Stabilization of black cotton soil with coal bottom ash

Abstract

Expansive soils are problematic due to the performances of their clay constituent usually have the potential to show their undesirable engineering properties such as low bearing capacity, high shrinkage and swell characteristics. The shrink-swell behaviour makes the soil inappropriate for direct engineering application in its natural form and in order to enhance its engineering quality to make them more feasible for usage, stabilization soil can be done physically or chemically. The main aim of this is study is the strength properties of black cotton soil like unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR), & Maximum Dry Density, and Optimum Moisture Content with a stabilizing agent CBA. Being a cementitious material, CBA improves the strength of the expansive soil and reduces the shrinkage and swelling properties due to the existence of silica & alumina. The objective of this study is the analysis of the effect of coal bottom on black cotton soil. Index properties and engineering properties of expansive soil (black cotton soil) were tested in the laboratory. The sample for the test was prepared by CBA addition @ 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% as a stabilizing agent with soil, respectively. The results show that up to 30% CBA addition, values of strength parameter increase, and fall afterward.