Abstract

The conventional methods of soil improvement, such as soil replacement and chemical treatment, are commonly employed to enhance poor soil properties for construction purposes. However, these methods are often expensive and pose adverse environmental impacts. The use of waste materials, such as crushed glass, as a soil stabilizer presents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative due to its low cost and wide availability. This study investigates the effects of incorporating crushed waste glass on the engineering behavior of low-plasticity silty soil. Crushed glass was added in proportions of 7%, 14%, and 21% by dry weight of the soil. To assess the changes in soil properties, both the chemical compositions of the soil and glass were analyzed, along with physical tests (gradation, consistency limits, and specific gravity) and mechanical strength evaluations (Proctor compaction and Unconfined Compressive Strength [UCS]) conducted in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. The results indicated that the progressive addition of crushed glass reduced the specific gravity of the soil. A decrease in the liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), and plasticity index (PI) was also observed. The maximum dry density (MDD) increased with the addition of crushed glass, while the optimum moisture content (OMC) decreased as the glass content increased. The soil's strength improved significantly with the addition of 7% crushed glass; however, higher dosages led to a reduction in UCS values. Overall, the incorporation of waste glass not only improves certain geotechnical properties of silty soil but also contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing glass waste.

Keywords

Soil stabilization, Crushed waste glass, Silty soil, Geotechnical properties, Unconfined compressive strength, Environmental sustainability.

References

[1] Mahmutluoğlu B, Bağrıaçık B. Utilization of alkali-activated glass manufacturing waste in the improvement of cohesive soils. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering. 2022; 47(10):12765-78.

[2] Poon CS. Management of construction and demolition waste. Waste Management. 2007; 27(2):159-60.

[3] Gücek S, Gürer C, Žlender B, Taciroğlu MV, Korkmaz BE, Gürkan K, et al. Use of lignin, waste tire rubber, and waste glass for soil stabilization. Applied Sciences. 2024; 14(17):1-17.

[4] Abhishek A, Sharma RK, Shandil P. Stabilization of soil by using construction & demolition waste, calcium carbide residue, molasses and glass fiber reinforcement. In advanced engineering forum 2025 (pp. 57-75). Trans Tech Publications Ltd.

[5] Restrepo SM, Ramírez JD, Vásquez DH. Geopolymers from construction and demolition glass waste: a review of technological trends and sustainable applications. Revista EIA. 2025; 22(43):1-27.

[6] Akoğuz H. Performance evaluation of waste glass in soil improvement: influence of particle size of waste glass on mechanical, microstructural, and durability characteristics. Case Studies in Construction Materials. 2025; 22:e04241.

[7] Abdallah HM, Rabab’ah SR, Taamneh MM, Taamneh MO, Hanandeh S. Effect of zeolitic tuff on strength, resilient modulus, and permanent strain of lime-stabilized expansive subgrade soil. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 2023; 35(5):04023081.

[8] Reshma TV, Patnaikuni CK, Manjunatha M, Bharath A, Tangadagi RB. Influence of alccofine and polypropylene fibers on stabilization of soil–an investigational study. International Journal of Advanced Technology and Engineering Exploration. 2022; 9(89):551-62.

[9] Adeloye A, Mamoru G, Banji I. The engineering analysis and composition of rice husk ash, powdered glass, and cement as stabilizers. Applied Sciences Research Periodicals. 2023; 1(5):40-50.

[10] Parihar NS, Garlapati VK, Ganguly R. Stabilization of black cotton soil using waste glass. In handbook of environmental materials management 2019 (pp. 3099-114). Springer, Cham.

[11] Blayi RA, Sherwani AF, Ibrahim HH, Faraj RH, Daraei A. Strength improvement of expansive soil by utilizing waste glass powder. Case Studies in Construction Materials. 2020; 13:1-12.

[12] Sheob M, Sajid M, Ansari MA, Rais I, Sadique MR, Ahmad S. Using a blend of cement and waste glass powder to improve the properties of clayey soil. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2023.

[13] Ferdous W, Manalo A, Siddique R, Mendis P, Zhuge Y, Wong HS, et al. Recycling of landfill wastes (tyres, plastics and glass) in construction–a review on global waste generation, performance, application and future opportunities. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2021; 173:105745.

[14] Musheb JM. The economics of waste recycling in Iraq: wasted resources and lost opportunities. European Journal of Economics and Business Studies. 2018; 4(2):90-8.

[15] Balan LA, Anupam BR, Sharma S. Thermal and mechanical performance of cool concrete pavements containing waste glass. Construction and Building Materials. 2021; 290:123238.

[16] Perera ST, Saberian M, Zhu J, Roychand R, Li J, Ren G, et al. Improvement of low plasticity clay with crushed glass: a mechanical and microstructural study. International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology. 2025; 18(1):213-33.

[17] Monich PR, Romero AR, Höllen D, Bernardo E. Porous glass-ceramics from alkali activation and sinter-crystallization of mixtures of waste glass and residues from plasma processing of municipal solid waste. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018; 188:871-8.

[18] Javed SA, Chakraborty S. Effects of waste glass powder on subgrade soil improvement. World Scientific News. 2020; 144:30-42.

[19] Niyomukiza JB, Eisazadeh A, Akamumpa J, Kiwanuka M, Lukwago A, Tiboti P. Use of waste glass powder in improving the properties of expansive clay soils. Global NEST Journal. 2023; 25:139-45.

[20] Rai AK, Singh G, Tiwari AK. Comparative study of soil stabilization with glass powder, plastic and e-waste: a review. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2020; 32:771-6.

[21] Khan MS, Tufail M, Mateeullah M. Effects of waste glass powder on the geotechnical properties of loose subsoils. Civil Engineering Journal. 2018; 4(9):2044-51.

[22] Al-taie A, Yaghoubi E, Wasantha PL, Van SR, Guerrieri M, Fragomeni S. Mechanical and physical properties and cyclic swell-shrink behaviour of expansive clay improved by recycled glass. International Journal of Pavement Engineering. 2023; 24(1):1-14.

[23] Arrieta BJD, Dos SIRL, Da SÉR, Lundgren RJ. Sustainable use of recycled-glass powder in soil stabilization. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 2020; 32(5):04020080.

[24] Al-neami MA, Alsoudany K, Dawod A, Ehsan E. Remediation of cohesive soils using waste glass. In international conference of technology and science. 2015 (pp. 125-37). Catholic Academic-Freiburg–Germany.

[25] Khosravifardshirazi B. Stabilization of clay soil with glass powder. Master's Thesis, University of Exeter, United Kingdom. 2024.

[26] Mahdi Z, Al-hassnawi NS. Assessment of subgrade soil improvement by waste glass powder. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology. 2018; 9(10):12-21.

[27] Arrieta J, Millan C, Jove F. Effects of ground glass powder in silty soil stabilization. Webology. 2022; 19(4).

[28] Tajaddini A, Saberian M, Sirchi VK, Li J, Maqsood T. Improvement of mechanical strength of low-plasticity clay soil using geopolymer-based materials synthesized from glass powder and copper slag. Case Studies in Construction Materials. 2023; 18:1-15.

[29] Moazami D, Bilondi MP, Rahnama A, Zaresefat M, Moretti L. Recycled glass powder and calcium carbide residue geopolymer to stabilise silty sand soil: mechanical performances and statistical analysis. Heliyon. 2025; 11(1):1-13.

[30] Al-neami MA, Nsaif MH. Remediation of expansive soils utilizing waste glass powder. In IOP conference series: earth and environmental science 2024 (pp. 1-8). IOP Publishing.

[31] Tsegaye WT. Strength improvement of black cotton soil using plastic bottles and crushed glass wastes. Journal of Engineering. 2023; 2023(1):1-11.

[32] Bharani S, Kumar GR, Ranjithkumar J, Boopathi G, Singaravelu G. Experimental study of regur soil stabilization by using non-metallic waste bottles. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2022; 52:1598-602.

[33] Barros R, Yasarer H, Najjar YM. Stabilization of expansive clays using recycled glass. In eleventh international conference on the bearing capacity of roads, railways and airfields 2022 (pp. 471-9). CRC Press.

[34] Zamin B, Nasir H, Khan BJ, Farooq A. Effect of waste glass powder on the swelling and strength characteristic of district Karak expansive clay. Sir Syed University Research Journal of Engineering & Technology. 2021; 11(2):31-8.

[35] Bilgen G. Utilization of powdered glass as an additive in clayey soils. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. 2020; 38(3):3163-73.

[36] Ibrahim HH, Mawlood YI, Alshkane YM. Using waste glass powder for stabilizing high-plasticity clay in Erbil city-Iraq. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. 2021; 15(4):496-503.

[37] Gowtham S, Naveenkumar A, Ranjithkumar R, Vijayakumar P, Sivaraja M. Stabilization of clay soil by using glass and plastic waste powder. International Journal of Engineering and Techniques. 2018; 4(2):146-50.

[38] Canakci H, Aram AL, Celik F. Stabilization of clay with waste soda lime glass powder. Procedia Engineering. 2016; 161:600-5.

[39] Fauzi A, Djauhari Z, Fauzi UJ. Soil engineering properties improvement by utilization of cut waste plastic and crushed waste glass as additive. International Journal of Engineering and Technology. 2016; 8(1):15-8.

[40] Ikara IA, Kundiri AM, Mohammed A. Effects of waste glass (WG) on the strength characteristics of cement stabilized expansive soil. American Journal of Engineering Research. 2015; 4(11):33-41.

[41] Olufowobi J, Ogundoju A, Michael B, Aderinlewo O. Clay soil stabilisation using powdered glass. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology. 2014; 9(5):541-58.

[42] Fauzi A, Rahman WM, Jauhari Z. Utilization waste material as stabilizer on Kuantan clayey soil stabilization. Procedia Engineering. 2013; 53:42-7.

[43] https://store.astm.org/d2487-17.html. Accessed 20 April 2025.

[44] Das BM. Khaled Sobhan principles of geotechnical engineering. CL Engineering; 2013.

[45] Standard ASTM D4318 Standard test methods for liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of soils. 2010.

[46] Standard ASTM D698 standard test methods for laboratory compaction characteristics of soil using standard effort (600 knm/m3). Report from Annu B ASTM Stand. 2012.

[47] Standard ASTM D2166-91 standard test methods for unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soils. Annu B ASTM Stand. 1994; 4:163-7.

[48] Wartman J, Grubb DG, Nasim AS. Select engineering characteristics of crushed glass. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 2004; 16(6):526-39.

[49] Nuruzzaman M, Hossain MA. Effect of soda lime glass dust on the properties of clayey soil. Global Journal of Research in Engineering. 2014; 14(5):210-9.

[50] Imteaz MA, Ali MY, Arulrajah A. Possible environmental impacts of recycled glass used as a pavement base material. Waste Management & Research. 2012; 30(9):917-21.

[51] Mariaková D, Mocová KA, Fořtová K, Pavlů T, Hájek P. Waste glass powder reusability in high-performance concrete: leaching behavior and ecotoxicity. Materials. 2021; 14(16):1-18.

[52] Mosa AM. Modification of subgrade properties using waste material. Applied Research Journal. 2017; 3(5):160-6.

Cite this article