Performance of Using Waste Marble Dust for the Improvement of Loose Sand in Deep Soil Mixing

Abstract

The use of waste materials in soil stabilization is very important in terms of recycling of waste materials and reducing environmental pollution. The aim of this study is to investigate the effective use of waste marble dust, WMD in deep soil mixing, which is one of the ground improvement techniques used for problematic soils. In this study, loose sand was mixed with cement and different proportions of WMD. First, soil-binder mixtures were formed by using cement as a binder material and then cement was replaced by different percentages of WMD. Series of tests were performed to evaluate the effect of WMD on the mechanical properties of the mixtures, such as unconfined compressive strength, stress-strain behavior, toughness, modulus of elasticity and resilient modulus. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test was also carried out on the specimens. The specimens were also examined under a microscope to investigate the pore spaces and surface bonds. In addition, setting time and bulk density of the specimens were studied. The optimum replacement percentage of WMD was found to be (10) at a binder-soil ratio of (20). Reuse of WMD in deep soil mixing is promising and will provide significant cost saving and environmental protection.