Effect of slag and bentonite on shear strength parameters of sandy soil

A series of direct shear tests were implemented on three different types of specimens (i.e., clean Perth sand, sand containing 10, 20 and 30% bentonite, sand containing 1, 3 and 5% slag, and sand containing 10, 20 and 30% bentonite with increasing percentages of added slag (1%, 3% and 5%). This paper focuses on the shear stress characteristics of clean sand and sand mixtures. The samples were tested under different three normal stresses (100, 150 and 200 kPa) and three curing periods of no curing time, 7 and 14 days. It was observed that the shear stresses of clean sand and mixtures were increased with increasing normal stresses. In addition, the use of slag has improved the shear strength of the sand-slag mixtures; the shear stresses rose from 128.642 kPa in the clean sand at normal stress of 200 kPa to 146.89 kPa, 154 kPa and 161.14 kPa when sand was mixed with 1%, 3% and 5% slag respectively and tested at the same normal stress. Internal friction angle increased from $32.74^{\circ}$ in the clean sand to $34.87^{\circ}$, $37.12^{\circ}$ and $39.4^{\circ}$ when sand was mixed with 1%, 3% and 5% slag respectively and tested at 100, 150, and 200 kPa normal stresses. The cohesion of sand-bentonite mixtures increased from 3.34 kPa in 10% bentonite to 22.9 kPa, 70.6 kPa when sand was mixed with 20% and 30% bentonite respectively. All the mixtures of clean sand, different bentonite and slag contents showed different behaviour; some mixtures exhibited shear stress more than clean sand whereas others showed less than clean sand. The internal friction angle increased, and cohesion decreased with increasing curing time.