Applicability of Clay Soil Stabilized with Red Mud, Bioenzyme, and Red Mud–Bioenzyme as a Subgrade Material in Pavement
Piyush Parik, Nihar Ranjan Patra
Abstract
The present work evaluates and compares the performance of clay soil stabilized with red mud, bioenzyme, and red mud–bioenzyme as a subgrade material in pavement construction. Finite-element simulations have been performed using PLAXIS-2D to evaluate pavement parameters, such as surface deflection, compressive strain at the top of the subgrade layer, and tensile strain at the bottom of the asphaltic layer. Based on strain values, the rutting life and fatigue life of stabilized subgrade pavement have been evaluated. The effect of various axle loads (40 to 280 kN) and climatic conditions (20°C to 40°C) on pavement parameters have been studied. The results show that the compressive strain and tensile strain in pavement increase with an increase in axle loads. The fatigue life of soil–red mud, soil–bioenzyme, and soil–red mud–bioenzyme subgrade pavements are improved by 4 times, 6.5 times, and 13.4 times, respectively, and rutting life is improved by 9.3 times, 20.5 times, and 38.9 times, respectively, as compared with clay soil subgrade pavement. The strain and surface deflection values of stabilized subgrade pavements are found to be 30% to 55.4% and 15% to 42.7% lower, respectively, than clay soil subgrade pavement. Based on analysis, optimum axle load and design life of stabilized subgrade pavements have been discussed.