Rockwool as a Potential Alternative to Conventional Geosynthetic Materials in Sustainable Ground Improvement Solutions

Rockwool is an inorganic fibrous furnace product drawn from molten rock and waste slag in the form of interlaced fibers. Owing to its outstanding thermal insulation, durability, non-toxicity, and incombustibility properties, it has found widespread applications in various engineering fields. However, the potential application of this material in the field of ground improvement remains untouched. This study presents an in-depth characterization and review of the potential use of rockwool as a substitute for conventional geosynthetic materials in the field of ground stabilization. The comparison of the mechanical properties of rockwool with commercially available geosynthetics leads to the conclusion that rockwool has mechanical properties lying in the range of natural geosynthetics and can be successfully used as its replacement. To ascertain this, unit cell model tests have been conducted simulating the micropiling ground improvement technique wherein rockwool is provided as an interface between the pile and the expansive clayey soil. These test results have then been validated using the 3D finite element method simulating the model in MIDAS GTS NX, 2021. The laboratory model tests and the finite element simulation results showed that rockwool along with micropiles can be effective in stabilizing weak soil. The micropile with rockwool interface is then simulated as a ground stabilization solution in the subgrade of a 3D railway track model prepared in MIDAS GTS NX, 2021 in order to highlight its benefits.