Waste Management of Red Mud and Fly Ash to Utilize in Road Subgrade Material

Ali Sinan Soğancı, Yavuz Yenginar (), İlyas Özkan, Yusuf Güzel and Adnan Özdemir
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Ali Sinan Soğancı: Civil Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University, 42090 Konya, Türkiye
Yavuz Yenginar: Civil Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University, 42090 Konya, Türkiye
İlyas Özkan: Civil Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University, 42090 Konya, Türkiye
Yusuf Güzel: Civil Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University, 42090 Konya, Türkiye
Adnan Özdemir: Civil Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University, 42090 Konya, Türkiye

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Red mud (RM) is a waste material obtained during the production of aluminum from bauxite minerals. RM causes environmental pollution due to its high alkaline properties. Therefore, RM materials are stored in waste reservoirs. As production continues, the number of required waste reservoirs increases day by day. This study aims to utilize RM waste material in construction structures to contribute to the economy. The research investigates the potential use of RM waste material as road fill material. RM was improved using another waste material of fly ash (FA) since RM has low strength. Atterberg limit tests, compaction tests, unconfined compression tests, CBR tests, and SEM analyses were conducted on stabilized RM samples. In the physical properties of stabilized RM, Atterberg limits and optimum moisture content increase and density decreases since FA content increases. In the mechanical properties of stabilized RM, unconfined compressive strength, initial and secant modulus of elasticity, and California bearing ratio increase and maximum peak strain decreases since FA content and curing period increase. SEM images prove the increase in mechanical properties due to the cementation products (CSH and CAH gels) formed in the microstructure of stabilized RM. The results showed that RM waste stabilized with FA can be used as road subgrade material.

Keywords: fly ash; microstructure; red mud; road subgrade; stabilization; strength (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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