LATERITIC SOIL STABILIZATION USING ZYCO SOIL

BY

SHOBO OLUWATOSIN ADEKUNLE

MATRIC NO: CVE/15/2351

SUBMITTED TO

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING,

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AKURE, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR

OF ENGINEERING (B. ENG) DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

OCTOBER 2023.
 CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this independent research project was carried out bt SHOBO OLUWATOSIN
ADEKUNLE with matriculation number CVE/15/2351, under my supervision at the School Of
Engineering And Engineering Technology,Federal University Of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) in Civil
Engineering.

……………………….. ………………………..

Shobo Oluwatosin Adekunle Date

……………………… ………………………

Dr Mrs Oluyemi Date

(Project Supervisor)

……………………. ……………………….

Prof O.J. Oyedepo (H.O.D Civil Engineering) Date

 DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this work to firstly GOD, my family and everyone who has assisted me in one
way or the other. I very much appreciate the support, motivation and inspiration you all gave to me, I feel
blessed to have all of you help me out whenever I need them.
 AKNOWLEDGEMENT

I thank God Almighty for the success in the completion of this project.

I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Dr Mrs. Oluyemi of the Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering, for her valuable guidance and encouragement which has been very helpful in
the writing of this seminar.

I also want to thank the Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, alongside every other
lecturer and non-teaching staff of the department who has assisted me in one way or the other for your
support.

I am also grateful to my family and friends for their timely aid without which completing this seminar
would have been verry difficult. I extend my gratitude to all my well wishers and those who have
contributed directly and indirectly for the completion of this work.

Sincere appreciation goes to my parents (Mr and Mrs Shobo) and my brother Adedamola Shobo.
 ABSTRACT

Lateritic soils are widely abundant in tropical regions and are characterized by their low load-bearing
capacity and susceptibility to erosion, making them challenging for construction purposes. This paper
explores an innovative and environmentally friendly approach to enhance the engineering properties of
lateritic soils using Zycosoil, a biopolymer-based soil stabilizer.

Zycosoil is a biodegradable, non-toxic, and cost-effective soil stabilizer derived from natural polymers.
This research investigates the effects of zycosoil on lateric soil stabilization, focusing on its impact on soil
strength, durability, and erosion resistance. Laboratory experiments and field tests were conducted to
assess the engineering properties of the stabilized lateritic soil.

The results indicate that Zycosoil significantly improves the load-bearing capacity of lateritic soils,
effectively reducing soil settlement and increasing. Moreover, it enhances the soil's resistance to erosion,
making it an ideal choice for sustainable construction practices in regions with lateritic soil deposits.

The use of Zycosoil not only offers a practical solution for stabilizing lateritic soils but also aligns with
environmentally conscious construction practices by reducing the need for traditional stabilizers with
potential ecological and health concerns. This research contributes to the development of sustainable and
eco-friendly soil stabilization techniques, promoting more resilient infrastructure in tropical regions
where lateritic soils are prevalent.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGE

DECLARATION ii

CERTIFICATION iii

DEDICATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v

ABSTRACT vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

LIST OF TABLES viii

LIST OF FIGURES ix

LIST OF PLATES x

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND 1

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT 2
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES 2
1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY 3
1.5 SCOPE OF WORK 3

vii
CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW 4

2.2