Model Studies on the Use of Coal Mine Waste and Modified Clay Soil as Fill Material for Embankments and Foundations

Authors: K. Suresh, M. Padmavathi, N. Darga Kumar, P. S. Harsha

Abstract:

The objective of this study is to investigate the suitability of coal mine waste (CMW) and improved clay soil as materials used for a fill and embankment construction. To determine the bearing capacities of CMW and improved clay soil, laboratory experiments and bearing capacity tests are conducted. PLAXIS 2D software is used to simplify the analysis and determine the load-bearing capacities of the materials under various conditions. Load carrying capacities are determined for CMW, clay, and their combinations by altering their height ratios, with clay (H2) at the bottom and CMW (H1) on top, for three different cases H = 0.25H1 + 0.75H2, 0.5H1 + 0.5H2, 0.75H1 + 0.25H2. Additionally, the bearing capacity of improved clay soil (by replacing clay with 10% CMW, 30% CMW, and 50% CMW, along with Polycom) is determined. The safe height of the embankment that can be constructed with the improved clay for different slopes, i.e., for 1:1, 1.5: 1, 2: 1 is also determined by using PLAXIS 2D software by limiting the Factor of Safety to 1.5.

Keywords: Cohesion, angle of shearing resistance, elastic modulus, coefficient of consolidation, coal mine waste.

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