International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 7, Issue 5, September-October 2016, pp. 87–92, Article ID: IJCIET_07_05_011

Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=7&IType=5
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
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SOIL STABILIZATION OF ALLUVIAL SOIL BY USING

MARBLE POWDER
Adarsh Minhas
P.G. Student, Department of Civil Engineering,
Chandigarh University, Ghraun, Punjab, India.

Veena Uma Devi

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,
Chandigarh University, Ghraun, Punjab, India.

ABSTRACT
This research aims to study the effect of marble powder on the stabilization of alluvial soils.
The term soil soil stabilization means the improvement of stability or bearing power of soil by the
use of controlled compaction; proportioning or the addition of suitable admixtures or stabilizers.
As soil stabilization the alluvial soil is necessary as long as their volume changes due to variation
in water content. Generally it expands throughout the rainy season owing to the addition or intake
of water or shrinks in winter. Therefore, it is very important to replace the weak soil accompanied
by the stabilized one. Although no. of studies has been accomplished on use of marble dust as a soil
stabilization material. But most of them were done by expansive soil. So, by the improvement of
alluvial soil i used marble dust which is earlier typically a heavy one on our natural environment.
Exploit these wastes for the improvement of alluvial soil will be the leading alternative. The use of
marble dust for stabilization approach is an economical and environmental settling the problems
affiliated with its disposal process.
Key words: Soil stabilization, alluvial soil, Marble dust, Grain size distribution, SPT, CBR value,
OMC, Maximum dry density.
Cite this Article: Adarsh Minhas and Veena Uma Devi, Soil Stabilization of Alluvial Soil by using
Marble Powder. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 7(5), 2016, pp.87–92.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=7&IType=5

1. INTRODUCTION
Alluvial soils are formed mainly due to silt deposited by Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Rivers. In coastal
regions some alluvial soil deposited are formed due to wave action. The soil is porous because of its loamy
(equal proportion of sand and clay) in nature. It also occurs in deltas of the Mahanadi, the Krishna, and the
Cauvery, where they are called deltaic alluviam or coastal alluviam. This type of soil constantly
replenished by the recurrent floods. Generally, alluvial soil consists of clay, silt, sand, gravel, metals, and
other earthly materials and is typically found near a water source. Build-up of alluvial soil in moving water
can changes the water’s flow. Examples of large alluvial deltas can be found in the Mississippi, Nile,
Ganges, Brahmputra and Huang rivers. Alluvial soil fans are deposits that from a triangular shape as a
result of runoff from moving water, such as a fast-moving stream, canyon or waterfall. Alluvial soil

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 Adarsh Minhas and Veena Uma Devi

contains many nutrients and comes from a water source; it is excellent soil for planting. Alluvial soil is
composed of alluviam deposits by the rivers, when they slowly lose their carrying capacity due to decrease
in velocity. Alluvial soil are scattered throughout the country and is most widespread category. These soils
cover 40% of the entire land area in india. Alluvial soil is found in the plains like Assam, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Punjab, Orissa and Tamil nadu. The main properties of alluvial soil are rich in nutrients and may
contain heavy metal. These soils are formed when streams and rivers slow their velocity. Other one alluvial
soil are high fertile and a good crop soil. About the texture of alluvial soil is determined primarily by the
size of mineral particles that make up the soil. The largest of the primary types of soil particles is sand,
which ranges between 0.05 and 2 millimeters in diameter. But the silt particles are smaller than the sand
particles, ranging between 0.002 and 0.05 millimeters in diameter. Soils that are more than 50% sand
particles are considered to be ‘sandy soils’.

2. PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The overall purpose of this review is encapsulated to investigate the use of marble powder as a stabilizer to
strengthen the weak natural sandy soil. In the past few years, marble is considered as one of the most
paramount decorative building material. Marble powder is the by-product of marble which severally
affects the environment and causes many health hazards.
Marble industry produces large amounts of waste as environmental threat. Consistently, natural sand
can be substituted with marble powder and used in concrete.
Thanks, to the civil engineering research, that the numerous uses of marble powder have been
introduced, including use in tiles manufacturing, concrete mixes, sub grade fills, and modified binder.

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study the marble powder are used which are taken from the marble industry (Namdhari marble
house dhanas) located near the marble market batra theatre road, Chandigarh. And the soil sample are
collected from the campus of Chandigarh University (CU)

4. PREPARATION OF SAMPLES
The properties of soil are initially determined in their natural appearance and then after marble dust were
mixed in given soil sample at a different percentage (5%, 10%, 15%).

5. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME
Sieve analysis, standard proctor test(SPT), Optimum moisture content(OMC), California bearing
ratio(CBR) were carried out for both natural soils and with the addition of marble dust with three different
percentages (5%, 10%, 15%) were carried out.

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 Soil Stabilization of Alluvial Soil by using Marble Powder

6. FIGURES
Figure1 shows 5% of marble powder added

5% marble powder added

1.95

1.9

1.85
dry density

1.8
Series1

1.75

1.7

1.65
0 5 10 15 20
water content

Figure 2 shows 10% of marble powder added

10% of marble powder added

1.92

1.9

1.88

1.86

1.84
dry density

1.82 Series1

1.8

1.78

1.76

1.74
0 5 10 15 20
water content

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 Adarsh Minhas and Veena Uma Devi

Figure 3 shows 15% of marble powder added

15% marble powder added

1.9

1.85

Series1
dry density

1.8

1.75

1.7

1.65
0 5 10 15 20

water content

Figure 4 Graphical representation of CBR with the addition of (5%, 10%, 15%) marble powder added
showing in figure , 2.5 mm penetration (blue line)

70

60
and 5 mm penetration(red line)

50

40 Series1

30 Series2

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20

% of marble powder and water content

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 Soil Stabilization of Alluvial Soil by using Marble Powder

7. STUDIES ON STABILIZATION OF SOIL USING WASTE MATERIAL

Swami (2002) and Palaniappan and Stalin (2009) has stabilized expansive soil using marble dust and were
successful in improving different properties of expansive soil.
Baser O (2009) studied “stabilization of expansive soils using waste marble dust”
Sabat and Nanda (2011) had studied the effect of marble dust on strength and durability of rice husk
ash stabilized expansive soil and found that addition of marble dust increased the strength, decreased the
swelling pressure and made the soil –rice husk ash mixes durable. The optimum proportion of soil: rice
husk ash: marble dust found to be 70:10:20.
Zhang et al.(2013)had found the positive effect of marble dust on strength, swelling and durability of
biomass ash stabilized expansive soil. The optimum proportion of soil: biomass ash: marble dust was
found to be 75:10:15.
Parte shyam singh and yadav R k (2014), “effect of marble dust on index properties of black cotton
soil”
Muthu kumar M, Tamilarasan V S (April 2015) studied on “Expansive soil with Marble Powder” In
this study, the laboratory experiments are carried out for different percentages(5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%)
and studied the compaction characteristics and strength characteristics. The strength parameters like AL,
SPT, UCS were determined.
Yesilbas, gulsah, (april 2004) had studied “stabilization of expansive soils using aggregate waste, rock
powder and lime”
Ali R, khan H, and shah A A(2014)had studied expansive soil stabilization using marble dust and
bagasse ash. They used bagasse ash and marble dust in different proportion 0,4,8, and 12%. They found
that the stabilization of soil by using industrial waste such as marble dust and bagasse ash is successfully
improving the poor properties of expansive soil.
R.P. Arora, N.K. Ameta, Kapil.K.Samar and Samdhani (april and oct2014) had “studied the
improvement of engineering characteristics of locally available soil mass by using marble dust”. They
found that that as the addition of marble powder with the given soil improved the gradation of soil, reduces
swelling characteristics, increasing the maximum dry density, reduced the optimum moisture content,
increasing shear resistance and reduced the permeability as well.
Gupta and Sharma(2014)had studied the effect of fly ash, sand and marble dust on compaction and
CBR values of expansive soil.there was approximately 200% increase in soaked CBR in the sample having
soil -52.36%, sand -22.44%, fly ash -13.2% and marble dust -12%
R. Anwar, H.R. Kamarun, V.V. Vermol and O.H. Hassan (2011) had studied marble dust incorporate
in standard local ceramic body as enhancement in sanitary ware products. They found that by adding of
marble dust as a component and agent to improve the strength in sanitary ware body.
Ankit J. Patel, Sachin N. Bhavsar (nov 2014) had studied analysis of clayey soil using waste material.
They found that by stabilization of black cotton soil for 30% replacement by marble powder and brick dust
the properties related to soil are improved. For the marble powder liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index
values are decreasing. And also found in maximum dry density increases and gradually reduction in
optimum moisture content.

8. CONCLUSION
Final conclusion of this report is that the OMC becomes steadiness with the addition of all the percentages
of marble powder i.e (5,10,15%). There is no change in OMC with the addition of marble powder in given
soil sample. When there was no mix in the soil the OMC becomes 8%. But by the addition of marble
powder in the soil sample the OMC got up to 12%. This shows some variation in OMC due to the addition
of marble powder. All in three cases (5,10,15%) of marble dust to the alluvial soil shows same variation in
OMC. Generally OMC depends on the specific surface (particles surface area per weight). It varies from

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 Adarsh Minhas and Veena Uma Devi

material to material. If specific surface of admixtures is same as that of soil, OMC will remain constant.
But in maximum dry density (MDD) decreases with the addition of marble dust. This is because of
presence of mixing that is soil and marble dust has different specific gravity than the natural soil. Another
conclusion of CBR test results, there was a prominent improvement seen when natural soil is replaced by
the addition of marble dust. It was noticed that bearing capacity of soil decreases if furthermore marble
powder is added.

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