Professor Dr. Aram Mohammed Rahim, a faculty member at the College of Media at Kirkuk University, published an international scientific paper titled: “Effect of Combined Nano-Silica and Fly Ash Treatment on the Geotechnical Behavior of Subgrade Soil: Iraqi Soil as a Case Study.” The paper was co-authored with Iraqi researcher Alan Mohammed Taher and international researcher Dr. Mustafa Alas from Near East University in Nicosia, Cyprus.
The research was published in the International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering, a Springer Nature publication, in Volume 12, Article 57, 2026. It was accepted on August 20, 2026, and published electronically on September 1, 2026.
The research explored improving the properties of weak clay soils used in road foundation layers through combined treatment with nano-silica and fly ash, examining their effects on density, optimum moisture content, bearing capacity, shear strength, compressive strength, and settlement.
The results showed that using 0.1% nano-silica and 10% fly ash achieved the best improvement in the CBR value, increasing it from 2% to 6.8% compared to untreated soil. The higher percentages also contributed to increased cohesion and reduced compressibility and settlement.
The significance of this research lies in employing nanotechnology with the reuse of industrial waste, contributing to the development of more sustainable solutions for improving road and infrastructure soils. Furthermore, it facilitates the development of mathematical and predictive models to help estimate certain geotechnical properties and reduce the time and cost of initial evaluation phases.
This achievement is part of the multidisciplinary research activity within the teaching department, reflecting the openness of Kirkuk University and the College of Media to applied scientific research and international academic collaboration.
