The potential of lime and grand granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) mixture for stabilisation of desert silty sands

This study describes experimental results achieved on the use of Grand Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and Lime in stabilising desert silty sand for possible use in geotechnical engineering applications, especially for roadways and railways constructions. The GGBFS and lime were added in percentages of 5, 10 and 15% and 1, 3, and 5% respectively, by dry weight of sand. Different laboratory tests such as mechanical aggregation test, hydrometer analysis, liquid-plastic limit, pH value test, compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio test CBR , were performed on samples to understand the engineering characteristic of soil and influences of mixtures on the silty sand soil. The study results demonstrate significant improvements in unconfined compressive strength and California bearing ratio strength. Moreover the swelling behaviour of mixtures was decreased effectively. Thus mixture of GGBFS and lime can be suggested to improve engineering characteristic of desert silty sands.