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Characterization of Granular Materials Treated with Fly Ash for Road Infrastructure Applications

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation carried out to evaluate the effects of fly ash (FA) on the coarse-grained soils compaction response and shear characteristics for the purpose to valorize their utilization as local materials in road infrastructure applications. A series of compaction and direct shear tests was performed on three different classes derived from natural Chlef sand having different maximum grain sizes mixed with fly ash according to percentages ranging from 0% to 15%. The sand-fly ash mixture samples were reconstituted with water content varying between 4% and 14% for the whole experimental compaction testing program. The obtained data confirmed that the particle size and fly ash content have a significant influence on the mechanical performance (in terms of compaction response and shear strength characteristics) of sand-fly ash mixtures. Indeed, the increase of the maximum particle size and fly ash fraction induced a noticeable increase of the maximum dry density and decrease of the optimum water content for the tested sand-fly ash mixture samples. On the other hand, the obtained test results indicated clearly the impact of Dmax and FA on the shear strength response of the sand-fly ash mixtures for the fly ash content range (0%–15%) under study. The newly introduced particle size characteristics appeared as pertinent parameters to predict the compaction response and shear strength characteristics of the tested materials.

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Abbreviations

C u :

Coefficient of uniformity

C c :

Coefficient of curvature

D max :

Maximum grain size

D 10s :

Effective diameter of sand

D 10m :

Effective diameter of mixtures

D 50s :

Mean grain size of sand

D 50m :

Mean grain size of mixtures

e :

Void ratio

e max :

Maximum global void ratio

e min :

Minimum global void ratio

FA:

Fly ash content

G s :

Specific gravity

P R10 :

Effective particle ratio [PR10 = (D10s − D10m)/D10s]

P R50 :

Mean particle ratio [PR50 = (D50s − D50m)/D50s]

SP:

Poorly graded sand

S r :

Degree of saturation

USCS:

Unified Soil Classification System

w :

Water content

w opt :

Optimum water content

γ d :

Dry density

γ dmax :

Maximum dry density

σ n :

Normal stress

τ :

Shear stress

τ max :

Maximum shear stress

ϕ max :

Maximum friction angle

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Acknowledgments

This research work was carried out in the Laboratory of Materials Sciences & Environment in the context of a research project between Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef (Algeria) and Ruhr University of Bochum (Germany). The authors are thankful to all those who effectively contributed to the achievement of this laboratory investigation.

Author Contribution Section

All authors have contributed to the conception, writing, and design of the submission manuscript. Material collection, sample preparation, and analysis were performed by Mr. Hamou Azaiez, Dr. Abdellah Cherif Taiba, Dr. Youcef Mahmoudi, and Pr. Mostefa Belkhatir. The first draft of the manuscript was written by all authors and they have commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support received from the Directorate General for Scientific Research and Technological Development, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Algeria).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Structures, Geotechnics and Risks, University of Chlef, Chlef, Algeria

    Hamou Azaiez

  2. Laboratory of Material Sciences & Environment, University of Chlef, Chlef, Algeria

    Hamou Azaiez, Abdellah Cherif Taiba, Youcef Mahmoudi & Mostefa Belkhatir

  3. Laboratory of Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering & Environmental Geotechnics, Bochum Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany

    Mostefa Belkhatir

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  1. Hamou Azaiez
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Correspondence to Abdellah Cherif Taiba.

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Azaiez, H., Taiba, A.C., Mahmoudi, Y. et al. Characterization of Granular Materials Treated with Fly Ash for Road Infrastructure Applications. Transp. Infrastruct. Geotech. 8, 228–253 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-020-00135-6

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