Civil Engineering Material

Muhammad Zeeshan Khan

194317
Utilization of fly ash and lime to
stabilize the expansive soil and to
sustain pollution free environment –
An experimental study
abstract

 Expansive soils are problematic due to the performances of their clay constituent usually
have the potential to show their undesirable engineering properties such as low bearing
capacity, high shrinkage and swell characteristics. The shrink-swell behavior makes the
soil inappropriate for direct engineering application in its natural form and in order to
enhance its engineering quality to make them more feasible for usage, stabilization soil can
be done physically or chemically.
Introduction

 Expansive soils, which are also called as swell shrink soil, have the tendency to shrink and
swell with variation in moisture content and this leads to variation in the soil, significant
distress occurs in the soil, which is subsequently followed by damage to the overlying
structures. During periods of greater moisture, like monsoons, these soils imbibe the water,
and swell; subsequently, they become soft and their water holding capacity diminishes and
in summer seasons, these soils lose the moisture held in them due to evaporation, resulting
in their becoming harder. These soils are regarded as problematic and if not treated
properly can cause extensive damage to the structures built upon them, as well causing loss
in human life
Materials and methods

1. Expansive soil

 In this study expansive soil sample having high degree of

swelling and shrinkage was collected from the village Kotala.
 The clays were collected at a depth of about 0.5.to 2.5 m.
 . The disturbed soil was excavated, placed in plastic bags, and
transported to the laboratory for testing
 Hydrometer analysis indicates that the clay content is very high
of nearly 70%
 S. No. Property Value

1. Grain Size Distribution (a) 6.6

Gravel ( % )

Properties of Tested Soil Sample   (b) Sand (%) 14

2. Atterberg Limits 56
(a) Liquid Limit (%)

  (b) Plastic Limit (%) 17

  (c) Plasticity Index (%) 39

3. Differential Free Swell Index (%) 110

4. Specific Gravity 2.3

5. IS Classification ‘CH’

6. Compaction Characteristics(a) Maximum 16.0

Dry Unit Weight (kN/m3)

  (b) Optimum Moisture Content (%) 18.2%

7. Unconfined Compressive Strength (kN/m 2) 26

 S No. Parameters Value S No. Contents % by Mass

Physical Properties of Fly ash.

1. Density 2.17 g/cm3
Chemical 1. Calcium oxide, CaO 0.37–27.68
Properties
2. Bulk density 1.26 g/cm 3
of Fly Ash
2. Silicon dioxide, SiO 2 27.88–59.40
3. Moisture content 2%
3. Aluminium oxide, Al 2O3 5.23–33.99

4. Iron oxide, Fe2O3 1.21–29.63

4. Particle shape Spherical/Irregular
5. Magnesium oxide, MgO 0.42–8.79
5. Colour Grey

6. pH 6.0–10.0 6. Sulphur Trioxide, SO3 0.04–4.71

7. Specific gravity 1.66–2.55 7. Sodium carbonate, Na2O 0.20–6.90

8. Grain size distribution Sandy silt to silty loam

8. Potassium oxide, K2O 0.64–6.68
9. Porosity 45% 55 %
10. Water holding capacity 45% 60 % 9. Titanium dioxide, TiO2 0.24–1.73
11. Electrical conductivity (dS/m) 0.15–0.45
10. Other alkaline & unidentified 4.0–6.0

11. LOI (Loss-on-ignition) 0.21–28.37

12 Free Swell Index (%) 0  
 Laboratory tests were carried out to classify each type of soil. The following tests are
conducted on selected soil alone, soil with lime and soil with fly ash and lime mixtures
 The experimental program was carried out in two stages to achieve the objectives. In the
first batch expansive soil is mixed with 4% and 8% of lime and in the second batch
expansive soil is mixed with 10% fly ash + 4% lime and 10% fly ash + 8% lime
Results and discussion

Liquid limit
60

It is concluded that as the percentage of 50

admixtures i.e. lime alone or combination of lime

Liquid Limit (%)

40

+ fly ash increases, liquid limit decreases 30

Lime
20 Lime + Fly Ash

10

0
0 5 10 15 20
Admixtures (%)
 Plastic limit
 The plastic limit is slightly increases at 19.5
4% lime and decreases at 8% lime, but
in case of lime and fly ash combination 19

PLASTIC LIMIT (%)

there is no change is observed. 18.5

18
Lime
17.5 Lime+Fly Ash

17

16.5
0 5 10 15 20 25
ADMIXTURE (%)
 Plasticity index

concludes that as the percentage of

admixtures i.e. lime alone or combination of 50
lime + fly ash increases, plasticity index
45
decreases

PLASTICITY INDEX (%)

40

35

30 Lime

25 Lime+Fly Ash

20

15
0 5 10 15 20 25
ADMIXTURE (%)
 free swell index
 The swelling tendency of selected 180

DIFFERENTIAL FREE SWELL INDEX (%)

expansive soil is decreasing with 160
addition of admixtures lime alone or
combination of lime + fly ash 140

120
Lime
Lime+ Fly Ash
100

80

60
0 5 10 15 20 25
ADMIXTURE (%)
 Strength characteristics

 The variations of unconfined compressive strength

with increasing in percentage of admixtures . With
8% of lime addition to the soil, unconfined
compressive strength is increased from 265 kN/m 2
to 765 kN/m2 and it is mainly due to reduction of
cohesion 100

UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE
90
80

STRENGTH (kN/m 2)
70
60
50
40 Lime
30 Lime+ Fly Ash
20
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
 Compaction characteristics

 Maximum dry density (MDD)

16.9
 MDD to increase with addition of lime or 16.5

MDD (g/cc)
combination of lime + fly ash to the expansive 16.1

soil due to the increasing attractive forces of soil 15.7

Lime
particles 15.3 Lime+ Fly Ash

14.9
 Optimum moisture content (OMC) 14.5
0 5 10 15 20 25
 Increased in unit dry weight due to dispersion of
soil particle occur reducing omc. 30

25

OMC (%)
20
Lime
Lime+ Fly Ash
15

10
0 5 10 15 20 25
Conclusion

 Addition of expansive soil with lime alone or with lime and fly ash in different
percentages, the liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity Index, optimum moisture content
and differential free swell index decreased, whereas maximum dry unit weight and strength
of soil admixtures increased.
 From the above conclusions it can be drawn that lime or combination of fly ash and lime
can be used as effective stabilizing admixtures for expansive soil considered in this
investigation.