Use of Stabilized Lateritic and Black Cotton Soils as a Base Course Replacing Conventional Granular Layer in Flexible Pavement

Abstract

The present work investigates the improved properties of lateritic and black cotton soils stabilized with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and alkali solutions. The alkali solution includes a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. The lateritic and black soils are treated with 30% GGBFS and the alkali solutions consisting of 6% Na2O having silica modulus (Ms) of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 at a constant water binder ratio of 0.25. The treated samples were air-cured for 0 (immediately after casting), 3, 7 and 28 days at ambient temperature. The treated lateritic soil with 0.5 and 1.0 Ms is found durable after 3, 7, and 28 days curing. Whereas, the treated BC soil found durable with Ms 0.5 at modified Proctor density after 28 days curing. The formation of calcium silicate hydrate and calcium aluminosilicate hydrate structures resulted in a remarkable improvement of compressive strength, flexure and fatigue life of treated soils due to dissolved calcium ions from GGBFS, silicate and aluminium ions from alkali solutions. The microstructure image of the durable soil sample shows the crystal orientation of particles. The design of high and low volume roads is proposed by replacing the conventional granular layer with the durable stabilized soil and stress–strain analysis is carried out using pavement analysis software. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.