Performance of Plastic Powder on Calcareous Soil Stabilization

Abstract

Calcareous soils are widely distributed in many regions of the world, including the Arabian Peninsula, especially the central and northern regions, as well as in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria and Iran. The properties of those soils are of a collapsing nature, especially when moistened, because they contain calcareous salts, which are hydrated calcium carbonate. This study sheds light on the possibility of improving the properties of these soils by adding plastic powder from used or stock tires by different mixing ratios (2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) and tested them in the laboratory using a laboratory model manufactured specifically for the requirements of this study. 50 loading tests were carried out on 5 natural calcareous soils with different Calcium Carbonate content and square base with 15 cm width. The study showed a significant improvement in the maximum bearing capacity of the soil by adding (4%) of this additive, as the ultimate bearing capacity increased more than 4 times compared to the untreated one. Recycling spent rubber contributes to preserving the environment by getting rid of these unwanted materials, and at the same time improving the properties of those soils after mixing them with certain weight ratios and thus contributing to protecting the environment.