POTENTIALS OF USING MILLET HUSK ASH (MHA) FOR RESIDUAL LATERITIC SOIL MODIFICATION/STABILIZATION

Jazuli Aminu Ahmed¹ & Okorie Austine Uche²

¹Federal Ministry of Works Nigeria

²Department of Civil Engineering Kano, Kano State, Nigeria

Email: jaznaff@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: The paper presents the results of an investigation on the potentials of Millet husk ash (MHA) on compaction properties of marginal lateritic soil. Soil samples collected from Maikunkele area of Minna, Nigeria (Lat. 9°36″N and Long. 6°30″E), classified as an A-7-6 lateritic soil on AASHTO classification scale was stabilized with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 % millet husk ash (MHA) by weight of the dry soil. Using British Standard BS 1377, the behaviour of the Soil-MHA blend was investigated with respect to Index properties, Compaction Characteristics, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Unconfined Compressive strength (UCS) test. The results obtained indicated a general decrease in maximum dry density (MOD) and increase in optimum moisture content (OMC). The CBR and UCS of the soil increase with increased in the MHA content. The peak UCS value was recorded at 10% MHA which indicate potentials of using MHA for strength improvement of A-7-6 lateritic soil.