Examination of Factors Affecting the Shear Strength of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

Blast furnace slag (BFS) is an alternative material used in various civil engineering functions, such as stabilization of problematic soils, ready mixed concrete production, road and foundationconstruction and fill material. In this study the geotechnical index propertiesand shear strength behaviour of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS) weredetermined for fine, medium and coarse grained samples at loose, medium anddense densities. The sieve analysis was performed and GBFS was divided in three sections; coarse (4.75 mm - 2 mm), medium (2 – 0.425 mm) and fine grained (< 0.425 mm) samples. The consolidated drained direct shear tests were conducted with saturated samplesat a shear rate of 0.20 mm/min. The test results have shown that GBFS hadcomparatively higher specific gravity than usual soils (3.0 – 3.4). GBFS wasbasic (pH >7) and non- plastic characteristic (NP). The maximum shear stressof the samples was obtained at 5% - 10% axial deformation range. The internalfriction angle of fine, medium and coarse grained samples were with in therange of 14° - 33°, 27° - 42° and 46° - 50°, respectively. The highest internalfriction angle for fine and medium grained samples were obtained for densesamples. Increment of density affects the internal friction angles ofmedium grained samples positively. However, no significant change in theinternal friction angle of the coarse grained samples was observed. The cohesion of GBFS samples ranged between 7 and 39 kPa.

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