THE EFFECT OF HYPO SLUDGE TO THE COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL

Abstract

Hypo sludge, a waste product from paper industries, has had very few known uses and is usually
only disposed of in landfills after the production process. On the other hand, inferior grade soils are being treated
with commercial additives to improve their characteristics, some of which in return cause harm to the environment
in their production. Hypo sludge possesses roughly identical elements found in that of commercial additives which
highlight its potential of being a viable substitute to the latter. The study focused on the vertical strain and
compressive property of soils; and 6 design mixes were formulated: 100% soil; 5% hypo sludge – 95% soil; 10%
hypo sludge – 90% soil; 15% hypo sludge – 85% soil; 20% hypo sludge – 80% soil; 5% lime – 95% soil.
Oedometer tests were conducted to analyze the behavior of the soil when cured with the additive. Results from
tests concluded that the 10% hypo sludge and 90% soil mix was the optimum mix ratio to produce the greatest
positive change in both parameters considered among the other hypo sludge mixes. An empirical model was also
developed which determines the vertical strain of a soil sample given an applied vertical load and percentage of
hypo sludge added. Moreover, the mix performed just slightly inferior to the commercial additive, lime, therefore
proving that hypo sludge is at par to that of the typical soil additive. As a result, a purpose for this waste material
has been discovered.