Potential of Marble Dust to Improve the Physical Behavior of Soil

The production of huge amount of waste by-products from commercial industries possesses an adverse effect on environment due to lack of proper disposal and utilization. In Rajasthan state of India, 15–20 lakh tons of marble waste is producing each year by marble processing units which is indestructible and harm to general public. Hence, the bulk utilization of marble quarry waste needs to be done to embrace sustainable development and safe ecosystem, and mostly for environmental friendly construction operations. Highway construction is an area where marble quarry waste can be utilized in the bulk amount with an advantage. In the present study, various experimental and physico-chemical studies have been carried out to characterize the materials used and to understand the potential of marble dust in improving the physical behavior of poorly graded sand (SP). The liquid limit of soil reduces significantly with an increase in marble dust. Further, it is observed that marble dust leads to increase the maximum dry density and optimum water content. The increase in specific gravity of soil, reduction in voids within the soil matrix, and ionic reactions between aluminium, silica and calcium present in soil and marble dust are the key factors to control the physical behavior of SP.