Soil stabilization using plastic waste

Abstract

The process of improving the physical and engineering properties of soil, such as shear strength and bearing capacity, is known as Soil stabilisation. Indian terrain is mostly occupied by black cotton soil. It is highly expansive soil which shows more swelling, shrinkage and settlement problems. Thus, the Construction of buildings and other Civil Engineering structures on this soil is risky. Use of compaction technique or suitable admixtures like cement, lime and waste material like fly ash, etc can bring out the soil stabilisation. But these are expensive additives. That we obtained here suggest and prove that the use of plastic waste for the stabilisation of soils would reduce the problem of disposing of plastic waste and also reduce environmental problems. It is seen that CBR test, Proctor test, and Sieve analysis are performed to check the suitability of plastic waste as a soil stabiliser. Sieve Analysis gives the physical properties of the soil sample. Modified Proctor Test gives the OMC and Dry Density of the soil sample. CBR Test results for the Optimum Plastic content. Optimum Plastic content is the percentage of plastic added to the soil sample above which the CBR value falls. ModifiedProctor Test is recommended over the Standard Proctor Test because the soil which is tested will be used for road construction, which requires high compaction. Soil stabilisation is possible with plastic waste, which is a cheap method of soil stabilization.