Study and Analysis of Stabilization of Soil with Stone dust

Abstract

Expansive soil (ES) is characterized by its significant volume change with variations in moisture content, leading to potential structural instability. These soils, predominantly composed of clay minerals, pose challenges in geotechnical engineering due to their swell-shrink behavior. This study investigates the effectiveness of stone dust (SD), a byproduct of crushing stones, as a stabilizing agent to improve the engineering properties of expansive soil. Stone dust is widely available and commonly used as a subbase material in construction. The experimental program involved blending stone dust with expansive soil in varying proportions (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) and conducting a series of laboratory tests, including Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, Free Swell Index (FSI), Standard Proctor Compaction, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), and California Bearing Ratio (CBR). The results indicate that the addition of stone dust significantly enhances the strength and reduces the swelling potential of expansive soil, demonstrating its potential as a cost-effective and sustainable stabilizing material.