Stabilization of Kuttanad Soil Using Terrasil Nanochemical and GGBS

Expansive soil has a propensity to contract and expand in response to changes in moisture content, making it less capable of supporting the infrastructure above it and ultimately failing. By enhancing and stabilizing the soil’s characteristics, it can be avoided. Nanomaterials are increasingly influencing our daily lives today. The study is aimed to improve the engineering properties of Kuttanad soil by treating it with nanocompound (Terrasil) as the primary additive and GGBS as the secondary additive. Initially, geotechnical properties of Kuttanad soil were determined. Optimum percentage of GGBS and terrasil was determined using laboratory tests, and it was obtained as 9% and 0.03%, respectively. Finally, the experimental results of prepared soil combinations were analyzed to obtain plasticity, UCS, triaxial and compaction parameters. Addition of optimum percentage of GGBS and terrasil reduced the plastic behavior of soil and increased the UCS and compaction characteristics. PLAXIS 2D analysis was done for the treated and virgin soil to determine the settlement and FOS behavior of soil. From the findings, it was determined that the settlement behavior of treated soil got reduced by 86% and FOS was increased from 1.03 to 2.29.