Stabilization of Clay Using Woodash
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 1
Abstract
The potential of woodash to stabilize clay soil was evaluated. The evaluation involved the determination of the geotechnical properties of clay soil in its natural state as well as when mixed with varying proportions of woodash. The parameters tested included the particle size distribution, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, California bearing ratio (CBR) and the compressive strength. The CBR and strength tests were repeated after 28-day curing of the treated samples. Results showed that the geotechnical parameters of clay soil are improved substantially by the addition of woodash; plasticity was reduced by 35% and CBR and strength increased by 23–50% and 49–67%, respectively, depending on the compactive energy used. The highest CBR and strength values were achieved at 10% woodash. Results also showed that curing improved the strength of the woodash-treated clay. However, the strength gain was short lived as the strength quickly decreased after 7–14 days of curing. These results imply that although woodash provides some of the beneficial effects of lime in soil stabilization, such as plasticity and swell reduction, improved workability, and strength increase, it is unlikely to be a substitute for lime as strength gain is short lived.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The writer acknowledges the contributions of O. Ohanta, O. C. Okoye, C. N. Akaelu, A. E. Iwuamadi, E. O. Ossai-Abeh, and I. Alinta of the Department of Geology for assistance in data collection, Engineer Ekwedike and his staff of the Soil Mechanics Laboratory of the Enugu State Ministry of Works for their assistance in carrying out the tests, and Okechukwu Ugwoke for typing the manuscript.
References
Akoto, B. K. A., and Singh, G. (1981). “Some geotechnical properties of lime-stabilized laterite containing a high proportion of aluminium oxide.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 7, 185–199.
Anifowose, A. Y. B. (1989). “The performance of some soils under stabilization in Ondo state, Nigeria.” Bull. Int. Assoc. Eng. Geol., 40, 79–83.
Arora, K. R. (1997). Soil mechanics and foundation engineering, Standard Publishers Distributors, Nai Sarak, Delhi, India.
Bell, F. G. (1989). “Lime stabilisation of clay soils.” Bull. Int. Assoc. Eng. Geol., 39, 67–74.
Bell, F. G. (1993). Engineering treatment of soils, Chapman and Hall, London.
Brand, W., and Schoenberg, W. (1959). “Impact of stabilisation of loess with quicklime on highway construction.” Highw. Res. Board. Bull., 231, 18–23.
British Standard institute (BSI). (1975). “Methods of testing soils for civil engineering purposes.” BS 1377.
Cokca, E. (1999). “Effect of fly ash on swell pressure of expansive soil.” Electronic J. Geotech. Eng., paper 9904. Oklahoma State Univ., Okla.
Diamond, S., and Kinter, E. B. (1965). “Mechanisms of soil lime stabilisation.” Highw. Res. Rec., 92, 83–102.
Dumbleton, M. J. (1962). “Investigations to assess the potentialities of lime for soil stabilisation in the United Kingdom.” Road Res. Lab. Tech., paper. no. 64.
Hilt, G. H., and Davidson, D. T. (1960). “Lime fixation in clayey soils.” Highw. Res. Board Bull., 262, 20–32.
Indraratna, B., Balasubramanian, A. S., and Khan, M. J. (1995). “Effect of fly ash with lime and cement on the behaviour of a soft clay.” Q. J. Eng. Geol., 28, 131–132.
Indraratna, B., Nutalaya, P., and Kuganethira, N. (1991). “Stabilization of a dispersive soil by blending with fly ash.” Q. J. Eng. Geol., 24, 275–290.
Ingles, O. G. (1973). Stabilization in soil mechanics. New horizons, I. K. Lee, ed., Newness–Buttersworth, London.
Lund, O. L., and Ramsey, W. J. (1959). “Experimental lime stabilization in Nebraska.” Highw. Reservoir. Board, Bull., 23, 24–59.
Mallela, J., Von Quintus, H., and Smith, K. L. (2004). “Consideration of lime-stabilized layers in mechanistic-empirical pavement design.” The National Lime Association, Arlington, Va., http://www.lime.org .
Mateos, M. (1964). “Soil lime research at Iowa State University.” J. Soil Mech. and Found. Div., 90(2), 127–153.
McCaustland, E. J. (1924). “Lime in dirt road.” Proc., Annual Convention National Lime Association.
Muntohar, A. S. (1999). “Behaviour of engineering properties of the clay blended with LRHA (lime rice husk ash).” Research Rep. from Grant, Muhammadiyah Univ. of Yogya-Karta, Yogya-Karta, Indonesia.
Muntohar, A. S., and Hantoro, G. (2000). “Influence of rice husk ash and lime on engineering properties of clayey subgrade.” Electronic. J. Geotech. Eng.
National Lime Association (2001). “Using lime for soil stabilization and modification: A proven solution!” http://www.Lime.org .
Neubauer, C. H., and Thompson, M. R. (1972). “Stability properties of uncured lime-treated fine-grained soils.” Highw. Res. Rec., 381, 20–26.
Okagbue, C. O., and Onyeobi, T. U. S. (1999). “Potentials of marble dust to stabilize red tropical soils for road construction.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 53, 371–380.
Okagbue, C. O., and Yakubu, J. A. (2000). “Limestone ash waste as a substitute for lime in soil improvement for engineering construction.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ., 58(2), 107–113.
Ola, S. A. (1977). “The potentials of lime stabilization of laterite soils.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 11, 305–317.
Ola, S. A. (1978). “Geotechnical properties and behaviour of some stabilized Nigerian lateritic soils.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 11, 145–160.
Osula, D. O. A. (1991). “Lime modification of problem laterite.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 30, 141–154.
Peurifoy, R. L. (1970). Construction planning equipment and methods, 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York.
Remus, M. D., and Davidson, D. (1961). “Relation of strength to composition and density of lime-treated clay soils.” Bull. Highw. Res. Counc. Wash. D.C., 304, 65–75.
Risse, M., and Harris, G. (2000). “Soil acidity and lime training schedule.” www.hubscap.clemson.edu/blpit/best woodash.html .
Terrel, R. L., Epps, J. A., Barenberg, E. J., Mitchell, J. K., and Thompsom, M. R. (1979). Soil stabilization in pavement structures: A user’s manual, Vols. I and II, FHwA, Washington, D.C.
Thompson, M. R. (1968). “Lime-treated soils for pavement construction.” J. Highw. Div. 94(2), 59–67.
Van Ganse, R. F. (1974). “Immediate amelioration of wet cohesive soils by quick lime.” Transportation Research Record. 501, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 42–53.
Wartman, J., and Reimer, M. F. (2002). “The use of fly ash to alter the geotechnical properties of artificial ‘model’ clay.” Proc., Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, ICPMG 02, St. John’s, Canada.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 19 • Issue 1 • January 2007
Pages: 14 - 18
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 11, 2005
Accepted: Jul 29, 2005
Published online: Jan 1, 2007
Published in print: Jan 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Hilary I. Inyang.
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.