Optimizing and investigating durability performance of sandy soils stabilized with alkali activated waste tuff-fly ash mixtures

The search for alternative environmentally-friendly materials to Portland cement is increasing its importance in geotechnical engineering as in other fields. In this study, alkali activated waste volcanic tuff (BT) and fly ash (FA) utilized as an alternative to conventional binders. The specific objectives of this paper were to, (1) optimize fly ash, waste tuff and activator content using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), (2) investigate the UCS performance of the optimum amount of alkali-activated fly ash and waste tuff mixtures as a binder in soil stabilization by comparing with various codes, (3) characterize the optimized parameters, (4) examine durability performances of the samples. Optimum binder and activator content and effect of waste tuff on strength characteristics were evaluated statistically with RSM approach. XRF, XRD, FTIR analyses were performed to verify the synthesized alkali activated material in the inner structures of the optimized samples. The durability and mechanical properties of samples stabilized with alkali activated binders against soaking condition, wetting-drying and were investigated. Destructive and non-destructive methods were employed to examine mechanical and durability characteristics. Unconfined compression strength, strength reduction ratio, soil deterioration, and water absorption capacity was taken into account to evaluate durability performances. UCS values of the stabilized samples were compared with limit UCS values suggested by several standards. As a result of the study it was determined that alkali activated waste tuff and fly ash mixture shows significant mechanical and durability performance in soil stabilization, and capable to use as an alternative to conventional non-green binders.