Stabilization and improvement soils characteristics using natural and industrial additives

The purpose of the present research is to study different soil stabilization methods using natural and industrial additives. soil samples were collected from three areas in southwestern of Iran (Khorramshahr, Chooebdeh port of Abadan and Imam Khomeini port (Mahshahr) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogical, and laser particle size analyzer (LPSA) method to monitor samples' physicochemical and granulation. The additives were Portland cement type II (with 5% and 8% composition by volume), hydrated lime (with 5% and 7% volumetric composition), propylene fibers (with a combination of 0.5% and 1% by weight), and micro silica powder (with 5% and 8% volumetric composition). The research findings indicated relatively similar distribution of soil particles, despite the relative differences in geo-environmental conditions and a high abundance of clay and silt particles. The results also showed that increasing the additives to the original samples will multiply the parameters of plasticity index, consolidation of dry density, adhesion coefficient, internal friction angle, and the compressive strength for all samples. Moreover, It is demonstrated that of the additives used at all three understudied regions, cement with 8% composition by volume on the plasticity index (8.55% increase), micro silica powder with 8% volumetric composition on consolidation of dry density in Khorramshahr (4% increase), propylene fibers with a combination of 0.5% on the adhesion coefficient (0.44% increase), cement with 8% composition by volume on internal friction angle, and propylene fibers with a combination of 1% had much greater effects on compressive strength. According to the research results, it is recommended to use propylene fibers with a combination of 0.5% or micro silica powder with 8% volumetric composition to soil improvement.