Effect of Waste PET Bottle Strips (WPBS) on the CBR of Cement-Modified Lateritic Soil

Adewale O. Olutaiwo, Ikechukwu I. Ezegbunem

Abstract: Modified Proctor compaction and CBR tests were performed to evaluate the effect of randomly distributed Waste PET Bottle Strips (WPBS) and cement on a lateritic soil sample. The parameters that were varied are the cement content (0 %, 1 %, 3 %, 5 % and 7 %) and the WPBS content (0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 %). Results obtained showed a general decrease in Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) from 16.00 % of the natural soil to 13.2 % at optimum value of 10 %WPBS while Maximum Dry Density (MDD), increased from 1.67g/cm3 to 2.2g/cm3 at optimum value of 10 %WPBS. At specific cement contents and addition of WPBS, CBR increased significantly at optimum value of 10 % WPBS. Regression analysis was conducted to establish a relationship between CBR, cement and WPBS. Cost-Benefit analysis was also conducted to show the economic and environmental advantage of using WPBS in road construction.

Keywords: California Bearing Ratio CBR, Compaction, Soil Reinforcement, Waste PET Bottles