Experimental Investigation of Laterite Soil Properties Using Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

Laterite soil found mainly in the Konkan region which has relatively poor engineering properties due to the significant percentage of fine-grained soil properties and heavy rainfall. Its formation is noticed by about 70.7% in the Konkan region. When laterite soil comes in contact with water it loses its strength. Due to heavy rainfall in the Konkan region, problems like landslides, poor soil strength, slope instability are noticed. Hence stabilization of soil is necessary. It can be done by adding some additives into the soil to enhance its properties. In Konkan Steel and Iron industries are found which produces waste at large scale. It not only creates a land problem but also creates environmental problems. To utilize the industrial waste, an attempt is made to stabilize the laterite soil by adding ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS). The present study aims to evaluate the effect of the addition of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% of GGBS. For this series of mechanical tests are carried out like MPT, DCT. The experimental analysis shows results that additions of GGBS effectively improve the engineering properties of laterite soil. Hence 10% is the suitable percentage of GGBS with laterite soil will be suggested for stabilization of soil.