Decision-Making Model for Soil Stabilization: Minimizing Cost and Environmental Impacts
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 2
Abstract
Studies have examined the environmental impacts of soil stabilization; however, the costs of distinct dosages in such methods remain unexplored. Indeed, it is not yet clear whether there is a trade-off between cost and environmental impacts for soil stabilization dosages. This technical note seeks to address this gap by performing an economic analysis of three dosage strategies (high binder/low dry unit weight, medium binder/medium dry unit weight, and low binder/high dry unit weight) considering five values of a porosity-binder index and strength and stiffness as performance parameters. Such results are then combined with environmental impact data to create a decision-making model for optimal dosages considering the economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability. An example of a road base () is presented to illustrate how the model can be applied in real-world projects. This corresponds to a porosity-binder index of 32.44, which can be attained by different combinations of dry unit weight and binder content ranging respectively from to 3%–7%. The proposed model makes it possible to determine the dosage with minimal cost and environmental impacts: a lime content of 3% and dry unit weight of . The binder was found to be the main contributor to cost and environmental impacts, indicating that dosages with minimal binder content and maximum dry unit weight should be preferred. The findings presented suggest that there is no trade-off between environmental and economic pillars, and dosages with minimal cost and impacts can be created.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request (unconfined compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and maximum shear modulus).
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support from the CNPq (Editais Universal, INCT, and Produtividade em Pesquisa), FAPERGS/CNPq (PRONEX), and CAPES (PROEX). The authors also thank Mr. Hugo Carlos Scheuermann Filho for his assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 2 • February 2021
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 18, 2020
Accepted: Jul 13, 2020
Published online: Nov 30, 2020
Published in print: Feb 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Apr 30, 2021
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