Alkali-activated cementitious materials present an environmentally beneficial and high-performance option in the domain of soil solidification and stabilization. This research focused on granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), a predominant byproduct and solid waste from iron manufacturing that has a limited utilization rate. Due to its high content of calcium (Ca), silicon (Si), and aluminum (Al), slag has emerged as an effective soil curing agent. This study investigated sandy silt by employing alkali-activated slag to examine its solidification and stabilization properties. We assessed the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), deterioration strength, and solidification mechanism of alkali-activated slag-stabilized sandy silt through unconfined compressive strength tests and various microscopic analyses, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These findings indicate that using slag alone for solidifying sandy silt is inefficient. However, following alkali activation, the UCS of solidified soil with sandy silt generally increases with increasing GGBFS content and initially increases, then decreases with increasing alkali-activator content. The ideal proportions of GGBFS and alkali-activator are between 12 %-14 % and 6 %-9 %, respectively. Upon exposure to ordinary and triple-concentration artificial seawater, the strength of the solidified soil generally diminishes over time. It is worth noting that the strength of the samples in group GGBFS14 exhibited an initial increase, followed by a decrease, as the deterioration time increased. With alkali-activator contents of 6 % and 9 %, the strength and durability of the solidified soil remain relatively stable, maintaining robust mechanical properties even after seawater erosion. The resistance of the solidified soil to seawater deterioration increases as the GGBFS content increases. Microscopic tests revealed the presence of amorphous hydration gel products (C-A-S-H). The optimal GGBFS and alkali-activator contents for sandy silt solidification in this study were determined to be 12 %-14 % and 6 %-9 %, respectively. At these optimal levels, the strength of the solidified soil at a curing age of 28 days can reach 13.49 MPa (GGBFS16AA6). This suggests that alkali-activated slag holds potential as a substitute for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in engineering applications and offers a strategy for reusing GGBFS.

Expansive soils pose various problems to the existing transportation infrastructures by causing damages to pavements, railways, and embankments due to differential settlement, and volume changes in soils. Therefore, expansive soil if used in pavements must be stabilized by using some suitable means. The present study investigates the strength and durability of expansive soil stabilized with alkali-activated GGBFS (ground granulated blast furnace slag). In order to accelerate the hydration process, an alkali activator of low molarity (i.e., 5 M NaOH) is used to stabilize the subgrade expansive soil. GGBFS and alkali-activated GGBFS were added in the proportions of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% to check the improvement in the strength properties of expansive soils after different periods of curing. The strength properties of stabilized soil were assessed by conducting various laboratory tests like unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR). Durability study was also done by subjecting the soil specimens to 12 wet-dry cycles. The utilization potential of alkali activated GGBFS has been assessed from the mechanical, mineralogical, and morphological properties of stabilized soil. It was found that alkali-activated GGBFS can be effectively utilized for highway subgrade and sub-base applications.