LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF ENGINEERING USE OF BAGASSE ASH
Abstract
Bagasse ash (burnt residue from the extraction of juice from sugar cane) is evaluated for use as a stabilizer for an expansive soil, (i.e. black cotton soil). The laboratory study consists of the following tests conducted on soil — bagasse ash mixtures at the British Standard Light (BSC) compactive effort: moisture density relationships, unconfined cmpressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR) and durability by immersion in water. On stabilizing the black cotton soil with a maximum 12% bagasse by weight of dry soil, peak UCS values of 229, 240, and 286 kN/m2 were recorded at 7, 14 and 28 days curing periods, respectively, with 10% bagasse ash content, which is the amount of bagasse ash required for optimal improvement in the UCS of the soil. A peak CBR value of 8% for the soil — bagasse ash mixture were recorded at 10% bagasse ash content. The results obtained indicate that for the soil - bagasse ash mixture optimal improvement in strength properties were achieved 10% bagassc ash content.
