[

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF
POND ASH-BRICK KILN DUST
STABILIZED SILTY CLAY MIXTURES

Dr.Hemant Sood
Professor & Head
Civil Engineering Department
National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research
India
ROAD NETWORK IN INDIA
•Road transport is a critical infrastructure for economic
development of a country. It influences the pace, structure and
pattern for development.
•In India, road infrastructure is used to transport over 60% of total
goods and 85% of total passengers traffic
Road Network in India
Road Type Length in kilometers
Expressways 200
National Highways (NH) 92,851
State Highways (SH) 1,31,899
Major District Roads (MDR) 4,67,763
Rural and Other Roads 26,50,000
Total Road Length 33,00,000 (approx.)
 STRENGTHENING OF THE SUBGRADE – WHY ?
REDUCES INCREASES

DISTRESS PAVEMENT LIFE

RUT FORMATION COST BENEFIT RATIO

CRITICAL COMPRESSIVE STRAIN TRAFFIC BENEFIT RATIO

AT THE TOP OF SUBGRADE

MAINTENANCE

OVERALL COST OF PAVEMENT

TOTAL PAVEMENT THICKNESS

 ROLE OF POND ASH AND BRICK KILN DUST
IN DESIGN OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS
Blending the soil with waste materials-Brick kiln dust and Pond ash shall prove to
be economical as these are
•Free of cost
•Locally available in bulk quantities, leading to low construction costs, alleviating
disposal costs, environmental impact besides conserving high-grade construction
materials for higher priority usage.

•The outcome of the research program shall be beneficial in formulating the

optimum dosage for individual as well as combined treatment of pond ash and
brick kiln dust for silty clay soil subgrades.

SURFACE COURSE
REDUCED SURFACE COURSE
BASE COURSE BASE COURSE
SUBBASE COURSE SECTIONS
SUBBASE COURSE
NATURAL SUBGRADE NATURAL SUBGRADE
EMBANKMENT EMBANKMENT
MATERIAL USED

SOIL – SILTY CLAY

STABILIZER 1: POND ASH

STABILIZER 2: BRICK KILN DUST

 SOIL
SILTY CLAY
A TYPE OF
ALLUVIAL
SOIL
FOUND
PROMINENTLY
IN THE
NORTHERN
PART OF
INDIA

THE SOIL MAP OF INDIA

Source:https://assets3.affairscloud.com/assets/uploads/2016/04/indian-soil-e1461228646654.png
 POND
ASH

Thermal
Power
Plant

•Pond ash, a by-product generated from thermal power plants occupies more
than 200 million m2 of valuable land in India (Gupta and Kumar, 2016).
•The amount of pond ash produced by thermal power plants is significantly larger
in quantities than fly ash and bottom ash (Subbarao and Ghosh, 1997).
 BRICK KILN
DUST

A mixture of
wood ash,
coal ash and
brick bats

It has
amassed
exponentially
in India.
•India being the second largest global brick producer after China (Mills, 2010),
produces enormous amount of brick kiln dust, which further is dumped in open
areas (Jayawardane, 2003).

•Dumping produces leachate compounds contaminating the surface water

bodies and groundwater table due to the presence of toxic and heavy metals
within them.
 INDEX PROPERTIES OF SOIL
Classified as: Silty Clay (ML-CL) with low plasticity

Composition (%)
Liquid Plastic Plasticity Specific MDD
OMC (%)
Gravel Sand Silt Clay Limit (%) Limit (%) Index Gravity (kN/m3)

0.0 18.7 71.9 9.4 24.8 18.5 6.3 2.58 18.8 11.5

POND ASH
Classified as: Sand with appreciable amount of silt (SM)

Composition (%)
Liquid Plastic Plasticity Specific MDD OMC
Gravel Sand Silt Clay Limit (%) Limit (%) Index Gravity (kN/m3) (%)

0.0 54.1 45.9 - - - Non Plastic 2.0 16.5 16.7

BRICK KILN DUST

Classified as: Sand with appreciable amount of silt (SM)
Composition (%)
Liquid Plastic Plasticity Specific MDD OMC
Gravel Sand Silt Clay Limit (%) Limit (%) Index Gravity (kN/m3) (%)

0.0 72.3 27.7 0.0 - - Non Plastic 2.2 17.4 18.5

TESTS PERFORMED

LIQUID LIMIT TEST

PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

MODIFIED PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST

CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (CBR) TEST

UNCONFINED COMPRESSION STRENGTH (UCS) TEST

 PROPORTIONING OF POND ASH-SOIL MIXES
POND ASH SOIL
MIX 1 10% 90%

MIX 2 20% 80%

MIX 3 30% 70%

MIX 4 40% 60%

PROPORTIONING OF BRICK KILN DUST-SOIL MIXES

BRICK KILN DUST SOIL
MIX 1 10% 90%

MIX 2 20% 80%

MIX 3 30% 70%

MIX 4 40% 60%

 LIQUID LIMIT, PLASTIC LIMIT & PLASTICITY INDEX
TEST RESULTS
26
PLASTIC LIMIT(%) LIQUID LIMIT

24.3
24
22.7
22.1
23.1
22 21.1
21.5 PA LIQUID LIMIT
20 19.1
19.1
18 16.9
18 17.3 18.5 BKD LIQUID LIMIT
16.8
17.9 17.2
(%)

16 15.3
PA PLASTIC LIMIT
15.4
14 14.9
PLASTICITY INDEX (%)

12 BKD PLASTIC LIMIT

10
PA PLASTICITY
INDEX
8
6.3
5.8
6 BKD PLASTICITY
4.8 4.5 INDEX
5.2 3.8
4 4.5
3.7 3.6
2
0 10 20 30 40
PROPORTIONS OF STABILIZERS (%)
 MODIFIED PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST RESULTS
MAXIMUM DRY DENSITY (MDD)
21

19.9
20
19.3

19.5 18.9 .POND ASH

19
MDD (kN/m3)

18.7 BRICK KILN DUST

18.9

18
18
17.9
17.5
17

16
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF STABILIZERS (%)

 MODIFIED PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST RESULTS
OPTIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT (OMC)
16

15 14.7

14
14
13.5
13
12.6
OMC (%)

12.8
12.2 12.5
12
POND ASH
11 11.2 BRICK KILN DUST
11 11

10

9
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF STABILIZERS (%)

 CBR (SOAKED) TEST RESULTS
POND ASH BRICK KILN DUST
14
12.1
12.5
12 Optimum @ 30%
10.9 11.3 1.6%
10 9.8 Optimum @ 20%
10

8 8.5
8.2
CBR (%)

65.5

0
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF STABILIZERS (%)

 UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH (UCS)
TEST RESULTS
BRICK KILN DUST POND ASH
140

135 134
Optimum @ 30%
131
3 kPa
130 Optimum @ 20%
125 125
129
125
UCS (kPa)

120
120 120
115
115

110

105104

100
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF STABILIZERS (%)

PROPORTIONING OF POND ASH BRICK KILN DUST-SOIL MIXES
POND ASH BRICK KILN DUST SOIL
MIX 1 10% 10% 80%
MIX 2 10% 20% 70%
MIX 3 10% 30% 60%
MIX 4 10% 40% 50%
MIX 5 20% 10% 70%
MIX 6 20% 20% 60%
MIX 7 20% 30% 50%
MIX 8 20% 40% 40%
MIX 9 30% 10% 60%
MIX 10 30% 20% 50%
MIX 11 30% 30% 40%
MIX 12 30% 40% 30%
MIX 13 40% 10% 50%
MIX 14 40% 20% 40%
MIX 15 40% 30% 30%
MIX 16 40% 40% 20%
 LIQUID LIMIT TEST RESULTS

25
24.3
24 0% POND ASH
10% POND ASH
23 23.1
22.7 20% POND ASH
22.1
22 30% POND ASH
21.5 40% POND ASH
LIQUID LIMIT (%)

21 21.1 21.1
20.47
20
19.7

19 19.4 18.7 19.1

19.1
1818.5 18.5
18 17.8
18.1
17.5 17.5
17 17.1

16.9
16

15
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF BRICK KILN DUST (%)

 PLASTIC LIMIT TEST RESULTS

19

18 18 17.9 0% POND ASH

17.3 10% POND ASH
20% POND ASH
17 16.9 17
PLASTIC LIMIT (%)

16.8 30% POND ASH

16.6 16.5
40% POND ASH
16
16 15.615.8
15.215.4
15 15.3 15.2 15.2 15.1
14.9
14.7
14.6 14.4
14 14.3

13
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF BRICK KILN DUST (%)

 PLASTICITY INDEX TEST RESULTS
7

6.3
6 0% POND ASH
5.8 10% POND ASH
20% POND ASH
PLASTICITY INDEX (%)

5.2 30% POND ASH

54.8
40% POND ASH
4.5 4.5
4.3
4 4
3.9
3.8 3.7
3.6
3.4 3.1 3.3
3.1
3 2.8
2.9 2.9
2.7

2.6 2.4
2
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF BRICK KILN DUST (%)

 MODIFIED PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST RESULTS
MAXIMUM DRY DENSITY (MDD)
21
0% POND ASH
10% POND ASH
20 20% POND ASH
19.9
30% POND ASH
19.5
19.3 40% POND ASH
18.9
19 18.9
18.7
MDD (kN/m3)

18.4
18 18.2
18 17.9 18 18
17.6 17.7
17.7 17.4
17.5
17.5 17.4
17 17.3 17.2
16.8
16.6
16.7
16 16.1

15
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF BRICK KILN DUST (%)

 MODIFIED PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST RESULTS
OPTIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT (OMC)

17
16.7

16
16.1 15.8

15 15.5
15.1 14.8
14.8 14.7
14.4
14.3
14 14 14.5
OMC (%)

13.6 13.8
13.8
13.5 13.3
13
12.8 12.7
12.6
0% POND ASH
12.2
1212.5 10% POND ASH
11.4 20% POND ASH
11.2
11 11 30% POND ASH
40% POND ASH
10
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF BRICK KILN DUST (%)

 CBR (SOAKED) TEST RESULTS

18 Optimum @ 20% Pond Ash +

16.8 17.1 30% Brick Kiln Dust
16.3
16 16.5
15.5 15.5
14.2 14.4 15.1
14.4
14 13.4 13.8
13.8 13.4
12.9
12.6 12.5
12 12.1
CBR (%)

11.3
10.9
9.8
10 10
8.5 0% POND ASH
10% POND ASH
8 8.2
20% POND ASH
30% POND ASH
6
5.5 40% POND ASH

4
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF BRICK KILN DUST (%)

 UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH (UCS)
TEST RESULTS

170
Optimum @ 20% Pond Ash +
161
30% Brick Kiln Dust
160
155
158
150
150 152
145 149 151
145 147
145

140 141
UCS (kPa)

134 135
129 132
130 130 131 130
125
125
0% POND ASH
120 120 120 10% POND ASH
115 20% POND ASH
110 30% POND ASH
104 40% POND ASH
100
0 10 20 30 40

PROPORTIONS OF BRICK KILN DUST (%)

 MIX PROPORTIONING OF
DIFFERENT LAYERS OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS.

Pavement layers
Properties
And BITUMINOUS
DENSE
GRANULAR
BITUMINOUS BASE COURSE
Contents of mixes CONCRETE
MACADAM
SUBBASE

Density (kg/m3) 2400 2300 2300 2300

Bitumen by mass (%) 5.5 4.5 0 0
Aggregates by mass (%) 94.5 95.5 100 100
Coarse fraction of total aggregates (%) 55 60 70 80
Fine fraction of total aggregates (%) 45 40 30 20

SCHEDULE OF RATES FOR LAYING

DIFFERENT LAYERS OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS.
Material Cost (Indian Rupees) Unit Quantity
Bituminous Concrete 10972 per Cubic metres
Dense Bituminous Macadam 9063 per Cubic metres
Base Course 1590 per Cubic metres
Granular Subbase 1448 per Cubic metres
 FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT SECTIONS WITH
STABILIZED SUBGRADES FOR 50 MSA TRAFFIC INTENSITY
Granular Sub-Base Wet Mix Macadam Dense Bituminous Macadam Bituminous Concrete
800

700
40
600 115
40 40
40
Total Pavement Thickness (mm)

500 100 100 65

400
250

300
250 250 250

200
300
100 200 200 200
0
 COST ANALYSIS OF A 2 LANE (7.5 M WIDTH) PAVEMENT WITH
STABILIZED SUBGRADES FOR 50 MSA TRAFFIC INTENSITY
Granular Sub-Base Wet Mix Macadam Dense Bituminous Macadam Bituminous Concrete
20.0

18.0
TOTAL COSTS IN MILLIONS (INR)

16.0 3.3
14.0
3.3 3.3
12.0
3.3
10.0 7.8
8.0
6.8 6.8
4.4
6.0
3.0
4.0 3.0 3.0 3.0
2.0
3.3 2.2 2.2 2.2
0.0
 COST SAVINGS (PERCENT) OF A 2 LANE (7.5 M WIDTH) PAVEMENT
WITH STABILIZED SUBGRADES FOR 50 MSA TRAFFIC INTENSITY

30.0

25.0
COST SAVINGS (%)

20.0

15.0
25.9
10.0

12.1 12.1
5.0

0.0
Pond ash stabilized Brick kiln dust stabilized Pond ash + Brick kiln dust
subgrade subgrade stabilized subgrade
 CONCLUSIONS
1. Increase in pond ash and brick kiln dust dosages results in reduction of liquid limit,
plastic limit and plasticity index.

2. Increase in pond ash and brick kiln dust dosages decreases the MDD and increases the
OMC.

3. The soaked CBR increased from 5.5% to 10.9% and 12.5% on treatment with 20% pond
ash and 30% brick kiln dust.

4. The optimized combination of 20% pond ash and 30% brick kiln dust improved the
soaked CBR from 5.5% to 17.1%.

5. The UCS values increased from 104 kPa to 131 kPa, 134 kPa and 161 kPa on treatment
with 20% pond ash, 30% brick kiln dust and combinations of 20-30% pond ash-brick kiln
dust mix respectively.

6. Significant improvement in strength properties of silty clay can be achieved by pond

ash-brick kiln dust stabilization resulting in its wide applicability in the field of
geotechnical engineering and design of flexible pavements.
 CONCLUSIONS
INCREASE IN POND ASH, BRICK KILN DUST OR THEIR COMBINED CONTENT

DECREASED INCREASED

LIQUID LIMIT OPTIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT

PLASTIC LIMIT CBR- 5.5% to 10.9% @ 20% PA

5.5% to 12.5% @ 30% BKD
5.5% to 17.1% @ 20% PA+30% BKD
PLASTICITY INDEX

UCS- 104 kPa to 131 kPa @ 20% PA

104 kPa to 134 kPa @ 30% BKD
MAXIMUM DRY DENSITY 104 kPa to 161 kPa @ 20% PA+30% BKD

OPTIMIZED
DOSES