Project Title: Sustainable Stabilization of Expansive Soil Using Fly Ash, Olive Cake Ash, and Zeolite Mixtures: A Comparative Experimental Study with PLAXIS Modeling
Funding Agency:  Tubitak 1002_124M742
Project Coordinator :  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Balkaya (Istanbul Technical University )
Investigators:  Suleiman Adnan Suleiman Abu Yosef (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi)
Project Topic: Expansive soils, one of the greatest challenges in geotechnical engineering, cause damage to engineering structures and lead to significant economic losses. The high costs and adverse environmental impacts of traditional stabilization methods have made it necessary to seek sustainable and economical alternatives in this field. Motivated by this need, this project investigates the recovery potential of materials considered industrial wastes—such as fly ash and olive cake ash from olive oil production—as well as the effects of zeolites on expansive soils.
This study aims to analyze, through both experimental investigations and finite element modeling, how these materials influence the engineering properties of expansive soils, such as reducing their swelling potential, increasing shear strength, and improving compaction characteristics. In this context, a parametric analysis using Plaxis 3D software was conducted to better understand the effects of swell–shrink cycles caused by fluctuations in water content, particularly on lightweight structures such as road pavements.
The ultimate goal of the project is to enable the sustainable and cost-effective utilization of expansive soils in road construction and infrastructure projects. To this end, we aim to develop an economical and environmentally friendly soil stabilization method using waste materials and zeolites. The study explores the potential of using these materials individually and in combination, offering new and eco-friendly approaches to the stabilization of expansive soils. In line with this objective, cost and environmental impact analyses have also been carried out.