Civil Engineering structures are not usually constructed on soft soils due to low bearing capacity and shear strength. Traditional stabilizers or geopolymers based on industrial wastes should be used to stabilize the soft ground. This study investigated the effect of lime and metakaolin-based geopolymer on soft soil's compaction characteristics. The metakaolin was used in the ratio of 5% and 10% of the dry weight of the soil. The soft soil was air-dried and pulverized according to ASTM-D698 before the application of lime and geopolymer. The geopolymer was prepared using sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate alkali activators. The molarity of sodium hydroxide was 10, and the alkali solution of Na2SiO3/NaOH was in the ratio of 70/30, respectively. According to the findings, soft soil had a maximum dry density (MDD) of 1.52 g/cm3 and an optimum moisture content (OMC) of 27%. However, lime-treated soil has a maximum dry density of 1.47 g/cm3 and an optimum moisture content of 27%. For 5% and 10% geopolymers, the maximum dry density of geopolymer-stabilized soil increased from 1.46 g/cm3 to 1.5 g/cm3, respectively. The soil treated with a lime and geopolymer mixture had a lower maximum dry density and a higher optimum moisture content. Based on the experimental study, lime-treated soft soil showed decreased MDD and increased OMC due to lime's agglomeration and flocculation effect. The agglomeration and flocculation effect is also clearly observed in the lime-geopolymer-treated soft soil.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Compaction Characterstics, Geopolymers, Soft Soil, Maminum Dry Density, Optimum Moisture Content
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