Stabilization of Expansive Soil Using

Waste Ceramic Dust

Akshaya Kumar Sabat

Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
ITER, SOA University, Bhubaneswar-751030, India
e-mail: akshayasabat@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT
This paper presents the effects of waste ceramic dust on, liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity
index, compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength, California bearing ratio,
shear strength parameters and swelling pressure of an expansive soil. The expansive soil
collected locally was mixed with ceramic dust from 0 to 30% at an increment of 5%. From the
analysis of test results it was found that, liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, optimum
moisture content, cohesion and swelling pressure decreased, maximum dry density,
unconfined compressive strength, California bearing ratio and angle of internal friction
increased with an increase in ceramic dust content. From the economic analysis it was found
that, ceramic dust up to 30% can be used in strengthening the subgrade of flexible pavements,
to save the cost of construction.
KEYWORDS: Expansive soil, ceramic dust, California bearing ratio, cohesion,
swelling pressure.

INTRODUCTION
Expansive soils are the soils which swell significantly when come in contact with water and
shrink when the water squeezes out. Because of this alternate swell- shrink behavior of the soil,
damages occur to different civil engineering structures founded on them. The severity of damages
done by expansive soil has been well documented in literature worldwide (Chen, 1988; Nelson
and Miller, 1992; Gourley et al., 1993). There are a number of techniques available to improve
the engineering properties of expansive soil to make it suitable for construction. Stabilization
using dust/powder like waste materials with and without a binder like lime, cement etc. is one of
them. Quarry Dust (Sabat, 2012), marble dust (Sabat and Nanda, 2011; Baser, 2009; Palaniappan
and Stalin, 2009; Swami, 2002), baryte powder (Srinivasulu and Rao, 1995), pyroclastic dust (Ene
and Okagbue, 2009), brick powder (Abd EI Aziz and Abo-Hashema, 2012) are some of the
prominent dust/powder like waste materials which have been successfully utilized for
stabilization of expansive soil .

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 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3916

It has been estimated that about 30% of daily production in the ceramic industry goes to
waste (Binici, 2007). The disposal of which creates soil, water and air pollution. Koyuncu et al.
(2004) had added ceramic tile dust wastes up to 40% to study its effect on swelling pressure and
swelling potential of Na –bentonite and found that swelling pressure and swelling potential
decreased by 86% and 57% respectively at 40% addition of ceramic tile dust waste.
From the available literature it is found that limited research has been done to study the
effects of waste ceramic dust on different geotechnical properties of expansive soil. Therefore the
present study has been undertaken to investigate the effects of waste ceramic dust on index
properties (liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index), compaction properties - optimum moisture
content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD), unconfined compressive strength (UCS),
soaked California bearing ratio (CBR), shear strength parameters (cohesion and angle of internal
friction) and swelling pressure of an expansive soil .The economy of stabilization has also been
studied by strengthening the subgrade of a flexible pavement.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME
Materials
Materials used in the experiments are Expansive soil and Ceramic
dust.

Expansive Soil
A local expansive soil from Bhubaneswar was used in the present investigation. The
geotechnical properties of the expansive soil are given below.
(1) Grain size Analysis
(i) sand size -18% (ii) silt size-26%( iii) clay size - 56%
(2) Specific gravity - 2.68
(3) Atterberg’s limits
(i) liquid limit - 62% ii) plastic limit -30% iii) plasticity index - 32%
(4) Compaction Characteristics
(i) OMC – 20.4% ii) MDD – 15.6 kN /m³
(5) UCS – 55kN/m²
(6) Soaked CBR - 1.6%
(7) Shear strength parameters
(i) cohesion -18 kN/m2 ii) angle of internal friction -130
(8) Swelling pressure -130 kN/m2

Ceramic Dust
The geotechnical properties of the ceramic dust used in the experimental programme are given
below.
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3917

(1) Grain size Analysis

(i) sand size -48% (ii) silt size -31% (iii) clay size -21%
(2) Specific gravity-2.82

(3) Compaction Characteristics

(i) OMC- 16.5% ii) MDD- 21 kN /m³
(4) Shear strength parameters i) cohesion-8 kN/m2 ii) angle of internal friction- 390

Testing Procedure
Broken/waste ceramic tiles were collected from a local supplier. These tiles were broken
into small pieces by using a hammer. The smaller pieces were fed into a Los Angeles abrasion
testing machines to make it further smaller. For conducting different tests, the expansive soil was
mixed with the ceramic dust from 0 to 30% at an increment of 5%. In total 7 mixes were
prepared. Liquid Limit tests, plastic limit tests, standard Proctor compaction tests, UCS tests,
soaked CBR tests, consolidated undrained direct shear tests and swelling pressure tests were
conducted on these samples/mixes according to relevant Indian Standard (IS) Codes.

ANALYSIS OF TEST RESULTS

The results of liquid limit tests on expansive soil treated with different percentage of ceramic
dust are shown in Figure1. From the figure it can be seen that with increase in percentage of
ceramic dust the liquid limit of soil goes on decreasing. It decreases from 62% to 35%, when
ceramic dust is increased from 0 to 30%.

65
60
Liiquid limit (%)

55
50
45
40
35
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ceramic dust (%)

Figure 1: Variation of Liquid limit with percentage of Ceramic dust

The results of plastic limit tests on expansive soil treated with different percentage of ceramic
dust are shown in Figure 2. From the figure it can be seen that with increase in percentage of
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3918

ceramic dust, the plastic limit of soil goes on decreasing. The plastic limit decreases from 30% to
20% when ceramic dust is increased from 0 to 30%.

35
30
Plastic limit(%)

25
20
15
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ceramic dust(%)

Figure 2: Variation of Plastic limit with percentage of Ceramic dust

.

35
30
Plasticity Index(%)

25
20
15
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ceramic dust (%)

Figure 3: Variation of Plasticity index with percentage of Ceramic dust

The variation of plasticity index with percentage of ceramic dust is shown in Figure 3. From
the figure it can be observed that the plasticity index goes on decreasing with addition of ceramic
dust. The plasticity index decreases from 32% to 15% when ceramic dust is increased from 0 to
30%.
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3919

Figure 4: Plasticity chart showing the positions of Virgin expansive soil and expansive
soil-Ceramic dust mixes

Figure 4 shows the positions of the virgin expansive soil and ceramic dust stabilized
expansive soil in the plasticity chart. It has been found from the plasticity chart that, with increase
in addition of percentage of ceramic dust, the soil changes from CH (Inorganic clay of high
plasticity) to CL (Inorganic clay of low to medium plasticity) as per Unified soil classification
system. This has happened due to replacement of fine grained particles of expansive soil with
coarse grained particles of ceramic dust.

18.5
18
MDD(kN/m2)

17.5
17
16.5
16
15.5
15
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ceramic dust (%)

Figure 5: Variation of MDD with percentage of Ceramic dust

 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3920

The results of standard Proctor tests on expansive soil treated with different percentage of
ceramic dust are shown in Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 shows the variation MDD with percentage of
ceramic dust. With increase in percentage of ceramic dust, the MDD of soil goes on increasing.
The MDD increases from 15.6 kN/m3 to18.1 kN/m3 when ceramic dust is increased from 0 to
30%. The reason of such behavior is due to replacement of ceramic dust particles having high
specific gravity (2.82) with soil particles having low specific gravity (2.68).

21
20.5
20
OMC(%)

19.5
19
18.5
18
17.5
17
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ceramic dust (%)

Figure 6: Variation of OMC with percentage of Ceramic dust

Figure 6 shows the variation OMC with percentage of ceramic dust. With increase in
percentage of ceramic dust, the OMC of soil goes on decreasing. The OMC decreases from
20.4% to 17.6% when ceramic dust is increased from 0 to 30%. The reason of such behavior is,
due to replacement of ceramic dust particles with soil particles the attraction for water molecules
decreases hence, OMC decreases.
The results of UCS tests on expansive soil treated with different percentage of ceramic dust
are shown in Figure 7. From the figure it can be seen that with increase in percentage of ceramic
dust, the UCS of soil goes on increasing. The UCS increases from 55 kN/m2 to 98 kN/m2 when
ceramic dust is increased from 0 to 30%.
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3921

110

100

UCS(kN/m2) 90

80

70

60

50
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ceramic dust(%)

Figure 7: Variation of UCS with percentage of Ceramic dust

5
4.5
4
3.5
CBR (%)

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ceramic dust (%)

Figure 8: Variation of Soaked CBR with percentage of Ceramic dust

The results of soaked CBR tests on expansive soil treated with different percentage of
ceramic dust are shown in Figure 8. From the figure it can be seen that with increase in
percentage of ceramic dust, the soaked CBR of soil goes on increasing. The soaked CBR
increases from 1.6% to 4% when ceramic dust is increased from 0 to 30%. There is 150%
increase in soaked CBR of soil at this percentage of ceramic dust as compared to untreated soil.
As MDD increases with increase in the percentage of ceramic dust, it results in increase in both
the UCS and soaked CBR values of the soil.
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3922

.
20

Cohesion (kN/m2) 15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ceramic dust(%)

Figure 9: Variation of Cohesion with percentage of Ceramic dust

The result of shear tests are shown in Figures 9 and 10 .From the Figure 9 it is observed that
with increase in percentage of ceramic dust, the cohesion of soil goes on decreasing. The
cohesion decreases from 18 kN/m2 to13.5 kN/m2 when ceramic dust is increased from 0 to 30%.
From the Figure 10 it is observed that with increase in percentage of ceramic dust, the angle of
internal friction of soil goes on increasing. The angle of internal friction increases from 130 to
17.70 when ceramic dust is increased from 0 to 30%. The reason of such behavior is the
replacement of soil particles which have very high cohesion (18 kN/m2) and low angle of internal
friction (130 ) with ceramic dust particles, having very high angle of internal friction(390 ) and low
cohesion (8 kN/m2)

18
Angle of internal friction

17

16
(Degree)

15

14

13

12
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ceramic dust (%)

Figure 10: Variation of Angle of internal friction with percentage of Ceramic dust
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3923

The results of swelling pressure tests on expansive soil treated with different percentage of
ceramic dust are shown in Figure 11. From the figure it is observed that with increase in
percentage of ceramic dust, the swelling pressure of soil goes on decreasing. The swelling
pressure decreases from 130 kN/m2 to 24 kN/m2 when ceramic dust is increased from 0 to 30%.
There is 81.5% decrease in swelling pressure of soil at this percentage of ceramic dust as
compared to the untreated soil .This happens due to decrease in clay content of the expansive soil
by replacement of ceramic dust, which is non-expansive in nature. As the attraction for water
molecules decreases, the swelling nature of the soil decreases which result in decrease in the
swelling pressure.

140
Swelling pressure(kN/m2)

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Ceramic dust(%)

Figure 11: Variation of Swelling Pressure with percentage of Ceramic dust

ECONOMY OF STABILIZATION
To study the economy of stabilization, a flexible pavement has been designed for cumulative
traffic of 1, 5 and 10 msa (million standard axles), based on the guide lines provided by IRC: 37-
2001(Guidelines for the design of Flexible Pavements) for CBR values of both unstabilized and
stabilized soil. According to IRC:37-2001, if the soaked CBR value of a subgrade is less than 2%,
then the design of the pavement should be done by taking the soaked CBR value as 2% and a
capping layer of 150 mm thickness with materials having minimum CBR value of 10% should be
provided in addition to sub base. Hence the soaked CBR of unstabilized soil subgrade has been
taken as 2% instead of 1.6% for design purpose. The soaked CBR value is 4% for the mix having
proportion of soil 70% and ceramic dust 30%. Hence the soaked CBR of stabilized soil subgrade
has been taken as 4% for the design purpose. The variation of pavement thickness for both the
unstabilized and stabilized subgrade, with cumulative traffic (1, 5 and 10 msa) has been shown in
Figure 12. It can be seen from this figure that the pavement thickness varies from 660 mm to 850
mm for unstabilized soil and from 480 mm to 700 mm for stabilized soil for cumulative traffic 1 -
10 msa. As per the schedule of rates -2012, Government of Odisha, India, the cost of stabilized
and unstabilized pavement per m2 of pavement for cumulative traffic 1-10 msa in Indian Rupees
has been shown in Figure 13. It includes the cost of transportation of ceramic wastes from a
distance of 20 km, grinding of ceramic wastes and mixing of ceramic dust with soil. It can be
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3924

seen from this figure, that the cost of pavement per m2 varies from `914.5/- to `1931/- Rupees for
unstabilized subgrade (which includes the cost of capping layer of 150 mm thickness) and from
`687.4/- to `1635.4/- Rupees for stabilized subgrade for cumulative traffic of 1 - 10 msa.

900
Pavement thickness (mm)

800
700
600
500
400 Unstabilized soil
300 Stabilized soil
200
100
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Cumulative Traffic (MSA)

Figure 12: Variation of Pavement thickness with Cumulative Traffic

2200
Cost of Pavement in Rupees

2000
1800
1600
per m2

1400
Unstabilized soil
1200
Stabilized soil
1000
800
600
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Cumulative Traffic(MSA)

Figure 13: Variation of cost of pavement in Rupees per m2 with Cumulative Traffic

Figure 14 shows the variation of percentage saving in cost of pavement per m2 for cumulative
traffic of 1 to 10 msa. It can be seen from this figure that the saving varies from 24.8% to 15.3%
for cumulative traffic of 1 msa to 10 msa respectively
 Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3925

26

%Saving in cost of Pavement

24

22
per m2 20

18

16

14
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Cumulative Traffic (MSA)

Figure 14: Variation of Percentage savings in Cost of pavement per m2 with Cumulative Traffic

CONCLUSIONS
A series of laboratory tests were conducted to study the effects of waste ceramic dust on the,
liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, MDD, OMC, UCS, soaked CBR, shear strength
parameters and swelling pressure of an expansive soil .Based on the observations and discussions,
following conclusions are drawn from this study.
• The liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index go on decreasing irrespective of the
percentage of addition of ceramic dust.
• The addition of 30% ceramic dust changes the soil from CH group to CL group.
• The MDD goes on increasing and OMC goes on decreasing with increase in
percentage of addition of ceramic dust.
• The UCS goes on increasing with increase in percentage of addition of ceramic dust.
• The soaked CBR goes on increasing with increase in percentage of addition of
ceramic dust. There is 150% increase in soaked CBR value as compared to untreated
soil, when 30% ceramic dust was added.
• The cohesion value goes on decreasing and angle of internal friction goes on
increasing with increase in percentage of addition of ceramic dust.
• The swelling pressure goes on decreasing with addition of ceramic dust. There is
81.5% decrease in swelling pressure of soil as compared to untreated soil, when 30%
ceramic dust was added.
• From the economic analysis it is found that ceramic dust up to 30% can be utilized
for strengthening the subgrade of flexible pavement with a substantial save in cost of
construction.
Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. Z 3926

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© 2012, EJGE