Enhancing the durability of flooded low-capacity soils by utilizing lime-activated ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS)

Flooding has a significant impact on road infrastructural development and maintenance. This study was aimed at mitigating the effects of flooding of low-bearing capacity soils, a solution that could alleviate the effects of flooding on road structural layers, especially, those constructed on flood susceptible soils and/or regions. The achievement of such an improvement would foster the growth of road infrastructural development, particularly for low income economies where critical savings accruing from this mitigation effect could be invested in further development projects.Laboratory simulation of flooding was carried out on stabilized soil test specimens. The production of the test specimens involved the use of Lower Oxford Clay (LOC) as a typical low-bearing capacity soil, stabilized using varying proportions of a latently hydraulic industrial by-product material – Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag (GGBS) – blended with quicklime (CaO) as an activator. Reducing the use of lime by incorporating GGBS enhances sustainability of the proposed process. Cylindrical test specimens of 50 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height were statically compacted to achieve maximum dry density (MDD), prior to moist curing for varying time periods before simulating prolonged flooding. Water absorption was monitored during the flooding process, and the specimens then tested for compressive strength. The results suggest potential of these lime–GGBS–LOC mixtures in overcoming the deleterious effect of flooding, by reduced water absorption and maintenance of a rigid cementing matrix structure after prolonged flooding. This is believed to offer savings from the improved robustness of road structural layers upon flooding, through resource conservation and material durability enhancement.

► Lime content for optimal stabilization of Lower Oxford Clay is about 6%.
► Lime-activated blastfurnace slag is a better binder for clay than lime or cement-activated slag.
► Blastfurnace slag requires only small quantities of lime for activation to stabilize clay.
► Lime-slag bound clay is durable enough for application in road embankments in flood-prone areas.