Lateritic Soil Stabilization for Roadway using Bamboo Leaf Ash - A Natural Material

Abstract

Soil stabilization is being done now- a-days to improve various physical properties like shear strength, bearing capacity, control shrink and swell properties, etc. It also helps in reducing permeability and reduction of pavement thickness. The study was basically carried out to determine the properties of Bamboo Leaf Ash stabilization on lateritic soil during construction of highways. Various tests were being conducted on 3 samples namely I, II and III to identify and classify along with the consistency limit. California Bearing Ratio Test (CBR), Triaxial Test and Compaction Test were also performed on the samples, both at the stabilized and unstabilized states by adding 2.5, 4.5, 6.5, 8.5 and 10.5% bamboo leaf ash (BLA) by weight of sample to the soils. It has been observed from the results that the strength of the prepared samples increased upon addition of this additive. Optimum moisture content reduced to 20.20, 19.60 and 9.32% at 10.5, 8.5, and 6.5% BLA samples of I, II and III respectively whereas maximum dry density increased to 1440, 1776 and 1946 kg/m3 at 10.5, 4.5 and 6.5% BLA additions in samples I, II and III respectively. It has been revealed from the study that the unsoaked samples of I and II increased from 5.44 to 39.21% and from 11.42 to 37.99% respectively. Moreover, the shear strength properties of the three samples increased from 182.31 to 200.00 KN/m2 and from 155.81 to 166.90 KN/m2 respectively. Hence, the properties of bamboo fly ash make it feasible to be used as an efficient stabilizing material.