Coconut Shell Ash (CSA) as the Stabilizer for Soft Soil Treatment

Abstract

Soft soil consists of inherent properties where it is unstable in geotechnical condition with low shear strength. The present of soft soil is one of the problematic ground conditions that can pose great challenges in the related field. Moreover, soft soil is not suitable for being used in the construction of highways and buildings due to its undesirable characteristics such as high-water content, low shear strength, low bearing capacity and low permeability. Thus, soil improvement will be crucial in future geotechnical practice for designing structures in weak soil. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the use of coconut shell ash (CSA) as an additive material to improve the strength of the soft soil. Preliminary tests were carried out on the soft soil sample for identification and classification purposes. Then, engineering tests were carried out such as compaction tests to determine the optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD), Un-confined Compression Test (UCT) to assess the unconfined compressive strength of the soft soil when mixed with 0, 5, 10, and 15% of CSA. Finally, this study resume that the coconut shell ash can act as a stabilizer that will lower the cost of treatment and will benefit the environment.