Effect of Stabilization Using GGBS on

Engineering Properties of Black Cotton Soil

Sufyan Ansari *
Student Final Year
ITM-College of Engineering
Nagpur, India
samfaizee007@gmail.com

Dushyant Yadav
Student Final Year
ITM-College of Engineering
Nagpur, India
dushyant.yadav2@gmail.com

Kavita S. Kene

Hemant V. Hajare

Asst. Professor
ITM-College of Engineering
Nagpur, India
kavitak@itmnagpur.ac.in

Principal
ITM-College of Engineering
Nagpur, India
hemanth@itmnagpur.ac.in

Akshaykumar Bhuyarkar
Student Final Year
ITM-College of Engineering
Nagpur, India
akshayb36@gmail.com

Akshata Lanjewar
Student Final Year
ITM-College of Engineering
Nagpur, India
akshatalanjewar832@gmail.com

Abstract: Soil stabilization can be explained as the alteration of the soil properties by chemical
or physical means in order to enhance the engineering quality of the soil. The main objectives
of the soil stabilization are to increase the bearing capacity of the soil, its resistance to
weathering process and soil permeability. Stabilization is a broad sense for the various
methods employed and modifying the properties of a soil to improve its engineering
performance and used for a variety of engineering works. In todays soil stabilization is the
major problem for civil engineers, either for construction of road and also for increasing the
strength or stability of soil and reduces the construction cost. Ground granulated blast
furnace slag (GGBS) material is used in the current work to stabilize soil (clay). The main
objectives of this paper were to investigate the effect of GGBS on the engineering property
(optimum moisture content and maximum dry density, plastic limit, liquid limit, compaction,
unconfined compressive strength, triaxial and California bearing ratio test) of the soil and
determine the engineering properties of the stabilized. Granulated shaped blast furnace slag is
most suitable for increasing the strength of the soil and for this we check the following
property of soil. GGBS are added from 0% to 40% by dry weight of soil, first of all check the all
soil property at 0 % (no GGBS) and then compare after addition of GGBS from 10% to 40%. On
the basis of Standard Proctor test & Unconfined Compressive Strength test the optimum
percentage of GGBS is 10%. Investigations showed that generally the engineering properties
which improved with the addition of GGBS. The California bearing ratio of soil increases as the
percentage of GGBS replaced in increase.
Keywords: California bearing ratio test, GGBS, Soil Stabilization, Unconfined Compression
test.
1.0 INTRODUCTION

lack clayey soil (BC Soil) represents a wellknown category of problematic from civil
engineering point of view. They exhibit large
volumetric changes shrinkage and swelling
behaviour if the moisture content changed. Due
to this nature this type of soil is susceptible to
damage to the structures and pavements
founded on it. In India expansive soils cover
about 0.8X10 km areas approximately 20% of
surface area. 40 to 60% of the Black clayey soil
(BC soil) has a size less than 0.001 mm. At the
liquid limit, the volume change is of the order of
200 to 300% and results in swelling pressure as

* Corresponding Author

high as 8 kg/cm to 10 kg/cm . As such Black

clayey soil (BC soil) has very low bearing
capacity and high swelling and shrinkage
characteristics. Soaked laboratory CBR values
of Black Clayey soils are generally found in the
range of 2 to 4%.Structures founded in areas
with soft or weak soil have need for
improvement of soil properties by using
additives.
Soil stabilization techniques are used to
improve shear strength, CBR, reducing
expansive characteristics, etc. For any landbased structure, The foundation is very

important and has to be strong to support the

entire structure. In order for the foundation to be
strong, the soil around it plays a very critical role.
The process of soil stabilization helps to achieve
the required properties in a soil needed for the
construction work. Stabilization has started to
take a new shape. With the availability of better
research, materials and equipment, it is
emerging as a popular and cost-effective
method for soil improvement.
Many waste materials are used to modify
the characteristics of soft soils. Traditionally the
soils are stabilized by lime, cement, etc. In
recent year the uses of waste materials like fly
ash, plastic, rice-husk ash, slag, etc. for soil
stabilization is gaining importance. Here, in this
project soil stabilization has been done with the
help of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag
(GGBS or GGBFS) which is obtained by
quenching molten iron slag from a blast furnace
in water or steam. The GGBS we are using in
this project is obtained from the Uttam Galva
Steel Plant situated at Wardha, Maharashtra.
And the soil we are using for testing is from
behind Hanuman Mandir, ITM- college of
Engineering, Kamptee Campus. By physically
observing the soil we concluded that the soil is
of Black Cotton Soil. The real characteristic of
soil can be determined by doing the primary
tests on soil i.e. Sieve analysis, Atterberges
limit, etc.

[5]

Whitehurst and Yoder (1952) : Two

percent lime is insufficient to affect appreciably
the performance of the soils tested. Five percent
lime, or more significantly increased both
strength and durability of these soils. Increased
length of curing before testing was, in general,
beneficial. Of the soils tested, the gravel and the
least by the drift soil derived the greatest
benefits of adding lime. The dynamic test
employed seems to be quite adequate as a
measure of progressive deterioration and merits
further consideration.
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1.1 Black Cotton Soil
The soil we are using for testing is from
behind Hanuman Mandir, ITM- college of
Engineering, Kamptee Campus. By physically
observing the soil we concluded that the soil is
of Black Cotton Soil. The black cotton soil has
been used as a base material in this study. It
has been replaced partially by GGBS by weight
of dry soil. The clayey soil involved in this
research was collected from outside campus
wall, near main gate of ITM- College of
Engineering, Kamptee, Nagpur. The soil sample
was disturbed. The soil is classified as clay of
high plasticity (Gs = 2.27) with expansive
behaviour.
Table 1: Basic Properties of Soil

The main objective of this investigation to

improved the Engg. Properties of soil with
addition of GGBS.

Sr. No.

Description of item

Result

Natural water content

2.43%

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

Sieve analysis

Sand= 8.73%

The engineering properties of clayey subgrade soils may need to be improved to make
them suitable for construction using some sort of
stabilization methods. Stabilization of pavement
sub-grade soils has traditionally relied on
treatment with lime, cement, or waste materials
such as fly ash, slag, Silica Fume, GGBS, etc.
Many researchers are looking for alternative
materials for soil stabilization; fly ash is an
effective agent for chemical and mechanical
stabilization of soil.
[4]

Havelin and Kahn (1950) : The tests

showed that small amounts of lime with fly ash
develop considerable strength when mixed with
aggregates such as sandy soil, slag, and
crushed stone. Good resistance to wetting and
drying and freezing and thawing is also evident.
Resistance to freezing and thawing is greater in
specimens which have cured for longer periods.
The use of calcium chloride increases the early
strength.

Clay= 91.27%
3

Liquid limit

41.80%

Plastic limit

22.46%

Plasticity index

19.34%

Specific gravity

2.27

Type of soil

CL

3.1.2 Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

(GGBS):
Source: Uttam Galva Steel Plant, Wardha
Maharashtra 442001. Granulated Blast Furnace
Slag is obtained by Rapidly chilling (quenching)
the molten ash from The furnace with the help of
water. During this Process, the slag gets
fragmented and Transformed into amorphous
granules (glass). The Granulated slag is ground
to desired fineness For Producing GGBS.

sectional area was calculated by dividing the

area by (1- ) and then the compressive stress
for each step was calculated by dividing the load
with the corrected area
3.1.5 Proctor compaction test
This experiment gives a clear relationship
between the dry density of the soil and the
moisture content of the soil. The equations used
in this experiment are as follows:

Fig.1: Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

3.1 Methods of Testing
The laboratory tests carried out on the
Natural soil include Sieve analysis, Atterberges
Limits, Specific gravity, Free swell test, Standard
Proctor test, Unconfined Compressive strength
Test and California Bearing Ratio test.
3.1.3 California Bearing Ratio Test
The California Bearing Ratio test is
conducted for evaluating the stability of the sub
grade and the material used in sub base and
base of the flexile pavement. The plunger in the
CBR test penetrates the specimen in the mould
at the rate of 1.25 mm per minute. The loads
required for a penetration of 2.5mm and 5.00mm
are determined. The penetration load is
expressed as a percentage of the standard load
at the respective penetration level of 2.5mm or
5.0mm.

4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Standard Proctor Test
Standard Proctor tests were used to
establish the dry density-moisture content
relationship and carried out the test of soil with
various amounts of GGBS added consider the
effect of GGBS on optimum moisture content
and maximum dry density the test of soil with 0
% to 40% by dry weight of soil.
Table 2: Effect of GGBS on OMC and MDD
GGBS (%)

OMC (%)

MDD (gm/cc)

23

1.57

10

19.5

1.6

20

19.5

1.57

30

19.5

1.58

40

18

1.57

CBR Value = (Penetration Load/Standard Load)

x 100
The
CBR
value
is
determined
corresponding to both penetration levels. The
greater of these values is used for the design of
the pavement.

This experiment is used to determine the

unconfined compressive strength of the soil
sample which in turn is used to calculate the
unconsolidated, undrained shear strength of
unconfined soil. The unconfined compressive
strength (qu) is the compressive stress at which
the unconfined cylindrical soil sample fails under
simple compressive test. The experimental
setup constitutes of the compression device and
dial gauges for load and deformation. The load
was taken for different readings of strain dial
gauge starting from = 0.005 and increasing by
0.005 at each step. The corrected cross-

Dry Density gm/cc

3.1.4 Unconfined compression test

1.62
1.59
1.56
1.53
1.50
1.47
1.44
1.41
1.38
1.35
11.00 16.00 21.00 26.00 31.00 36.00
Water Content %
Fig.1: OMC and MDD from 0% to 40 %

SG0
SG10
SG20
SG30
SG40

4.2. Effect of GGBS

Compressive Strength

on

Unconfined

Soil with various amounts of GGBS added

to determine the effect on compressive strength
of soil with 0 % to 40% by dry weight of soil.
Table 2: Effect of GGBS on Compressive
Strength of Soil
GGBS (%)

UCS (kg/cm2)

0.96

10

1.56

20

1.16

30

1.03

40

0.41

SG10
1.00

SG20
SG30

0.50

SG40
0.00
0.15

Fig.2: Unconfined compressive strength (0%

to 40%)
4.3. California Bearing Ratio Test
Soil with various amounts of GGBS added
to determine the effect on California bearing
ratio test of soil with 0 % to 40% by dry weight of
soil.
140.00
120.00
Load in Kg

2.13

10

2.13

20

1.42

30

2.13

40

3.55

the

following

1. C B R value increases with increases in

percentage of GGBS that show the
densification of soil takes place and more
suitable for pavement thickness.
SG0

0.1

CBR Value

By analysis of result
conclusions may be drawn:

1.50

0.05

GGBS (%)

5.0 CONCLUSION

2.00

Table3: Effect of GGBS on CBR Value

100.00

SG0

80.00

2. Densification of soil (clay) takes place with

increases in percentage of GGBS and
plasticity index is more than 17 % thus
making the soil suitable for embankment and
for pavement of light and medium traffic. The
pavement thickness will be reduced
considerably with increases in percentage of
GGBS With the increases in % of coarse
particles causes increases in permeability
and reducing the influence of pore water
pressure and enhance the self-strength of
soil, so stability of soil increases. On the
basis of the Standard proctor test &
Unconfined Compressive strength test the
optimum percentage of GGBS IS 10%.
6.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are gratefully acknowledging
the support extended by the respective institute
in bringing out this article. We also thankful to
Final year project (B.E student), all teaching and
non teaching staff of civil engineering
department ITMCOE Kamptee, Nagpur and Mr.
Sanjay Wankhede CEO of GEOsystems
Research and Consultants (I) Pvt. Ltd and all of
his staff members.

SG10

60.00

SG20

40.00

SG30

20.00

SG40

0.00
0.0 3.0 6.0 9.0 12.0
Penetration in mm
Fig 3: CBR Value (0% to 40%)

References
[1] Prof.
Krishna
Reddy,
UIC,
2008,
Engineering Properties of Soils Based on
Laboratory Testing (9).
[2] http://www.engineeringtraining.tpub.com/140
70/css/14070_424.htm (8)
[3] Ashish Kumar Pathak et al Int. Journal of
Engineering Research and Applications

ISSN: 2248-9622, Vol. 4, Issue 5(Version 2),

May 2014, pg.164-171.
[4] L. J. Minnick, W. H. Carson, R. M. Miller,
Lime-Flyash Compositions for Use in
Highway Construction Proc. HRB Vol. 30
(1950) pg. 489.
[5] E. A. Whitehurst, E. J. Yoder, Durability
Tests on Lime-Stabilized Soils. Proceedings
HRB Vol. 31 (1952), pg. 529.
[6] Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 8(4)
(2012), pg. 2193-2196
[7] Effect of Stabilization Using Fly ash and
GGBS in Soil Characteristics, International
Journal of Engineering Trends and
Technology (IJETT) Volume 11 Number 6
- May 2014, pg. 284-289.
[8] J.M. Hoover, D.T. Davidson, Preliminary
Evaluation of Some Organic Cationic
Chemicals As Stabilizing Agents for Iowa
Loess , Iowa Eng. Exo. St.1956.
[9] Electronic
Journal
of
Geotechnical
Engineering, Vol. 17 (2012), pg. 2443-2461.
[10] Fly Ash Utilization Programme (FAUP),
TIFAC, Vol. VIII, pg. 5.1-5.10.

Authors Biography
Dr. H. V. Hajare has done his
B.E & PG from VNIT College
and doctorate degrees from
RTMUN. He has more than 26
year teaching Experience. He
has Published 27 research
papers
in
National
&
International Journals. Is a life member of
various professional bodies,
Prof. Kavita Kene obtained PG
degrees
from
RTMNU
University.
Her
area
of
specialization
is
Structural
Engineering. She has Published
06
research
papers
in
International Journals & 03
papers in international conferences.
Mr. Sufyan Ansari pursuing
B.E. in Civil Engineering from
RTM Nagpur University. His
area of interest is Geotechnical
Engineering. He has completed
Diploma in Civil engineering
from MSBTE.