Geotechnical Properties of Lateritic Soil Stabilized with Ground-Nut Husk Ash
Abstract: This study assesses
the geotechnical properties of lateritic soil stabilized with Ground-nut Husk
Ash. Preliminary tests were carried out on the natural soil sample for
identification and classification purposes, while consistency limits tests were
thereafter carried out as well. Engineering property tests such as California
Bearing Ratio (CBR), Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) and compaction tests
were performed on both the natural soil sample and the stabilized lateritic
soil, which was stabilized by adding Ground-nut Husk Ash, GHA, in percentages
of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 by weight of the soil.
The results showed that the addition of GHA enhanced the strength of the
soil sample. The Maximum Dry Density (MDD) reduced from 1960 kg/m3 to 1760 kg/m3
at 10% GHA by weight of soil. The Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) increased from
12.70% to 14.95%, also at 10% GHA by weight of soil. The unsoaked CBR values
increased from 24.42% to 72.88% finally, the UCS values increased from 510.25
kN/m2 to 1186.46 kN/m2, for both CBR and UCS, the values were at 10% GHA by
weight of soil. It was therefore concluded that GHA performs satisfactorily as
a cheap stabilizing agent for stabilizing lateritic soil especially for
subgrade and sub base purposes in road construction.
Keywords: Geotechnical
Properties; Ground-nut husk Ash; Lateritic Soil; Stabilization; Strength Tests
Author: Emeka Segun Nnochiri,
Olumide Moses Ogundipe
Journal Code: jptsipilgg160065
