Swelling Control of Expansive Soils Using Cement Dust

Abstract

Abstract Expansive soils exist in many regions over the world including Iraq. Expansive or swelling soil contains minerals that are capable to absorb water easily causing an increase in its volume. In this research, an expansive soil that exists in some locations in the province of Karbala in Iraq was used. Limited data is available to investigate the effect of cement dust on engineering properties of expansive soils. For this purpose, samples have been prepared by mixing the expansive soil with different percentages of cement dust. The samples have been subjected to cycles of wetting and drying to investigate the swelling behaviour. Soil samples that are used were compacted at the optimum moisture content. Five different percentages of cement dust content are used in this study include: 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20%. Fundamental tests for all soil samples. It is concluded that the addition of cement dust to the expansive soils is successful method to improve their properties such as decreasing the consistency limits, increasing the maximum dry density corresponding to lower optimum water content, decreasing the swelling pressure and swelling potential.