Title: Ambient Cured Geopolymer Binder in Road Pavement-Subgrade Stabilization as a Replacement of Conventional Cement

Author(s): Didar Singh Cheema

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 355

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 403-412

Keywords: low calcium fly ash geopolymer binder (LCFG), slag, alkaline reactants- sodium silicate; sodium hydroxide

DOI: 10.14359/51736048

Date: 7/1/2022

Abstract:
Pavement subgrade is an in-situ material upon which the pavement structure is constructed. A soil with a high plasticity index will experience high shrinkage and swell depending upon its moisture content with detrimental impacts on its supported pavement structure. Removing and replacing the weak soil with better-quality soil is an alternative to stabilization of poor subgrade soil and may be a very expensive solution, typically for large road networks. Secondly, stabilization of weak soil -subgrade using conventional cement may not be sustainable due to its high CO₂ footprint. The feasibility of this non-conventional method using blended geopolymer binder for stabilization of weak subgrade soil was investigated compared to the conventional cement stabilization method. Laboratory testing of design mixes included unconfined compression test, maximum dry density, CBR and shrink & swell testing determining its feasibility and optimum extent. This research paper will present the findings on the effectiveness of blended geopolymer (fly ash and slag) as an alternative to conventional cement-based soil stabilizers for weak subgrade and its sustainability potential.