Sustainable Use of Recycled-Glass Powder in Soil Stabilization
Jair de Jesús Arrieta Baldovino, Ronaldo Luís dos Santos Izzo, Érico Rafael da Silva, Juliana Lundgren Rose
Abstract
This study investigates the performance of sustainable use of recycled-glass powder (GP) in soil improvement. The porosity/cement ratio (η/Civ) and curing time are employed to study the evolution of unconfined compressive strength (qu) and durability against wet–dry cycles (measuring of loss of mass) of a sedimentary silty soil of Guabirotuba formation, stabilized with GP and cement, in Southern Brazil. Three dry unit weights of molding (γd), three cement contents (C) between 3% and 9%, and curing times of 7, 28, and 90 days are used to study the influence of GP content (i.e., 5%, 15%, and 30% by weight) and η/Civ index on qu and accumulated loss of mass (ALM) of the compacted blends. The long-term strength improvement and durability are observed and well-fitted to a power function depending on the η/Civ ratio. When γd, GP, and C are increased and the initial porosity (η) is reduced, qu strength and durability increase for all GP contents. The η/Civ ratio can also establish the empirical ratios between qu-ALM dependent on the GP contents used during compaction of the specimens. Finally, equations for dosing and estimating qu and ALM are obtained and set to 96.5% with a 6% error. Thus, all strengths and ALM percentages show the same normalized (i.e., divided) potential trend as the functions of GP, C, and γd, compatible for the value of η/Civ0.20=37.5% by volume, and it may be possible to extend it to other compacted blends proposed in the recent literature, such as soil-lime and soil-cement-roof tile waste.