Engineering properties of ultrafine blast furnace slag cement stabilized low plasticity clayey soil

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to determine some engineering properties of the low plasticity clayey soil stabilized with ultrafine blast furnace slag cement (Spinor A6). Firstly, the fundamental geotechnical characteristics of clayey soil specimens stabilized with the contents of 8%, 10% and 12% ultrafine blast furnace slag cement were experimentally ascertained. Then, the compressive strength, compressibiliy and swelling tests were conducted on the ultrafine blast furnace slag cement stabilized clayey soil specimens that were compacted at the optimum moisture content and maximum dry density. Experimental data showed that after stabilization of low plasticity clayey soil with ultrafine blast furnace slag cement, its strength increased by 9 to 14 times in air dried samples and 9 to 12 times wet-cured samples after 90 days. In addition, at the end of the 90th day, compressibility decreased between 18.3 and 19.2 times in air dried samples and between 17.6 and 18.5 times in wet-cured samples. Finally, it was determined that the swelling potential decreased between 67.5 and 270.0 times in the samples that were kept in the air dried at the end of the 90th day and between 54.0 and 101.2 times in the samples that were kept in the wet-cured samples. Test results showed that the compressive strength of low plasticity clayey soil increased and its compressibility and swelling index decreased with time as ultrafine blast furnace slag cement was added to the soil.