IMPROVEMENT OF CLAY SOIL CHARACTERISTIC USING RICEHUSK ASH AND LIME

Salihu Andaa Yunusa¹, Benjamin Adejoh² & Usman Ahmad³

Department of Civil Engineering,

Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria

Email:salihu.andaayunusa@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The characteristic of clay soil was improved in this research work. This was done in order to check the issue of strength variation, high plasticity, moisture absorption which affects the performance of clay when used for construction purposes. This research was confine to moisture content, specific gravity, C.B.R, compaction, consistency and compressive strength of clay soil. In this research different percentage of rice husk ash and lime were added as stabilizer for improving the characteristics of clay. 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% of rice husk ash and lime were added respectively. The laboratory test results revealed 6.0%-12% moisture content, 1.0-2.9 specific gravity, 37.83%-60.90% C.B.R, 71.66KN/m²-139.55KN/m² share stress, 21%-42% liquid limit, 9.7%-27.4% plastic limit, 10.4%-13.3% shrinkage limit, 7.2%-32.2% plasticity index, 1.52g/cm3-1.73g/cm3 maximum dry density, relationships which corresponded with the following percentage of additive 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%. For better performance the clay soil of rice husk ash and lime should be used as stabilizer in order to ensure good stability and workability of clay soil.