Melhoramento de solos com adição de pó de mármore para aplicação em subleito de rodovias

Abstract

Environmental issues related to the improper disposal of marble dust have become a challenge for Brazilian marble companies, with an estimated 240 thousand tons of pollutant material being discarded annually, impacting water bodies and degrading soils. In light of this scenario, and considering the pursuit of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN), there is a need to find sustainable solutions to reduce or control the disposal of these wastes. One alternative, which will be explored in this study, is the possibility of using a mixture of marble dust and lime to improve the properties of soils for engineering applications, such as paving. This study focused specifically on evaluating the soil of the Guabirotuba Formation, characterized by high plasticity and, particularly, low resistance at the depths of interest for this research. Characterization, compaction, and unconfined compression tests were conducted to analyze the effectiveness of soil stabilization with the marble dust mixture. The results were mostly positive, indicating that the addition of lime with marble dust, although not improving the soil’s resistance, proved to be an ecological solution for waste disposal, while the sole addition of marble dust reduced resistance. The results varied, suggesting an interaction between the percentages of these materials. Finally, this research aims to contribute to the sustainable reuse of marble dust in civil engineering, without sacrificing the economic benefits necessary for maintaining the industry.