Effect of Basalt Dust Addition on Geotechnical Parameters of Non-Cohesive Soil

Waste utilization is a desirable practice resulting from the constantly expanding closed-loop economy, which aims to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption by minimizing waste generation and reducing raw materials usage. One of the types of waste materials that can be used for geotechnical engineering purposes is basalt dust, a by-product of the crushing process of basalt rocks. Due to its gradation and chemical composition, basalt dust is commonly used in construction engineering, horticulture, and agriculture. Moreover, it can be applied as a mineral soil additive. The study aimed to investigate the potential use of basalt dust as a partial replacement for non-cohesive soil. The paper presents the results of compactibility, permeability, compressibility, and shear strength tests. Investigations were performed under laboratory conditions on samples with the addition of 5, 10, and 15% basalt dust to the dry mass of soil. The results enabled the identification of the effect of basalt dust on geotechnical parameters, including coefficient of permeability, compaction parameters, constrained modulus, compression and recompression indexes, and internal friction angle.