EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE STABILIZATION OF EXPANSIVE SOIL USING PLASTIC WASTE

ABSTRACT: Soil stabilization is a process which improves the physical properties of soil, such as increasing shear strength, bearing capacity, etc. Expansive soils are the type of soil whose volume changes with the change in water content. They have a behavior of swelling and shrinking that is a serious hazard to structures built over them. This study investigates an eco-friendly and cost-effective method to improve engineering properties of expansive soil through stabilization using recycled plastic bottle strips. The experimental program involves laboratory testing to evaluate engineering properties of expansive soil samples treated with varying percentages of plastic. Laboratory tests including Standard Proctor test, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and volume change behavior were conducted to evaluate the compaction characteristics and strength improvements. The findings of this study suggest that plastic holds promise as a sustainable and cost-effective stabilizing agent for expansive soils. Implementation of plastic stabilization techniques could offer environmentally friendly solutions for mitigating the detrimental effects of expansive soils on civil engineering infrastructure. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term performance and durability of plastic-treated soils under field conditions.