Utilization of lightweight brick waste as soils stabilizing agent

Abstract

The utilization of lightweight bricks as building walls, including houses, is getting higher. Beside its many advantages, lightweight brick also has disadvantages. One of them is that the remaining pieces cannot be used for its primary function and become waste. In the field, this waste is used as a material to stabilize the soil. However, there are no tests that examine its effectiveness as a stabilizing agent, the percentage of its composition, and what soil can be stabilized. This research focuses on laboratory tests on the use of lightweight brick waste for soil stabilization. The types of soil used in this study were lateritic, organic and expansive soil. The soils and waste were mixed at percentages of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight. Some tests, such as the Atterberg limit, Standard Proctor compaction, and unconfined compression tests were carried out to determine its effect on the soil. The results showed that lightweight brick waste reduced the liquid limit, plasticity index, and increased soils shear strength. Different types of soil produced different levels of influence. Moisture content in the mixtures was also found to affect the results of soil stabilization.