Utilization of Rice Husk Ash in Soil Subgrade Stabilization

Abstract

Soil stabilization has been found to be very effective in upgrading the bearing capacity of weak soil subgrade. The stabilizing agent, for cost efficiency, ought to provide a cheaper alternative to other possible processes. With the rapid industrialization efforts around the globe, enormous quantities of waste materials are generated and there has not been adequate mechanism for recycling and re-use of such wastes to reduce the consequent environmental problems and hazardous situations created as a result. The objective of the study is to upgrade subgrade soilfrom generally available in Haryana State using rice husk ash. The laboratory investigation carried out on the natural soils shows that these falls under silt of low plasticity (ML type) and silty sand (SM types) using Indian Standard Classification System, after that testing program conducted on natural soil samples and mixed with different percentages of rice husk ash included Atterberg limits, specific gravity, modified proctor test and CBR test. It was found that liquid limit increased with addition of rice husk ash while plasticity index of ML type soil decreased but SM type is a non-plastic soil. The results obtained show that the increase in rice husk ash content increase in OMC but decrease the MDD. Also, the CBR value of both soils is considerably improved with rice husk ash content. So in order to achieve both the need of improving the properties of soil subgrade and also to make use of the agricultural wastes, the present experimental study has been taken up.