Use of rice husk ash and lime in low plasticity clay soils and its influence on mechanical and hydraulic properties (#2315)

Authors

Arias Melendez, Erick Anderson

Saldaña Diaz, Elder Sebastian

Duran Ramirez, Gary Gary

Abstract

Clay soils can be problematic in construction due to their high deformability and low shear strength values. Factors such as high humidity and the presence of clayey materials promote soil expansion and contraction, which generates deformations in civil structures. Several studies have shown that the use of rice husk ash and lime as stabilizers improves the properties of clay soils. This article examines the use of rice husk ash (RHA) and lime to improve the mechanical and hydraulic properties of low plasticity (LP) clay soils. For this purpose, Sieve Analysis, Liquid Limit, Moisture Content, Specific Gravity of Solids, Standard Proctor Compaction, Unconfined Compressive Strength and Variable Load Permeability tests were performed in order to evaluate the influence of these stabilizers on soil behavior. The results showed that the addition of CCA and lime improved the mechanical and hydraulic properties of the low plasticity clayey soil, showing an increase in the unconfined compressive strength and a significant improvement in the modulus of elasticity of the stabilized soils. Among all the samples tested, it was determined that the optimal percentage of CCA is 10% and that of lime is 5% of the total weight of the mixture, since this percentage presented the highest unconfined compressive strength and the value of the coefficient of permeability decreased with respect to that of the natural soil.