STABILIZATION OF UNSUITABLE LATERITIC SOIL FOR ROAD PAVEMENT WORK USING RICE HUSK ASH (RHA) AND LIME

Abstract

Expansive soils have always been a problem for Civil Engineers. A lot of research has gone into the investigations relating to solutions for controlling the expansive nature of expansive soils. Several industrial byproducts such as Rice Husk Ash (RHA), due to its pozzolanic nature, have been used alongside with lime for improving soil performance through stabilization of this types of soil. The RHA and lime were added to the soil at varying percentages of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% of the soil weight for compaction and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) test. From the result gotten from the atterberg’s test and particle size analysis, the soil was classified as A-7-6 according AASHTO system of classification. Also it was observed that the OMC increases as the lime and the RHA increases while as for MDD decreases with increasing percentage of both lime and RHA. The UCS of the untreated lateritic soil was found to be 54.65 kN/m2 and after stabilization and cured for 1-28 days, there was significant increase in the strength. The UCS increases at a range of 4 to 6% of both RHA and lime. Indicating 6% as the effective percentage in the improvement of soil strength and therefore recommended for stabilization.