Large scale laboratory investigation in the improvement of subgrade characteristics of clay soil stabilized with construction demolition waste

Abstract

Earthquakes are a serious problem for a country, where necessary measures should be taken. In this context, buildings that have completed their economic life have been demolished in recent years. A lot of construction demolition waste (CDW) occurred from the destroyed buildings. These wastes were collected in the storage facilities and took up a lot of space. So, it is vital to use these wastes both by emptying the storage facilities and reusing them without harming the nature. An alternative method for reutilizing these wastes is soil improvement. In this context, the usability of CDW in the improvement of a clay soil was investigated. The bearing capacity ratios (BCR) and stress distributions of the clay soil were examined for different CDW ratios, different improvement depths (H/D), and different curing times. As a result, it was suggested that the optimum CDW ratio should be 14%, the improvement depth should be 1.5, and the optimum curing time should be 14 days in clay soil. The findings obtained from large-scale experiments and microstructure analyses showed that CDW is a waste that can be used in soil improvement.