EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON SOIL STABILIZATION USING … · In this paper the study on effective use of stabilization using basalt fiber and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS)

Volume 6, Issue 4 (2019) 1-5 ISSN 2347 - 3258 International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation

1 IJARI

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON SOIL STABILIZATION USING BASALT

FIBER AND GROUND GRANULATED BLAST FURNACE SLAG IN

ORGANIC SOIL G. Ramachandran1*, S. Monisha2, P. Pradeepa3, S. Srigayathri4, T. Vikachini5 *1 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Vivekanandha College of Civil Engineering, Tiruchengode 2,3 UG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Vivekanandha College of Civil Engineering, Tiruchengode 4,5 UG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Vivekanandha College of Civil Engineering, Tiruchengode

ABSTRACT

The organic soils are unsuitable for construction works due to its low shear strength, high

swelling potential and poor bearing capacity. These types of soils can be treated by stabilization

and compaction methods. In this paper the study on effective use of stabilization using basalt

fiber and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) in varying proportions and the main

objective of this study is to increase the geotechnical properties of soil. The study has been

conducted with three different proportions of basalt fiber as 1%, 2%, 3% and ground granulated

blast furnace slag as 3%, 6% and 9%. The reinforced soil where subjected to compaction and

unconfined compressive test (UCS). The experimental results have shown effective increament

in compressive strength and shear strength of the soil.

1. Introduction

Soil stabilization is used to reduce the permeability and to

increase the shear strength and bearing capacity of soil.

Generally, the cementitious materials are used. In this study

we use basalt fiber which is obtained from crushed basalt rocks

it is a non-metal inorganic fiber which acts as a reinforcement

for soil. when compared to other fibers like carbon fiber, sisal

fiber and polypropylene fiber it has many unique physical

advantageous properties and it is specifically environment

friendly and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) is a

by-product produced from iron manufacturing process and its

cementitious characteristics reduces the permeability of soil

and it increases the strength of soil when compared to other

additives it is economical and environment friendly.

2. Materials used

2.1 Soil

The organic soil is collected from Koduvai, Tirupur district.

The soil sample which is collected from 1.5m below the

ground surface and the Index and engineering properties of

soil are shown in Table 1. The classification of soil is done as

per the Indian standard classification and it shown that the soil

taken is organic with intermediate plasticity (OI).

Fig.1 soil sample

Corresponding Author,

E-mail address: [email protected]; :

http://www.ijari.org

Table 1. Geotechnical properties of soil

2.2 Basalt fiber

The basalt fiber is made from crushed basalt fiber from

volcanic rocks it is a non-metallic natural fiber. It is

economical and environment friendly when compared to other

fibers, it has unique physical characteristics and excellent

mechanical properties such as resistance to high temperature,

acid and alkali resistance and wave adsorption characteristics.

In this study chopped basalt fiber is used. It is brought from

Go-green products, Chennai. The properties of basalt are given

below.

S.no Geotechnical properties of soil values

1. Specific gravity 1.88

2. Percentage of gravel (%) 0.1

3. Percentage of sand (%) 19.4

4. Percentage of silt (%) 69

5. Percentage of clay (%) 11.5

6. Liquid limit (%) 36%

7. Plastic limit (%) 25%

8. Plasticity index (%) 11

9. IS classification system OI

10. AASHTO system A-7-5

11. Maximum dry density (g/ml) 5.61

12. Optimum moisture content (%) 10%

13. Swell index 18%

Article Info

Article history:

Received 25 January 2019

Received in revised form

20 February 2019

Accepted 28 February 2019

Available online 15 March 2019

Keywords Soil stabilization, Basalt fiber, GGBS,

Compaction, Unconfined compression

test, Organic soil.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.ijari.org/


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Table 2. Properties of basalt fiber

Fig.2 Basalt fiber

2.3 Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS)

The ground granulated blast furnace slag is a by product

material from manufacturing of iron. It acts as a pozzolanic

material. It is bought from Erode. The specific gravity of

ground granulated blast furnace is 2.68.

3. Methodology

To find the index properties soil (specific gravity, plastic

limit, liquid limit, moisture content, swell index) the

laboratory tests were conducted as per the IS code (IS 2720).

The soil and the proportioned soil with stabilizing agents then

subjected to compaction test and unconfined compression test

(UCS) in varying proportions.

4. Results and discussion

4.1 Proctor compaction test

This experiment is to obtain the relation between moisture

content (OMC) and max dry density (MDD). This test is

conducted in varying proportions. This test shows the

compaction characteristics of untreated soil and proportioned

soil. The OMC and MDD is an important factor which defines

the strength properties of soil. The optimum moisture content

seems to be increase and the MDD value decreases in further

increasing the proportions of fiber. The optimum moisture

content and maximum dry density was found to be 14% and

5.72 (g/ml).

Fig.3 Proctor compaction test

Table 3. Results obtained from proctor compaction test

Fig.4 Variation in OMC characteristics

108

108

14 1412

1012

14

02468

10121416

OMC (%)

OMC (%)

S.no Properties Values

1. Density (g/cm3) 2.65

2. Elastic modulus (GPa) 85.9

3. Breaking elongation (%) 3.12

4. Tensile strength (MPa) 2611

5. Length (mm) 15

6. Filament diameter (μm) 17

Mix proportions OMC (%) MDD (g/cc)

Untreated soil 10 5.60

B.F 1% GGBS 3% 8 5.63

B.F 1% GGBS 6% 8 5.72

B.F 1% GGBS 9% 10 5.61

B.F 2% GGBS 3% 14 5.48

B.F 2% GGBS 6% 14 5.39

B.F 2% GGBS 9% 12 5.42

B.F 3% GGBS 3% 10 5.44

B.F 3% GGBS6% 12 5.48

B.F 3% GGBS 9% 14 5.49


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Fig.5 Variation in MDD characteristics

Fig.6 Compaction test samples

4.2 Unconfined compression test

The unconfined compressive strength is conducted to obtain

the compressive strength of the soil. In this study the test is

conducted in undrained condition. The strength can be

identified from the stress-strain relationship curve obtained

from the test results. The Maximum strength attained in the

proportion of 2% basalt fiber and 6%GGBS is 183kN/m2.

Fig.7 UCS results for untreated soil

Fig.7 UCS results for 1% basalt fiber and 3% GGBS



5.6 5.635.72

5.61

5.485.39 5.42 5.44

5.485.49

5.2

5.3

5.4

5.5

5.6

5.7

5.8

MDD (g/cc)

MDD (g/cc)

0

0.10.140.16

0.210.230.27

0.30.33

0.390.43

0.3

0.23

0.14

00.050.10.150.20.250.30.350.40.450.5

0 5 10 15 20

Stress

Strain

0

0.09

0.13

0.190.21

0.25

0.30.33

0.39

0.34

0.22 0.21

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0 5 10 15 20

Str

ess

Strain

0

0.120.17

0.210.25

0.43

0.5

0.63

0.7

0.8

0.55

0.44

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

0 5 10 15 20

Str

ess

Strain

0

0.160.23

0.33

0.48

0.630.69

0.87

0.97

0.68

0.420.38

0.25

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

0 5 10 15 20

Axis

Tit

le

Strain


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Fig.11 UCS results for 2% basalt fiber 6% GGBS





0

0.19

0.460.57

0.75

0.880.98

1.08

1.231.35

1.42

1.131.03

0.76

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

0 5 10 15 20

Str

ess

Stress

0

0.25

0.480.59

0.67

0.921.04

1.28

1.62

1.83

1.59

1.15

1

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

0 5 10 15 20

Str

ess

Stress

0

0.26

0.38

0.89

1.06

1.181.13

1.48

1.29

1.090.99

0.83

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

0 5 10 15 20

Str

ess

Stress

0

0.260.340.39

0.47

0.620.68

0.951.01

1.14

1.42

1.261.19

0.98

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

0 5 10 15 20

Str

ess

Stress

0

0.150.21

0.28

0.4

0.550.58

0.71

0.84

0.98

1.121.16

0.96

0.82

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

0 5 10 15 20

Str

ess

Stress

0

0.130.18

0.520.57

0.730.79

0.920.98

0.94

0.83

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

0 5 10 15

Str

ess

Stress


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Fig.16 UCS results for untreated soil + proportioned soil

5. Conclusion

In this study the series of compaction test and unconfined

test were conducted to study the behavior of soil with the

addition of basalt fiber and GGBS in varying proportions.

Based on the compaction test it is found that OMC increases

and MDD decreases. The optimum moisture content is 14%

and Max dry density is 5.72 (g/cc).

Based on the unconfined compression test it is found that the

combination of these two additives gives best compressive

characteristics in the proportion of 2% basalt fiber and 6%

GGBS. The maximum compressive strength obtained is

(183kN/ml)

It is concluded that the proportioned soil is suitable for ground

improvement techniques. The basalt fiber act as a

reinforcement to increase the strength properties and GGBS

act as cementitious it reduces the permeability and increase the

shear strength of the soil.

6. Reference

[1] Anil Kumar Sharma and P.V. Sivapullaiah, (2016,

March 14). Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

amended fly ash as an expansive soil stabilizer.Soils

and foundation. [Online]. Volume 56 (Issue 51), PP

205-212. Available: www.elsevier.com/locate/sandf

[2] Ashish Kumar Pathak, Dr. V. Pandey, Krishna

Murari. J.P. Singh, (May 2014). Soil Stabilisation

Using Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag.

Journal of Engineering Research and Applications

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[3] Aravalli, A.M. Hulagabali, H. Solanki and G.R.

Dogagoungar. (2017). Enhancement of Index and

[4] Engineering Properties of Expansive Soil using

Chopped Basalt Fiber. Presented at Indian

Geotechnical Conference, IIT Guwahati, India.

[Online].

[5] C.P. NDEPETE AND S. SERT, Use of Basalt Fibers

for Soil Improvement (ICCESEN 2015). Volume

130.

[6] Dr. D. D Higgins. (September 2005). Soil

Stabilisation with Ground Granulated Blast furnace

Slag. UK Cementitious Slag Makers Association

(CSMA).

[7] Laxmikant Yadu and Dr. R. K. Tripathi. (2013).

Effects of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag in the

Engineering Behaviour of Stabilized soil. Presented

at Chemical, civil and mechanical tracks of 3rd Nirma

university international conference. [Online].

Available: www.elseiver.com/locate/procedia.

[8] Lei Gao, Guohui Hu Xu, Junyi Fu, Chao Xiang and

Chen Yang. (August 2015). Experimental Study on

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Reinforced Clay Soil. [Online].

[9] PanditVinod M, Chopada Rohit, KhabiyaTushar,

ChoudharyAyushi, Gandhi Bhushan and Chhajed

Deepali, (2018). Study of Basalt Fiber on

Compaction Characteristics of Black Cotton Soil.

International Journal for Research in Engineering

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9150. Special Issue – ICRTET-2018. PP 850-853.

[Online]. Available: www.ijream.org

[10] Qin-yong Ma, Zi-ming Cao, and Pu Yung,

Experimental Research on Microstructure and

Physical- Mechanical

[11] Properties of expansive soil stabilized with Fly Ash,

Sand, and Basalt Fiber. (Volume 2018, Article ID

9125127, 13pages published october2018).

[12] Ruqayah Al-Khafaji, Hassnen M Jafer, Ammar

Dulaimi, W.Atherton and Zahraa Jwaida. (May

2017). Soft soil stabilisation using ground granulated

blast furnace slag.

[13] Ramanathan Ayothiraman and Anurag Singh,

(March 2017). Improvement of soil properties by

basalt fiber reinforcement.

[14] Sougat Mandal and J.P. Singh (December,2016).

Stabilization of Soil using Ground Granulated Blast

Furnace Slag and Fly Ash. International Journal of

Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and

Technology ISO 3297: 2007. [Online]. Volume 5,

(Issue 12). PP 2319-8753 Available:

DOI:10.15680/IJIRSET.2016.0512038

[15] IS: 2720- part 3 sec.1- 1980 “ Determination of

specific gravity”.

[16] IS: 2720-part 4 -1975 “Determination of sieve

analysis.

[17] IS: 2720-part 5-1970 “Determination of Liquid and

plastic limit”.

[18] IS 2720-part 6-1972 “Determination of Shrinkage

factors”.

[19] IS 270- part 10-1973 “Determination of unconfined

compressive strength”.

0.43 0.39

0.80.97

1.42

1.83

1.48 1.421.16

0.98

0.21 0.190.4 0.48

0.710.91

0.74 0.710.58 0.49

00.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.61.8

2

UC

S r

esult

s

Stabilized agents

Compressive strength Shear strength

http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sandf

http://www.ijera.com/

http://www.elseiver.com/locate/procedia

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EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON SOIL STABILIZATION USING … · In this paper the study on effective use of stabilization using basalt fiber and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS)