Abstract
The challenge posed by weak soil, characterized by low bearing capacity and shear strength, is significant in civil engineering, impacting road construction, structural foundations, and irrigation systems. Recycling non-biodegradable waste, especially glass waste, presents a promising solution for environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness in construction. This study aims to improve the geotechnical properties of weak soils by stabilizing them with Waste Glass Powder (WGP) and exploring novel construction applications. The experimental investigations determined the optimal incorporation of glass powder into soil samples, ranging from 2% to 10% by dry weight. Geotechnical tests, including sieving analysis, Atterberg limits determination, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests, and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) assessments, were conducted to assess the effect of glass powder addition. At a 10% glass powder content, the Plasticity Limit (PL), Liquid Limit (LL), and Plasticity Index (PI) were 18.4%, 33.9%, and 15.5%, respectively. The addition of glass powder significantly improved CBR values, reaching peaks of 10.5% (soaked CBR) and 22.3% (unsoaked CBR). Moreover, UCS increased to 135.6 kN/m2 with 8% glass powder, decreasing slightly to 120.8 kN/m2 with 10% glass powder. These findings highlight waste glass as a viable additive for enhancing the engineering properties of weak soils, promoting sustainable construction practices.