Evaluation of durability and strength of clay stabilized with quarry dust based geopolymer

Date of Publication

2026

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Subject Categories

Civil Engineering

College

Gokongwei College of Engineering

Department/Unit

Civil Engineering

Thesis Advisor

Erica Elice S. Uy, PhD

Defense Panel Chair

Mary Ann Q. Adajar, PhD

Defense Panel Member

Joenel G. Galupino, PhD
Cielo D. Frianeza, MSc

Abstract (English)

High plasticity clays are often characterized as undesirable engineering materials due to low shear strength, high compressibility, and swelling capacity, but it is inescapable when dealing with large infrastructure projects such as roads. Due to economic reasons, soil stabilization is done to improve its engineering properties, wherein chemical stabilization using ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is utilized. However, due to large emissions of greenhouse gases on production and use of OPC, nontraditional stabilizers are being studied. One of which is geopolymer, an inorganic material produced by alkaline activation of a precursor aluminosilicate material. In the Philippines, a by-product of sand and gravel quarries, called quarry dust (QD) is a potential precursor material. Sodium Silicate (SS) and Sodium Hydroxide (SH) is used as alkaline activator for QD and mixed with high plasticity clay (CH) to produce soil – geopolymer mixtures (SGMs). Index tests are conducted to obtain the properties of the materials and mixture proportions. After sample preparation and curing for 28 days, durability test against wetting and drying (WD) and Consolidated – Drained Triaxial Compression Test (CD Test) were conducted to measure the shear strength and deterioration. CD Tests on pure soil samples resulted to a shear strength of 200 to 600 kPa, with confining pressure of 100, 200, and 300 kPa, moreover, an increase to 1200 to 1400 kPa was observed for SGM samples. The SGM samples can be classified as quasi brittle materials like OPC concrete, as it exhibits macroscopic cracks before failure. It was also discovered that an average decrease of 100 kPa and 6.83% on shear strength and mass, respectively, is experienced by the SGMs after 12 WD cycles. Therefore, the SGM produced passed the criteria for an effective chemical stabilizer for CH and a possible engineering material to be used for road embankment and lateral support structures.

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

Ang high-plasticity clay (CH) ay madalas na itinuturing na hindi kanais nais na materyales sa inhenyeriya dahil sa mababang shear strength, mataas na kakayahang maikompres, at katangiang umalsa. Gayunpaman, hindi maiiwasan ang pagkakaroon nito sa malalaking proyektong pang imprastraktura tulad ng mga kalsada. Dahil sa mga kadahilanang pang ekonomiya, isinasagawa ang soil stabilization upang mapabuti ang mga katangiang inhenyeriya nito, kung saan karaniwang ginagamit ang kemikal na pagpapatatag gamit ang ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Subalit, dahil sa mataas na emisyon ng greenhouse gases sa paggawa at paggamit ng OPC, pinag-aaralan na ngayon ang mga hindi tradisyunal na pampatatag. Isa sa mga ito ay ang geopolymer, isang inorganikong materyal na nabubuo sa pamamagitan ng paghahalo ng alkaline activator at ng isang aluminosilicate precursor. Sa Pilipinas, ang quarry dust (QD), isang by-product ng pagmimina ng buhangin at graba, ay nakikitang may potensyal bilang precursor na materyal. Ang Sodium Silicate (SS) at Sodium Hydroxide (SH) ay ginagamit bilang alkaline activator para sa QD at hinahalo sa CH upang makabuo ng soil–geopolymer mixtures (SGMs). Isinagawa ang mga index tests upang matukoy ang mga katangian ng mga materyales at tamang proporsyon ng halo. Pagkatapos ng paghahanda ng mga ispesimen at curing sa loob ng 28 araw, isinagawa ang durability test laban sa wetting and drying (WD) at ang Consolidated–Drained Triaxial Compression Test (CD Test) upang masukat ang shear strength at antas ng pagkasira. Ang mga CD Test sa purong lupa ay nagresulta sa shear strength na 200 hanggang 600 kPa sa ilalim ng confining pressures na 100, 200, at 300 kPa. Samantala, ang mga ispesimen ng SGM ay nakapagtala ng pagtaas sa shear strength na 1200 hanggang 1400 kPa. Ang mga SGM ay maaaring iklasipika bilang quasi-brittle materials na kahalintulad ng konkretong gawa sa OPC, dahil nagpapakita ito ng mga macroscopic cracks bago tuluyang masira. Natuklasan din na ang mga SGM ay nakaranas ng karaniwang pagbawas na 100 kPa sa shear strength at 6.83% sa timbang matapos ang 12 WD cycles. Samakatuwid, ang nabuong SGM ay pumasa sa mga pamantayan bilang isang epektibong kemikal na pampatatag para sa CH at may potensyal bilang materyales na inhenyeriya para sa mga tambak sa kalsada at mga estrukturang pangsuporta sa gilid.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Soil stabilization

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