Evaluation of the Influence of Olive Pomace Addition on the Geotechnical Properties of Clay Soil

In Algeria, olive cultivation is booming. Most of it is destined for oil production, while the extraction of oil in Algerian oil mills generates large quantities of by-products known as olive pomace. Within the framework of the valorization of agricultural waste in soil stabilization and to reduce the costs of stabilization operations, road construction, and to protect the environment, an experimental study on the effect of olive pomace on plastic soil or, in other words, “problem soil” has been carried out. This study aims to determine the engineering and geotechnical properties of poor soil improved by using olive pomace with different percentages (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8%) carried out on different physical and mechanical tests. Through this experimental study, we observed that with the increase in the percentage of olive pomace, the plasticity index of the treated soils decreases, and the shear resistance properties increase. On the other hand, the highest shear strength properties of the treated soil were obtained for the additions of 4 and 6% of olive pomace. Overall, it can be concluded that olive pomace can be considered an ecological and economical solution for treating clay soils in developing regions.