is improved comparatively with
dust increased the MDD to 1.64 g/cc which is usually more than the normal soil of 1.56 g/cc and also recorded the highest CBR
the normal soil i.e. 1.56 g/cc and also an increase in CBR value of value of 11.89 which is improved when compared to normal
6.4 which is improved when compared to normal soil of CBR soil of CBR 1.18.
1.18.

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M. Naidu and Y. Raja Veerendra
Fig. 12. Normal soil SEM image.
Fig. 13. Stabilized soil with 15% GGBS + different percentages of CTD 10%, (b) 20%, (c) 30%, (d) 40%
 The soil stabilization is more efficient in GGBS with CTD (com-
bination 2) than bagasse with CTD (combination 1) in terms of
OMC, MDD, CBR and FSI parameters.
 The strength is gained in terms of CBR which is the key param-
eter in any pavement construction. Higher the strength of the
soil reduces the thickness of the layers of pavement such as
sub grade, sub base which ultimately results in constructing it
economically.
 By the XRD and SEM analysis it can be concluded that micro
level changes occurred in the stabilized samples and new min-
erals are formed in the stabilization process.
 An efficient content of stabilizer i.e Combination 2 an additive
percentage of 15% of GGBS and 40% of ceramic tile dust gives
the best results as required.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
to influence the work reported in this paper.
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Materials Today: Proceedings 52 (2022) 1644–1652
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to the principal and head of the depart-
ment of civil engineering of velagapudi Ramakrishna Siddhartha
Engineering College (Autonomous) for the support, lab facility
and seed grant for this research.
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