Utilization of Mosul City Demolition Waste to Improve some Soil Engineering Properties

Abstract

The present research has been conducted to trace the various effects of Mosul city demolition waste materials (DMs), on the geotechnical properties of clay. The properties of the samples have already been investigated and evaluated. Moreover, cement has been added to upgrade these properties. Finally, the fine demolition has been added to a highly expansive soil selected from the site of the University of Mosul to reduce the swelling potential. In fact, the experimental work includes: The Abrasion, index and compaction properties, swelling and strength of stabilized and treated expansive soil. The laboratory tests include the testing of consistency limits, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), compaction (standard and modified), swelling, consolidation, and Abrasion test by Los Angeles Machine. The Results show that, increasing the old and new demolition (OD and ND) percentages lead to a decrease of liquid limit and plasticity index of clay, respectively. The increase in maximum γdry for the clay has been noticed when the OD and ND content has been added from 5 to 25%. A reduction of optimum water content (opt) for clay was optimized also by increasing the demolitions percentage to 25%. Also, the UCS strength values of the clay have been increased by increasing the demolition materials (DMs) percentage from 5 to 25%. The odometer characteristics, including the swelling and consolidation of DMs-clay mixtures, were controlled mainly by the type of the demolition. The final result indicates that the presence of old and new demolition waste could improve the clay engineering properties of the stabilized soil. Untreated and cement treated (OD) and (ND) materials could be successfully used as a base or sub-base for road.