International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Research ISSN 2348-7607 (Online) Vol. 6, Issue 2, pp: (49-57), Month: October 2018 - March 2019, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Swelling Potential Reduction of Expansive Soils using Costaceae Lacerus Bagasse Fibre Ash and Lime Abidemi Olujide Ilori1, Charles Kennedy2, Gbinu Samuel Kabari3 1
Civil Engineering Department, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
2
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
3
School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State, Nigeria. Authors E-mail: 1bidemiini@gmail.com, 2ken_charl@yahoo.co.uk, 3kabarisamuel@gmail.com.
Abstract: The research examined the use of natural fibre bagasse ash (Costaceae Lacerus) and lime combinations in the alteration of expansive soils of unique characteristics of swelling, shrinkage and cracks. Stabilization with 2.5+2.5%, 5.0% + 5.0%, 7.5% + 7.5% and 10% + 10% (CLBFA + Lime) to lateritic soil ratio was deployed on failed road subgrade pavement. Preliminary investigations of the engineering Properties of soils at natural state are percentage (%) passing BS sieves #200 are 28.35%, 40.55%, 36.85%, 33.45% and 39.25% (laterite) and soils deposit belonged to the group A-2-6 SC and A-2-4 SM on the AASHTO classification schemes / Unified Soil Classification System. Swelling potential of treated soil decreased with the inclusion of CLBFA + Lime up to7.5% + 7.5%. Stabilized lateritic soils with additives decreased in plastic index properties with increased in additives inclusion percentages. Results showed that an increase in percentage ratio of combined stabilizers increases both MDD and OMC levels. CBR results showed and increased in values of both unsoaked and soaked with optimum level of inclusion at 7.5% + 7.5%., an adversed reduction was experienced beyond the peak giving way for cracks which led to failure. The entire results showed the potential of using CLBFA + Lime as admixtures in treatment of lateritic soils. Keywords: Clay and lateritic soils, Costaceae Lacerus Bagasse Ash, CBR, UCS, Consistency, Compaction.
1. INTRODUCTION Niger delta roads are susceptible to pavement degradation resulting in very many failures, potholes and cracks along the roads as a result of the type of soil found within the area which shrinks and swells on seasonal variations, they are less the minimum requirements for soils or soil-based materials usable in road pavement structures as indicated by the FMW Specifications [1]. The specified requirements can be achieved by the use of soil stabilizers to improve their strength and make them suitable for road pavement construction materials. Soil Stabilization has proved to be very economical as it provides cheap materials for the construction of low cost roads. Numerous kinds of stabilizers were used as soil additives to improve its engineering properties. A number of stabilizers, such as lime, cement and fly ash, depend on their chemical reactions with the soil elements in the presence of water (Azadegan et al. [2]; Mallela et al. [3]). Other additives, such as geofiber and geogrid, depend on their physical effects to improve soil properties (Alawaji, [4]; Viswanadham et al. [5]). In addition, it can be combined both of chemical and physical stabilization, for example, by using lime and geofiber or geotextile together (Yang et al. [6]; Chong and Kassim, [7]). Lime is the oldest traditional chemical stabilizer used for soil stabilization (Mallela et al. [3]). Charles et al. [8] evaluated the geotechnical properties of an expansive clay soil found along Odioku – Odiereke road in Ahoada-West, Rivers State, in the Niger Deltaic region. The application of two cementitious agents of cement and lime,
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