Stabilization Of soil with waste ceramic powder & calcium carbide residue for subgrade application

Document Type : Reply to comment on Paper

Authors

Civil Department, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, India.

10.22059/ijmge.2026.389985.595223

Abstract

The rapid depletion of natural resources and increasing industrial waste production underscore the urgency for sustainable soil stabilization strategies. This study presents a comparative evaluation of waste ceramic powder (WCP) and calcium carbide residue (CCR) as sustainable additives for enhancing the engineering properties of clayey soil. Reusing these industrial by-products not only mitigates landfill pressure and groundwater contamination but also conserves natural construction material. Soil samples treated with varying proportions of CCR and WCP were subjected to tests including Atterberg limits, Standard Proctor compaction, pH, Differential Free Swell (DFS), and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) after 3, 7, and 28 days of curing. Test results revealed substantial improvement in soil characteristics, with CCR showing slightly superior results. The addition of CCR and WCP altered the soil classification from CH to MI and CL respectively. CCR addition reduced the Plasticity Index from 24.14% to 5.31%, making the soil suitable for subgrade applications. WCP increased MDD and reduced OMC, while CCR showed the opposite trend due to its fine particle size and pozzolanic nature. The swelling potential was significantly reduced, and after 28 days of curing, the UCS improved by 2.08 times with CCR and 1.81 times with WCP. Beyond stabilization, this study highlights the future potential of CCR as an alkali activator and WCP as a geopolymer precursor, supporting their application in sustainable and resource-efficient geotechnical and construction practices.

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References

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International Journal of Mining and Geo-Engineering
Volume 60, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 17-24

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