Author(s):
A.J. Puppala, N. Banavathu, N. Intharasombat, S. Qasim
Publication Date
October 2006
Abstract
Composting is a successful method of recycling organic waste material such as yard trimmings, municipal biosolids, and animal manure into stabilized materials that could be used for bioremediation, erosion control, landscaping, and roadside vegetation. The process of composting organic wastes is expanding rapidly in the United States since landfill spaces for disposal of organic wastes are becoming scarce and expensive. If not recycled, certain composts such as Dairy Manure would potentially ontaminate streams and rivers through migration. Hence, it is essential to seek new application areas for composts. Compost materials, given their moisture affinity (hydrophilic), fibrous and low permeability characteristics, could provide stabilization of natural expansive subgrades by mitigating shrinkage cracking and covering subsoil surfaces. In order to verify this stabilization, a research study is being conducted. This study has two phases, laboratory and field to evaluate the effectiveness of compost treatments to soils. This research report summarizes the first phase results, which include geotechnical characteristics of Dairy Manure and Biosolids composts and compost manufactured topsoils (CMTs). A local expansive soil from Stephenville, Texas, was used as the control soil. Laboratory test results indicate that linear shrinkage strains are reduced and strength and swell strains are increased with compost amendments. Environmental assessments of using these materials are also addressed. Construction of test plots for the second phase investigations are described. Current field monitoring of the test plots will provide better assessments of CMTs to mitigate shoulder cracking in field conditions.
Report Number:
0-4573-1
Keywords:
Biosolids, Composts, Dairy Manure, Expansive Soils, Longitudinal Cracking, pavements, Recycled Materials, Transverse Cracking
Link(s):
Document/Product
http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-4573-1.pdf
Publication/Product Request
TTI reports and products are available for download at no charge. If an electronic version is not available and no instructions on how to obtain it are given, contact the TTI Library.