Soil stabilization with burned olive waste

A new material is used as a soil stabilizing agent. This paper proposes a partial solution to the problems associated with the increase of olive waste in Jordan. Burned olive waste is evaluated for use as soil stabilizer. Chemical analysis was performed to identify the constituents of the olive waste after burning at 550°C. A laboratory study consisted of the following tests on samples treated with burned olive waste: Atterberg Limits, Unconfined Compressive Strength, Standard Proctor Density, and Swelling Pressure tests. It was found that the addition of 2.5% by weight of the burned olive waste will increase the unconfined compressive strength and the maximum dry density, while the addition of 7.5% of the olive ash by weight minimizes the swelling pressure of the soil. The addition of percentages greater than 2.5% by weight will decrease both the maximum dry density and the unconfined compressive strength. The test results show promise for this material to be used as stabilizer and to solve many of the problems associated with its accumulation.