Stabilization of Black Cotton Soil Using Lime and Rice Husk Ash

Abstract

For any land-based structure, the foundation is very important and has to be strong to support the entire structure. In order for the foundation to be strong, the soil around it plays a very critical role. So, to work with soils, we need to have proper knowledge about their properties and factors which affect their behaviour. The process of soil stabilization helps to achieve the required properties in a soil needed for the construction work.

This work is an attempt to increase the behaviour of black cotton soil by stabilizing it using Lime and Rice husk ash. Black cotton soil is known as expansive soil. It has unfavourable behaviours like low bearing capacity and very high compressibility. Several methods have been adopted so far in the construction industry to enhance the mechanical properties and behaviours of black cotton soil. The methods adopted are not environmental friendly as they need an irreversible material, which leads to find a way to utilize lime and rice husk ash for the stabilization to improve its behaviour. This paper will present the effectiveness of using rice husk ash and lime as stabilizer material by mixing 70% rice husk ash and 30% lime and then added to concrete by 3,5,8 and 10 % and check its behaviour of stabililization and by test results obtained from Specific gravity, un-confined compression test (UCC), Standard Proctor Test, pH level, Liquid limit, Plastic limit test it was seen that 8% of stabilizer will give good improvement in strength.