Impact of different temperature conditions on durability and microstructure of clay stabilized

This study focuses on enhancing structural strength in flood-prone regions by utilizing industrial waste under varying temperature conditions. Industrial waste's increasing usage and its environmental implications require deeper comprehension. The escalating adoption of industrial waste as an alternative construction material underscores this shift. The research employs fly ash (F), ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (G), and lime (L) to augment geotechnical properties and bolster the flood resistance of stabilized soil. Various clay, lime, GGBS, and 2% fly ash mixtures are tested under optimal moisture and maximum dry density conditions. The curing spans 1, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 90 days at ambient temperature and 3C. Subsequent unconfined compressive strength (UCS), durability, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analyses are conducted. Results highlight a 257% UCS increase at 14 days' curing for the 8% GGBS + 6% Lime + 2% Fly ash mixture at ambient temperature, while the mix of 6% GGBS + 8% Lime + 2% Fly ash records a 686% UCS enhancement after 90 days' curing at 3C. Lime concentration affects the plasticity index and maximum dry unit weight (MDU). Upon water immersion, durability testing indicates an 11-17% strength reduction for lime, GGBS, and fly ash samples. The microstructural evaluation identifies hydration products like calcium aluminate silicate-hydrate and calcium silicate hydrate. According to the findings, using industrial waste can be a promising solution to pavement sustainability, especially after the flood, and it can reduce related costs and decrease CO2 emissions.