Résumé:
The addition of materials such as recycled glass waste can have a paramount effect on the
mechanical characteristics of soils. Specifically, in the field of geotechnical engineering,
incorporating recycled glass waste into soils can enhance their mechanical and geotechnical
properties, particularly their shear strength. This approach also presents environmental
benefits by enabling the reuse of recycled glass waste that would otherwise be destined for
landfills. In this context, this study proposes an experimental investigation into the influence
of the particle size of recycled glass waste (Dmax= 4.00 mm, 2.00 mm, and 0.5 mm) on the
mechanical response of granular soils. Additionally, an experimental protocol is implemented
using the Casagrande shear box device to understand the behavior of this material and
confirm potential correlations between the particle size of recycled glass waste and the
maximum shear strength of granular soil samples, particularly Chlef sand mixed with various
contents of recycled glass waste ranging from WRG=0% to WRG=30%. The samples are
prepared in the laboratory using dry pluviation preparation technique and subjected to three
initial normal stresses (σ = 100 kPa, 200 kPa, and 300 kPa) and a constant relative density (Dr
= 90%). The results of the direct shear tests indicate that the particle size of recycled glass
waste in terms of maximum diameter (Dmax) significantly controls the mechanical response of
Chlef sand-recycled glass waste mixtures. Increasing the maximum diameter of recycled glass
waste leads to a notable improvement in the maximum shear strength and friction angle,
resulting in a significant increase in the dilatancy phase, for all fractions of recycled glass
waste (WRG = 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) studied and the three selected levels of normal
stress. Furthermore, It is found that recycled glass waste is a relevant parameter for enhancing
the shear strength of sandy soils, where increasing their proportion results in a systematic
improvement of the mechanical behavior.
