ANALYSIS OF EXCAVATABLE FLOWABLE COMPOSITES

C P Ramesh, Sphoorthy S M, Mohiyuddin C S, Shashishankar A

Abstract: A flowable fill composite termed as Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) is a good alternative to compacted soils. CLSM is unique in achieving compressive strength without compacting effort and is superior to compacted earth. However, future digability can be allowed through a proper method of proportioning. The study uses combinations of CLSM composite mixtures constituting Processed Slag Sand (PSS) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS). The characteristics of CLSM composites mixtures viz., uniaxial compressive strength, absorption of water and lixiviate limits were determined by conducting various laboratory tests. Low GGBFS flowable fills with higher percentage of PSS are obtained with desirable flowability and lower uniaxial compressive strengths between the ranges of 1.20-2.70 MPa for easy future excavation process. The study is promising for a new area of applications for carbon footprint (CFP) mitigation. Thus, the objective of the study is to examine bulk utilization of low energy materials for CFP mitigation and to evaluate the use of PSS as fine aggregates in excavatable flowable fill composites. The uniaxial compressive strength properties in the range of 1.2-2.7 MPa and RFA of CLSM composite mixtures between 5 and 15 would be studied for different combinations and a comparative analysis would be made.

Keywords: Controlled low strength material; GGBS; PSS; Uniaxial compressive strength; Capillarity; Toxicity; CFP mitigation; RFA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2017.0614012