The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of granite waste powder on the behavior of compacted clay soil in both field and laboratory environments. Samples were collected from clay soil exposed at Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The sampled soils contain kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonites. The samples were mixed with various quantities, i.e., 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% by weight of granite waste powder collected from various stone industries in district Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. They were then subjected to a variety of geotechnical testing in both the laboratory and the field, following the standard ASTM procedures. The results show that mixing with granite-cutting waste enhances the quality of the soil in both the field and laboratory settings by increasing its bearing capacity (BC), dry density (DD), California-bearing ratio (CBR), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), penetration resistance, and angle of internal friction and by reducing the optimum moisture content, cohesion, porosity, void ratio, and saturation potential. The resulting improvement is mainly due to the stronger, denser, and less hydrophilic character of the constituents of the added rock powders than the raw soil. It is observed that adding 40% granite waste powder produces the best outcome. However, there is a significant difference in the magnitude of the impact on soil quality between the laboratory and field testing. Owing to differences in the testing environment, soil volume, and compaction effort and energy, the amount of improvement is higher in laboratory testing than in field testing.

This study was designed to determine the geotechnical parameters and stability of soils in the Abbottabad region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The seven major sites with high population density were selected, covering the entire city, which includes Kalapul, Mandian, Jhangi, Nawanshehr, Cantonment, Abbottabad Courts and Jinnahabad. A total of thirty-two (32) boreholes were drilled to a depth of 5 m for standard penetration assessment and thirty two (32) field densification tests were performed at the designated sites. The standard penetration tests were carried out at every meter depth of the bore hole for recording penetration resistance, bearing potential and sample collection. Laboratory tests consisting of Grain-size analysis, Atterberg limits, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), Direct Shear Box, and Proctor Compaction were conducted according to the ASTM standards on the accrued samples. The values of the performed tests were utilized for soils characterization and inspecting the Liquidity Index, Consistency Index, and Foundation evaluation for quite a number of footings. The results showed that most of the soils of the area belong to the Clay category (CL and A6 class) with excessive values of Plasticity Index (16.9%–18.6%), Liquidity Index (−47.33% to −23.07%) and Lower CBR (3%–6%), Angle of Internal Friction (15°–20°), UCS (79 kPa–121 kPa), Dry Density (15.13 kN/m³–17.66 kN/m³), Consistency Index (123.07%–147.33%) and Bearing Capacities, except the parts of Kalapul area, which belonged to the GP (poorly graded gravels) category with significant geotechnical properties. Based on the obtained results, we found that the land in the vicinity needs significant improvement before construction. For this purpose, various concentrations of limestone (12.5% and 25%), which is heavily mined in the area, were used as an additive. The results showed that the addition of limestone powder produced a significant improvement in all investigated properties and made the soft soil suitable for construction, in addition to any extended stabilization measures. The main reason for this improvement is the presence of more dense and lower water-absorbing minerals in the limestone than in the ground, or mineralization reactions between them.

This study explores how dolerite cutting waste could be utilized for improving the quality of compacted clay soils. Different proportions of dolerite waste powder with varying grain sizes were used as admixtures and their impact on clay soil properties investigated. Ten samples were prepared by mixing clay soil with different proportions of dolerite waste powder having grain sizes of 0.210, 0.297, and 0.420 mm. The resulting samples were subjected to Proctor compaction, and their maximum dry density and optimum moisture content were measured. Next, all the compacted samples were subjected to geotechnical testing, including the determination of Atterberg limits, California bearing ratio (CBR), unconfined compressive strength, and specific gravity (Gs). The values of compaction parameters, Atterberg limits, and Gs were utilized for finding the porosity, void ratio, saturation potential, liquidity index (LI), and consistency index (CI). The results demonstrate that the addition of dolerite powder produces a substantial improvement in the plasticity index, compaction parameters, CBR, unconfined compressive strength, Gs, porosity, void ratio, degree of saturation, LI, and CI. The foremost reason for this improvement is the presence of denser and less water-adoring minerals in the added dolerite relative to pristine clay soil. Furthermore, the observed positive impact on the soils’ geotechnical comportment is comparatively higher with coarser than finer dolerite because of the decrease in surface area that causes a reduction in the moisture content and porosity but an increase in the density of soil.

This study was conducted to design a small hydropower project at Dor River in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study area is part of the Hazara Basin and contains sedimentary rocks deposited in glaciofluvial, fluvial and marine environments. The suitable locations were chosen for the proposed hydropower project components and shown on geological map of the study area. Rock Mass Rating (RMR) studies were conducted to check the quality of rocks exposed at the selected sites. The rocks were classified as fair rocks with RMR ranging from 48 to 55, which shows that rocks are suitable for construction activities, e.g., tunneling, etc. The rocks of the area were also found suitable for their use as a construction material, which is an additional positive aspect of this study. For potential hydropower evaluation, the discharge of the Dor river was measured using the current meter method. Additionally, the sediment load of the river was determined using Whatman filter papers. The Dor River water discharge is variable, where the maximum water discharge was found in the months of July (6.79 m³ s⁻¹) and August (6.71 m³ s⁻¹). Hence, the construction of a small hydropower project on Dor River can be favorably undertaken to produce a plant with low (2.79 MW), average (5.37 MW) and high-power potential (13.16 MW). In suspended sediment load analysis, it was found highest in the months of July and August and lowest in December. Annually, the Dor River takes 7267 tons of sediment to Tarbela Reservoir, which is likely to adversely affect both the life and capacity of the country’s currently largest hydropower-producing reservoir located downstream. The construction of the hydropower project proposed in this study will effectively slow the deposition of sediment into Tarbela Reservoir, which in turn will enhance the life of the reservoir positively.