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Cited by 57Geotechnical Engineering and Soil StabilizationMaterials Engineering and ProcessingGeotechnical and construction materials studies

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Stabilization of a Clayey Soil with Ladle Metallurgy Furnace Slag Fines

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Brand, Alexander S., Singhvi, Punit, Fanijo, Ebenezer O., Tutumluer, Erol·2020·Materials
DOI 10.3390/ma13194251PMC PMC7579171
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Abstract

The research study described in this paper investigated the potential to use steel furnace slag (SFS) as a stabilizing additive for clayey soils. Even though SFS has limited applications in civil engineering infrastructure due to the formation of deleterious expansion in the presence of water, the free CaO and free MgO contents allow for the SFS to be a potentially suitable candidate for clayey soil stabilization and improvement. In this investigation, a kaolinite clay was stabilized with 10% and 15% ladle metallurgy furnace (LMF) slag fines by weight. This experimental study also included testing of the SFS mixtures with the activator calcium chloride (CaCl2), which was hypothesized to accelerate the hydration of the dicalcium silicate phase in the SFS, but the results show that the addition of CaCl2 was not found to be effective. Relative to the unmodified clay, the unconfined compressive strength increased by 67% and 91% when 10% and 15% LMF slag were utilized, respectively. Likewise, the dynamic modulus increased by 212% and 221% by adding 10% and 15% LMF slag, respectively. Specifically, the LMF slag fines are posited to primarily contribute to a mechanical rather than chemical stabilization mechanism. Overall, these findings suggest the effective utilization of SFS as a soil stabilization admixture to overcome problems associated with dispersive soils, but further research is required.

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Figure 1 Cylindrical specimen and configuration for testing the longitudinal resonance frequency.
Figure 1 Cylindrical specimen and configuration for testing the longitudinal resonance frequency.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 TGA result of the LMF slag, which indicates the weight loss and the derivative of the weight loss.
Figure 2 TGA result of the LMF slag, which indicates the weight loss and the derivative of the weight loss.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Moisture-density relationships for unmodified clay, and clay modified with 10% SFS, and 15% SFS.
Figure 3 Moisture-density relationships for unmodified clay, and clay modified with 10% SFS, and 15% SFS.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) comparison of clay samples.
Figure 4 Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) comparison of clay samples.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Average UCS for each mixture. Error bars indicate one standard deviation.
Figure 5 Average UCS for each mixture. Error bars indicate one standard deviation.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 6 Average stress-displacement curve for each mixture.
Figure 6 Average stress-displacement curve for each mixture.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 7 Average estimated elastic modulus for each mixture.
Figure 7 Average estimated elastic modulus for each mixture.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 8 Comparison of the dynamic modulus generated by the 8-mm impactor for each mix.
Figure 8 Comparison of the dynamic modulus generated by the 8-mm impactor for each mix.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 9 Relationships between UCS and modulus with the SFS content (without CaCl2).
Figure 9 Relationships between UCS and modulus with the SFS content (without CaCl2).CC BY · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 95

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Metadata

Authors
Brand, A. S., Singhvi, P., Fanijo, E. O., & Tutumluer, E.
Affiliations
  • Virginia Tech (US)
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Corresponding author
Brand, Alexander S.
ORCID
Venue
Materials
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-09-24
Volume
13
Issue
19
Pages
4251
ISSN
1996-1944 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/ma13194251
PMC
PMC7579171
OpenAlex
W3088808738
Cited by
57
References
92
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1
FWCI
3.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Materials (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Division of Materials Research
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Materials Engineering and Processing
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Geotechnical and construction materials studies
Keywords
steel slag, soil stabilization, clay soil, kaolinite, unconfined compressive strength, dynamic modulus, dispersive soils, industrial by-product utilization

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Brand, A. S., Singhvi, P., Fanijo, E. O., & Tutumluer, E. (2020). Stabilization of a Clayey Soil with Ladle Metallurgy Furnace Slag Fines. Materials. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194251