International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Research ISSN 2348-7607 (Online) Vol. 6, Issue 2, pp: (35-42), Month: October 2018 - March 2019, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Performance Characteristics of Stabilized Soils using Irvinga Gabonesis Fibre and Lime as Stabilizer Akpan Paul Paulinus1, Letam Leelee Prince2, Charles Kennedy3 1,2
School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State, Nigeria. 3
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Authors E-mail: 1paulyncia07@gmail.com, 2leeprices076@yahoo.com, 3ken_charl@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract: The study explored the effective use of composite soil stabilizers of irvinga gabonesis fibre + lime in combined action to improve the performance of problematic soils with swelling and shrinkage potentials and make trivial soils meet required standard of subgrade road pavement materials. Preliminary investigation results grouped the sampled lateritic soils at 100% natural state as A-2-6 SC and A-2-4 SM on the AASHTO classification schemes / Unified Soil Classification System and percentage (%) passing BS sieves #200, 28.35%, 40.55 %, 36.85%, 33.45% and 39.25%. Remarks on soil is poor and need to stabilize the soils paramount. Consistency limits (plastic index) of the soils at 100% natural state are 17.30%, 14.23%, 15.20%, 15.50% and 16.10%. Comparatively, stabilized soils compaction results showed corresponding increased values to percentage ratios of both MDD and OMC of stabilized soils. CBR Results showed increased in stabilized samples with optimum percentage ratios of 0.75 + 7.5% to soil. Beyond maximum ratio, cracks were noticed. Results obtained showed increased in UCS values corresponding to additives percentage. Results showed decreased in plastic index to corresponding percentage ratio of additives. Swelling potential of treated soil decreased with the inclusion of fibre + lime up to 0.75% +7.5% for lateritic soils. The entire results showed the potential of using irvinga gabonesis fibre + lime as admixtures in treated soils. Keywords: Lateritic soils, Irvinga Gabonesis Fibre, Lime, CBR, UCS, Consistency, Compaction.
1. INTRODUCTION The rapid growth in development of Niger Delta has resulted in demand for effective, stronger and more durable roads. Subsequently, engineers are forced to be more proactive and careful in the utilization of construction materials. Variety of factors such as increase in construction volume, severe loading conditions, shortage of suitable materials as well as high cost of additives (cement, lime,fly-ash, etc) has greatly increased for modification and stabilization of soils as single or double actions . The stabilization of soils is recognized as an important process of improving the performance of problematic soils with swelling and shrinkage potentials and makes marginal soils perform better as civil engineering materials (Amadi, [1]). Ramakrishna and Pradeep (2006) studied combined effects of RHA and cement on engineering properties of black cotton soil. From strength characteristics point of view they had recommended 8 % cement and 10 % RHA as optimum dose for stabilization. Sharma et al., [2] investigated the behavior of expansive clay stabilized with lime, calcium chloride and RHA. The optimum percentage of lime and calcium chloride was found to be 4 % and 1% respectively in stabilization of expansive soil without addition of RHA. From UCS and CBR point of view when the soil was mixed with lime or calcium chloride, RHA content of 12 % was found to be the optimum. In expansive soil – RHA mixes, 4% lime and 1% calcium chloride were also found to be optimum.
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