Assessing the Stabilization of Marginal Laterite Soils Using Steel Slag and Quarry Dust for the Construction of a Subbase Road Layer
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Date
2025-04-10
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Uganda Christrian University
Abstract
The research report focuses on the stabilization of marginal laterite soils using steel slag and quarry dust for the construction of a subbase road layer. Laterite soils, commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, are characterized by their physical nature, chemical composition, and geological characteristics. The report highlights the challenges associated with using laterite soils in road construction, particularly their variability in quality and the need for stabilization to meet strength requirements. The research aims to assess the suitability of using steel slag, a byproduct of the steelmaking process, and quarry dust, a byproduct of stone crushing, as stabilizers to improve the engineering properties of laterite soils. The methodology section details the various tests conducted to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of the soil samples, including the California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Atterberg limits, and particle size distribution. The results indicate that the addition of steel slag improves the load-bearing capacity of the soil sample by 160% at 40% of steel slag. Quarry dust reduces the liquid limit by 13%, the plastic index by 27%, and linear shrinkage by 33% at 10% of quarry dust in the blend. The report concludes that the use of these industrial byproducts not only enhances the performance of the soil but also offers environmental benefits by recycling waste materials and reducing the need for natural resources.
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Undergraduate