International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT), ISSN: 23488190

ICRTIET-2014 Conference Proceeding, 30th -31st August 2014

STUDIES ON SOIL STABILIZATION USING BLAST FURNACE SLAG

Abhlilash Devanoor1 and Dr. M. S. Nagakumar2
1 M. Tech Student in Highway Technology, R. V. College of Engineering, Bangalore
2 Professor P. G. Studies in Highway Technology, R. V. College of Engineering, Bangalore

ABSTRACT
Soil stabilisation may be defined as the alteration of the properties of an existing soil to meet specified engineering
requirements. The main properties that may require to be altered by stabilisation are strength, volume stability,
durability and permeability. In India, the black cotton soil covers an area of about 0.8 million sq. km. which is about
20% of the total land area. It is considered as problematic soil due to detrimental volume changes with variation in
moisture content. When it comes in contact with water it shows immense swelling whereas it shrinks with the decrease
in water content and develops cracks on drying. Now-a-days the utilization of waste products with soil has gained
attention due to the shortage of suitable soil and increasing problems of industrial waste management. Expansive soil
samples were collected from Badanavalu, Chamarajanagar district. This soil was classified as CH as per Indian
Standard Classification System (ISCS). Different dosages of blast furnace slag i.e. 10,20,30,40 and 50% were used to
stabilize the expansive soil. The performance of blast furnace slag stabilized soil was evaluated using physical and
strength performance tests namely; plasticity index, specific gravity, compaction, California bearing ratio (CBR) and
Unconfined compressive strength Test (UCS). Based on strength performance tests, it was observed that replacement
of blast furnace slag increases the strength of expansive soils. It can be seen that the CBR value has increased by
700% when compared with native soil and the unconfined compressive strength increased by almost 400% compared
with native soil.
Keywords Blast furnace slag, Back cotton soil, CBR, UCS
1. INTRODUCTION:
In India, the black cotton soil covers an area of about 0.8 million sq. km. which is about 20% of the total land
area. It is considered as problematic soil due to detrimental volume changes with variation in moisture content. When
it comes in contact with water it shows immense swelling whereas it shrinks with the decrease in water content and
develops cracks on drying. Now-a-days the utilization of waste products with soil has gained attention due to the
shortage of suitable soil and increasing problems of industrial waste management. In any highway engineering work
the construction of the embankment or the sub grade is a very important activity. The earthwork constitutes 30% of
the cost of the road project. The pavement directly rests on the artificially prepared soil sub grade and thus derives
considerable strength from it. The adequate design and construction of embankments is therefore the key to the
successful performance of the pavement. Soil stabilization may be defined as the alteration of the properties of an
existing soil to meet specified engineering requirements. Soil stabilization is broadly utilized as a part of road
development to enhance sub-bases and sub-grades for rail, road and landing strip development, as landfill and
waterway linings, for development of soil underneath establishment piece.
2. EXPERIMENTAL WORK:
The black cotton soil was procured from Badanavalu village in Chamarajanagar district at a depth of 20cm. Manual
labour method was used for the procurement of the soil. Top vegetation and dry soil crust was removed for the depth
of 20cm with crow bars. The soil was pulverized and then it was oven dried for 24 hours at 105c to 110c. The
properties of black cotton soil are presented in Table 1. Blast furnace slag was procured from Nava Karnataka steel
industry, Bellary for a thesis work by Mr.Ravishankar which was used in this project work also. The chemical
composition of blast furnace slag is presented in Table 2.

Divya Jyoti College of Engineering & Technology, Modinagar, Ghaziabad (U.P.), India

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT), ISSN: 23488190
ICRTIET-2014 Conference Proceeding, 30th -31st August 2014

Table 1- Properties of black cotton soil

PROPERTIES
1. Specific Gravity (IS 2720: Part 3)
2. Grain Size Distribution (IS 2720: Part 4)
a) Gravel
b) Sand
c) Silt and Clay
3. Liquid limit (%) (IS 2720: Part 5)
4. Plastic limit (%)(IS 2720: Part 5)
5. Plasticity Index (%)(IS 2720: Part 5)
6. Free Swell index (%)
7. IS classification of soil
8. HRB classification
9. Proctor/Compaction test (IS 2720: Part8)
a) Maximum Dry Density (g/cc)
b) Optimum Moisture content (%)
Table 2 Chemical composition of Blast furnace slag
PROPERTIES
1. CaO
2. SiO2
3. Al2O3
4. MgO
5. MnO
6. FeO

VALUE
2.59
1.95
13.13
84.92
60
33.82
27.18
65
CH
A-7-6
1.610
20

(%) BY MASS
35.20
34.90
19.00
8.76
0.14
0.039

Source: Nava Karnataka steel industry, Bellary

Black cotton soil used in this study was replaced with Blast furnace slag in different proportions i.e. 10, 20, 30, 40,
and 50% by weight of the soil to obtain the optimum amount for stabilization. Physical and strength properties of the
blended mix was evaluated in the laboratory and compared with the properties of the black cotton soil to obtain the
optimum amount of blast furnace slag.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:
Basic tests like Specific gravity, wet sieve analysis, Atterberg limits and free swell index. Strengthen properties like
compaction, California bearing ratio and unconfined compressive tests were conducted. Below indicates the test
results,
3.1 Atterberg limits
Atterberg limits of the blended soil were determined as per IS2720: Part 5 - 1985. Liquid limit and plastic limit both
decreases with increasing percentage of blast furnace slag. Variation of plasticity index with various percentage of
blast furnace slag is shown in Fig 1, it was inferred that plasticity index decreases with increasing percentage of blast
furnace slag.
3.2 Compaction properties
Compaction properties of the blended mixes were determined as per IS2720: Part 8 1983 and variation of MDD and
OMC is shown in Fig. 2 and 3 respectively. From the Fig 2 and Fig 3 it is inferred that MDD increased and OMC
decreased with increasing percentage of blast furnace slag.
3.3 California bearing ratio (CBR)

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT), ISSN: 23488190
ICRTIET-2014 Conference Proceeding, 30th -31st August 2014

CBR is one of the important tests to evaluate the optimum amount of stabilizer for stabilizing the black cotton soils.
Soaked CBR test were conducted on the black cotton soil as well as on blended material with various BFS percentages
for evaluating the optimum amount of BFS. The soaked CBR tests were conducted on samples compacted at OMC,
for 96 hours as per IS2720: Part 16 1987. Variation of the soaked CBR values with BFS mixes is shown in Fig 4. It
was observed that CBR value increases with increase in percentages of BFS. The increment in the CBR can be
attributed to the gradual formation of the cementitious compounds and Cao present in the Blast furnace slag.
3.4 Unconfined compressive strength
The UCS tests were conducted on black cotton soil and blended material in accordance with IS2720: Part 10 1991.
Variation of strength with respect to curing days is shown in Fig 5. It was observed that UCS value increases with
increase in percentages of BFS.
3.5 X-Ray diffraction
This method was carried out to know the presence of the mineral montmorillonite in the native soil and calcium
mineral in soil stabilized with Blast furnace slag. To confirm the presence of montmorillonite mineral XRD tests were
conducted and the results obtained are presented in Fig 6. The scanning range for montmorillonite mineral was found
to be 3 to 60. From the graph it can be seen that the peak intensity is at 26 which shows the presence of
montmorillonite clay mineral present in the soil sample.
Due to the addition of Blast furnace slag to the native soil, the main mineral composition of Blast furnace slag is
checked for confirmation of calcium mineral mixed with native soil. The scanning range provided was 5to 40. The
diffract meter diffracts at angle of 26 and it is noted down in the acquisition system. From the graph it can be seen
that the peak intensity is at 26 which shows the presence of calcium oxide. Therefore from Fig 7, it is clear that the
presence of calcium mineral participated in stabilizing the native soil.

Fig 1 Variation in PI with increase

in BFS content

Fig 2 Variation of MDD due to the replacement

in BFS content

Fig 3 Variation of OMC due to the replacement

Of BFS

Fig 4 Variations in CBR values

with respect to dosages of BFS

Divya Jyoti College of Engineering & Technology, Modinagar, Ghaziabad (U.P.), India

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT), ISSN: 23488190
ICRTIET-2014 Conference Proceeding, 30th -31st August 2014

Fig (5) Variation of strength with respect to curing days

Fig 6 X-ray diffraction pattern for montmorillonite mineral

Fig 7 X-ray diffraction pattern for calcium mineral

4. CONCLUSIONS:
From all the above tests conducted it is clear that Blast furnace slag can be used as a stabilizer in subgrade for road
construction. Blast furnace slag was found to be very effective especially in California bearing ratio and unconfined

Divya Jyoti College of Engineering & Technology, Modinagar, Ghaziabad (U.P.), India

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT), ISSN: 23488190
ICRTIET-2014 Conference Proceeding, 30th -31st August 2014

compressive strength tests. This effect is mainly attributed to the hydration reaction of Blast furnace slag were the
pores are filled by crystalline growth.
1. The reduction in plasticity index of the Blast furnace slag treated soil decreased from 26.18% to 17.24%
showed a decrease of 51.85% was found to be encouraging.
2. Optimum moisture content decreased and maximum dry density increased due to the replacement of the Blast
furnace slag when compared with native soil.
3. There was a drastic change in soaked CBR of treated soil. CBR changes were found to be significant at 30%
BFS content after 4 days of curing. It can be seen that the CBR value has increased by 700% when compared
with native soil.
4. Unconfined compressive strength increased by almost 400% compared with native soil. Stability of the soil
will increase due to increase in unconfined compressive strength.
5. X-ray diffraction studies were proved significant to identify the mineral present in native and stabilized soil.
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