Enhancing engineering properties of expansive soil using marble waste powder

Abstract

Owing to its propensity to swell when in contact with water, expansive soil causes severe structural problems and shrinks when they dry out. Soil stabilization is a well-known method used to enhance the soil's physical and engineering properties and is commonly adopted for improving soil structures. The mechanical stabilization of different soils is evaluated by adding varying proportions of marble dust (10, 20, 30 percent) of Penjwen, Said Sadiq and Pirmam marble waste powder) to expansive soil. Shear strength and consolidation parameters, such as void ratio, compression index, and sample swelling index, were determined as basic properties. The marble dust is obtained from the cutting and grinding of real marble from the Erbil marble factory in the experimental program. The addition of marble dust decreases the swelling percentage, with an increase in the percentage of marble powder in swelling soils. It is concluded that the swelling in Bastora soil is more than that of Erbil Airport soil, based on the swelling index studies.