68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

INFLUENCE OF BAGASSE ASH AND HYDRATED LIME ON STRENGTH AND MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF STABILISED EXPANSIVE SOIL

Session: Soil Mechanics III / Mécanique des sols III

Liet Chi Dang, PhD Candidate, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) (Australia)
Hayder Hasan, PhD Candidate, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) (Australia)
Behzad Fatahi, Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) (Australia)
Hadi Khabbaz, Associate Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) (Australia)

This paper presents the results of an experimental study undertaken to investigate the effects of using bagasse ash and hydrated lime for improving the strength and mechanical properties of expansive soil. The bagasse ash, a fibrous waste by-product of the sugar cane refining industry, and the expansive soil samples were collected from Queensland, Australia. The specimens were prepared by varying the percentage of bagasse ash up to 25% by dry weight of expansive soil mixed with various hydrated lime contents. A series of experimental tests have been undertaken on untreated and treated soil samples consisting of Atterberg limits, linear shrinkage, compaction, unconfined compressive strength tests after various curing periods of 3, 7 and 28 days. Results of this investigation are analysed to illustrate the influence of hydrated lime and bagasse ash treatment on mechanical properties and stress-strain behaviour of expansive soil. The findings indicate a considerable increase in strength and stiffness, mechanical properties with increased hydrated lime-bagasse ash contents and curing time. An optimum combination of hydrated lime and the soil bagasse ash stabilized expansive soil are also presented. Results are significant in that the chemical stabilization using hydrated lime-bagasse ash improves the strength and mechanical properties of expansive soil.