Assessing the Use of Activated Waste Glass Powder for Stabilisation of Laterite Soils for the Subbase Layer

Abstract

The aim of this research was to stabilize laterite soils using activated waste glass powder. This was driven by the challenges associated with using laterite soils in the subbase layer for road construction. They soils are greatly affected by climatic weather changes especially rain as they are susceptible to erosion. Laterite soils also have a low bearing capacity and high plasticity which could lead to deformation over traffic load. Waste glass powder contains silica and calcium oxide making it pozzolanic. Previous research showed that it can reduce soil plasticity and improve the strength and durability of the soil by binding the soil particles. Therefore, this research aimed at stabilizing the laterite soils with activated waste glass powder to improve the soils' geotechnical properties, improving their load-bearing capacity and reducing their plasticity. The waste glass was activated with sodium hydroxide to enhance the pozzolanic reaction and then blended with laterite soils in increasing percentages from 0% to 8% so as to determine the suitable mix design for stabilization. The optimum was selected as 6% activated waste glass powder since it gave the most effective results for the strength properties that is 99.6% for California Bearing Ratio. The Plasticity Index, California Bearing Ratio swell and linear shrinkage were also greatly reduced and in range following the Ministry of Works and Transport general specifications for road and bridge works 2005.