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1.6 - Mr. B.H.T. Ariyaratne - Engineer (R & D), RDA
1.6 - Mr. B.H.T. Ariyaratne - Engineer (R & D), RDA
1.6 - Mr. B.H.T. Ariyaratne - Engineer (R & D), RDA
FOR ROAD
CONSTRUCTION
B H T ARIYARATHNE
Research & Development Division
What is Coal Ash ?
It is a waste product of coal-fired
power plants. Coal ash contains a
number of by-products produced
from burning coal, mainly :
Fly Ash & Bottom Ash
• Availability of natural resources is not sufficient to meet the current demand of the
road industry
35%
15%
10%
20%
America
Total Utilisation – 56%
6%
4%
5%
15%
56%
14%
60
%PASSING
50 BA(wet)
1.12
40
30
20
1.08
10
10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0
0
.075 .150 .300 .425 .600 1.18 2.36 5 20 28 37.5 50 63 Moisture Content %
SIEVE NO.B.S.SERIES SIEVE OPENING mm(log scale) SQUARE
OPENINGS
• Coal ash is a well-graded material with particles ranging in size from fine gravel to fine
sand
• Crushing of the bottom ash particles during compaction contributes to an increase in
the maximum dry unit weight
Properties of natural soil
Particle size analysis percentage passing (BS SIEVE SIZE)
Unified soil CBR 98%
Soil ID 37.5 28 20 14 10 2.36 1.18 600 300 150 75 classification
OMC MDD
50 mm 5 mm LL PL PI MDD
mm mm mm mm mm mm mm µm µm µm µm
Specification Limits
46
43
42
39
• Coal ash have pozzaolanic
38
properties-that means they react N
33
o
with water and free lime(calcium
29
n
oxide) to produce a cement –like
NA
26
P
compound. l
• Coal Ash percentage of 20%,30% a
17
& 40% mix with soil s
11
• 4 day soak CBR @ 98% t
compaction was used i
c
0
0
0
SOIL A SOIL B SOIL C SOIL D
52 46 22 22 23 59 36 40 36
Liquid Limit
24 23 8 7 6 24 8 20 9
Plasticity Index
1. Soil Mix with Coal Ash
According to the above result all soils would be suitable for road sub base
constructions
2. Soil Mix with Coal Ash & Cement
Cement is considered as the
most adaptable binder for
immobilization of heavy metals 80
70
72%
60
• 1% cement was added to above mixture C
• 98% MDD,OMC and 3 day moisture B 50
20 26%
10 11%
0
Natural Soil (B) Soil + 1% Cement Soil + 30% Ash Soil + 1% Cement + 30%
Ash
Liquid Limit 22 24 23 25
Plasticity Index 8 8 6 9
3. Soil Mix with Coal Ash & Lime
According to ASTM C 618 fly ash
category is class F. that means they
require additional lime to obtain self- 160
hardening 140
142%
120
40
Soil
20 26%
14
12 0
Natural Soil (D) Soil + 3% Lime Soil + 3% Lime + 30% Ash
10
PH VALUE
8
Liquid Limit 40 43 36
6
4 20 14 7
Plasticity Index
2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
LIME CONTENT
4. Soil Mix with Coal Ash , Lime & Cement
300
12
10 50
PH VALUE
8 26%
6 0
Natural Soil Soil + 1% Cement + 3% Lime + Soil + 1% Cement + 3% Lime +
4 20% Ash 30% Ash
2
0 40 39 38
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Liquid Limit
LIME CONTENT
Plasticity Index 20 7 7
Objective 2
Case 1 – Embankment to final height 4m with Case 2 – Embankment to final height 4m with
traffic load of 20 kPa – Low water level traffic load of 20 kPa – water level above 1m
Embankment analysis result
• High Embankment over 4m high
Case 1 – Embankment to final height 4m with Case 2 – Embankment to final height 4m with
traffic load of 20 kPa – Low water level traffic load of 20 kPa – water level above 1m
Conclusions & Recommendations
• It is possible to stabilize marginal soil by adding maximum of 30%
coal ash by weight. Since leachate test was not carried out in this
stage , it is recommend to add 1% cement to immobilized the heavy
metals.
• Existing coal ash stock pile could be used as a bulk quantity for
Embankment filling by providing out cover of soil layer & HDPE
Geopolymer liner.
Investigations planed to carryout
Use as a Embankment/
Structural Filling