A STUDY ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF STRENGTH AND SETTLEMENT OF SANDY SOILS USING MARBLE POWDER

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of marble powder, a byproduct of the marble cutting and polishing industry, as a sustainable and cost-effective additive for improving the geotechnical properties of sandy soils. Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of varying percentages of marble powder (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by dry weight of soil) on the strength and settlement behaviour of uniformly graded sand. Standard Proctor compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), direct shear, and one-dimensional consolidation tests were performed to assess improvements in load-bearing capacity and compressibility. The results revealed that the inclusion of marble powder significantly enhanced the UCS and shear strength of sandy soils, with the optimum performance observed at 15% addition. Furthermore, settlement under loading was notably reduced due to the filler effect and pozzolanic reactivity of the marble powder, which contributed to denser packing and partial cementation of soil particles. The findings suggest that marble powder can serve as an effective and environmentally friendly stabilizer for sandy soils in geotechnical applications, particularly in subgrade and foundation works.