________ ISSN 2278 – 9472

Research Journal of Engineering Sciences ___________________________________________

Vol. 6(9), 1-5, October (2017) Res. J. Engineering Sci.

Strength behaviour of soil stabilized with fly ASH and sugarcane bagasse
ASH
Srikalpa Rajguru Mahapatra and Rupashree Ragini Sahoo
Department of Civil Engineering, VSSUT, Burla, Odisha, India
[email protected]
Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me
Received 8th April 2017, revised 4th October 2017, accepted 20th October 2017
Abstract
Enhancement of load carrying capacity and shear strength of soil has been improved by soil stabilization. The largely used
soil stabilizing agent is fly ash, the waste from coal
coal-fired
fired power plant, which is produced over 100 trillion each year creating
thoughtful dumping as well as ecological complications in India. Sugarcane bagasse ash is a fibrous residue of sugarcane
stalk that remains after extraction of sugar, when incinerated gives the ash. The present investigation made to weigh up the
efficiency of silty sands blended with sugarcane bagasse ash and fly ash ffor or soil stabilization. CBR and Standard Proctor
Test are carried out on samples primed from fly ash admixed soil modified through sugarcane bagasse ash. Samples
prepared by means of 2% sugarcane bagasse ash content with fly ash content varying from 0% - 20% along with an increase
of 5% by the dry mass of soil. In addition to fly ash the specific gravity and MDD are decreased with increased in OMC.CBR
OMC.
value of unsoaked and soaked sample was maximum with increase of 86% and 55% respectively at 5% FA + 2% SBA.It SB is
noticed in these tests that stabilization of soil using sugarcane bagasse ash along with fly ash improves the strength as well
as effective to reduce the negative impact of agricultural plant and coal-fired power plant waste by product on environment.
environme

Keywords: Fly Ash, Sugarcane Bagasse Ash, California Bearing Ratio, Standard Proctor Test.

Introduction reduced to 15% to 20% due to low specific gravity of fly ash
given by Prabhakar4. The mixed class-C
class fly ash and it was
Importance of ground improvement techniques is increasing distinguished that fly ash stabilization increases unconfined
now a day. At some construction sites, the soil properties may compressive strength5. Class-C fly ash mixed soil altered the
not meet to the necessitate provision; hence it is required to compaction, physical characteristics of granular as well as
improve the characteristics of soil. Thus in broad sense cohesive soil6. Fly ash
sh also gave greater resilient moduli when
stabilization is a method employed for modifying the properties mixed with soil at optimum water content. In case of soft
of soil to enhance its engineering performance
performance. Soil stabilization organic soils use of class-cc fly ash was more relevant than the
may be grouped under two main types i.e. i. modification of soil other binding material like cement or lime, which would be
without adding any stabilizing agent and ii. improving the more economical and environment friendly which was
properties by means of admixtures. Compaction and drainage investigated by Edil et al7.
are categorized under major category, which improves inherent
shear strength of soil whereas mechanical stabilization, In sugar industry sugar cane straw is produced as major by
stabilization with binders such as lime, Cement, fly ash comes product during manufacturing of sugar. Bagasse ash is an
under the second type of stabilization. Modern researchers are agricultural by product of sugarcane bagasse incineration to
emphasized more on the effective use of locally available generate electricity and its improper
mproper deposit poses a serious
materials from industries and agricultural wastes to enhance the environmental problem. The strength and stiffness of soft soil
properties of soil for engineering use by minimizing the cost of improved by adding this wastes with fibers together with
construction1. chemical agent8,9. The disposal of this by product causing
serious environmental problem around sugar factories. To make
India, as a developing nation requires more energy to cop up sugarcane bagasse ash as a useful material several researches
with demand which is produced largely by coal fired power are conducted. Sugarcane bagasse ash contains silicon oxide at
plants. Due to this per year around 150 million of fly ash is high percentage with pozzolanicanic behavior showed by Barasaet
generated, from the gases of furnace fired with coal as non non- al10. As pozzolanic material sugarcane bagasse ash also contains
plastic silt causing serious disposal and environmental problem2. oxides of aluminum, silica and calcium sited11. In current time,
Fly ash as additive have great influence as it is a industrial by the stabilization of natural soil with sugarcane bagasse ash is an
product, thus inexpensive to cement or lime and increases the effective means of chemicall stabilization was a utmost findings
strength of soil as pointed out by Bose3. Fly ash admixed with of Mir et al12. The benefit from applying baggage ash for soil
organic soil and its outcome was the dry density of admixed soil stabilizations with lime is related to chemical reaction between

International Science Community Association 1

Research Journal of Engineering Sciences________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278 – 9472
Vol. 6(9), 1-5, October (2017) Res. J. Engineering Sci.

calcium hydroxide produced by lime with pozzolona that is Fly Ash (FA): Fly ash was collected from the Hindalco power
supplied from bagasse ash, similar to cement reaction with soil plant, which is a class-c fly ash. The soil was classified as
was an important findings of Nguyen et al13. uniformly graded. The particle size distribution curve of this soil
determined based on ASTM C136 and sieved through 4.75mm
The objective of this experiment is to utilize the sugarcane sieve is shown in Figure-2. Geotechnical properties i.e. specific
bagasse ash and fly ash to enhance the strength of soil, while gravity, limit of soil was calculated before that fly ash was oven
avoiding the adverse health and environmental problems that dried at temperature of 105 to 110 degree. The geotechnical and
can be induced due to the disposal of this material. chemical properties of the fly ash are summarized below (Table-
2).
Materials and methods
Table-2: Geotechnical and Chemical Properties of Fly ash.
Soil: Soil was collected from the Sadeipalli embankment area
near Hirakud dam. The soil was classified as silty sand (SM). Properties Value
The particle size distribution curve of this soil determined based
on ASTM C136 and sieved through 4.75mm sieve is shown in Type Class C
Figure-1. Geotechnical properties of soil was calculated before
Specific Gravity 2.08
oven drying the soil at temperature of 105 to 110 degree. The
properties of the silty sand are summarized in Table-1.
Coefficient of uniformity 3.14
Table-1: Index Properties of Soil. Coefficient of curvature 2.344
Properties Soil
Type of soil SM Liquid limit & Plastic limit Non plastic

Coefficient of uniformity 3.23 Silica 60.85%

Coefficient of curvature 0.886
Alumina 29.14%
Specific gravity 2.321
Iron Oxide 3.01%
Liquid limit 33.5%
Plastic limit 28.169% Titanium Oxide 0.68%
Plasticity index 5.331
Lime 1.88%
MDD 2.04(gm./cm3)
OMC 15.36% Magnesia 0.35%
CBR(soaked) 2.980% Potash 0.53%
CBR (unsoaked) 3.660%
Soda 0.48%

Sulphate 0.07%
120
Phosphate 0.68%
100
Loss on ignition 2.05%
80
%finer

Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SBA): The sugarcane bagasse ash

60
was collected from nearby sugar mill. The physical properties of
40 bagasse ash depend on size of particles. The particle size
distribution curve of sugarcane bagasse ash determined based on
20 ASTM C136 and sieved through 425 sieve. Sugarcane
bagasse ash was oven dried at temperature of 105 to 110 degree
0 before each experiment. Sugarcane bagasse ash classified as
non-plastic material and the specific gravity of SBA found to be
1 10 100 1000 10000 1.315.
Particle size(micron) Mix Design and Testing Plan: Preparation of samples: The
Figure-1: Particle size distribution curve of soil. experimental program is conducted in two phase i.e. i. The

International Science Community Association 2

Research Journal of Engineering Sciences________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278 – 9472
Vol. 6(9), 1-5, October (2017) Res. J. Engineering Sci.

geotechnical characteristics of Soil sample was studied by adding fly ash in an incremental order from 5% to 20% because
conducting Sieve analysis, Plastic Limit and Liquid limit the particles are hollow and low weight. Thus specific gravity
determination. Specific gravity of Soil, FA and SBA was decreased as shown in Figure-3.
determined. Sieve analysis of FA also done. ii. Soil mixed with
FA and SBA samples Engineering properties are determined 2.35
and compared with soil. Soil and four samples of Soil with
varying percentage of fly ash (FA) i.e. from 5% to 20% with 2.3

Specific Gravity
increment of 5% admixed to 2 percentage of sugarcane bagasse
ash (SBA) content by the dry mass of soil. These fly ash and 2.25
sugarcane bagasse ash contents were chosen considering the
2.2
significant effect of fly ash and moderate effect of sugarcane
bagasse ash as stabilizing agent on soft soils as concluded by the 2.15
previous research works.
2.1
120
2.05
100 10 15 20 0
25 5
Fly Ash (in %)
80
Figure-3: Effect of varying percentage of FA on Specific
60 Gravity of soil.
%finer

40 Compaction Behavior: The Optimum Moisture Content and

maximum Dry Density of soil found to be 15.50% and 2.04
20 respectively. With inclusion of fly ash it is observed that the
optimum moisture content increased to 26.62% where as
0
maximum dry density decreased to 1.798 gm/cc. The
1 10 100 1000 10000 compaction curve is given from Figure 4-6.
Particle size(micron)
Figure-2: Particle size distribution curve of fly ash. Due to porous property of sugarcane bagasse ash, the soil
structure absorbed more water resulted increasing optimum
Compaction Test: To study the compaction characteristics water content. The other cause of omc increase will be cation
laboratory compaction tests have been carried out on untreated exchange process between fly ash and soil for which soil voids
and treated soils as per IS: 2720(part VII) 1965 which absorbed more water during compaction. The decrease of the
recommends mould with a 100mm internal diameter and maximum dry unit weight and abrupt change in MDD with the
127.5mm effective height, whose internal volume is increase of the percentage of fly ash is mainly due to the lower
1000ml.The rammer has mass of 2.6kg with a drop of specific gravity of the fly ash and sugarcane bagasse ash
310mm.Dry density is plotted against water content to obtain compared with soil.
compaction curve from which optimum moisture content and
corresponding maximum dry density was determined.
2
Maximum Dry Density(gm/cc)

California Bearing Ratio test: As per IS: 2720(Part-XVI)-

1987California Bearing ratio test was carried out on untreated 1.9
and treated soil. Total ten numbers of samples were prepared at
individual optimum water content of five number of primary
samples. Individual two numbers of sets of treated and untreated 1.8
soil samples were tested for unsoaked condition and four days
of soaking condition. 1.7
SOIL
Results and discussion 1.6 SOIL+5%FA+2%SBA
Effect on natural properties of soil: The geotechnical SOIL+10%FA+2%SBA
properties of soil are summarized in Table-1. The soil at natural Soil+15%FA+2%SBA
1.5
state has liquid limit 33.5%, plastic limit 28.169% and plasticity
10 Moisture 20
content(%) 30 0 40
index 5.331. From these parameters, the soil is considered as
silty sand (SM) with low plasticity according to ASTM C136. Figure-4: Compaction curve of untreated soil and treated soil
Aggregate weight of treated soil samples were decreased after with FA and SBA.

International Science Community Association 3

Research Journal of Engineering Sciences________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278 – 9472
Vol. 6(9), 1-5, October (2017) Res. J. Engineering Sci.

30 200
25
Optimum Moisture

180
Content(%)

20 160
15 140

Load(Kg)
10 120
100
5
80
0
60
10 0 20 30
40 SOIL
FA Content(%)
Figure-5: Variation of OMC at varying content of FA. 20 Soil+5%FA+2%SBA
2.1 0
2.05 0.000 0.200 0.400 0.600
Dry Density(gm/cc)

2 Penitration(inch)
1.95 Figure-7: Unsoaked CBR of untreated soil and treated soil with
1.9 FA-SBA.
1.85
180
1.8
1.75 160
5 10 0 15 20 25
140
Fly Ash Content(%)
Figure-6: Variation of MDD at varying content of FA. 120

Calfornia Bearing Ratio: The CBR value gives a rough idea

Load(Kg)

100
about the shear strength and bearing capacity of soil. The
unsoaked and soaked CBR value increased at addition of 5 80
percentage fly ash plus 2 percentage of sugarcane bagasse ash.
The results of soaked and unsoaked CBR test from Table-3 and 60
Figure-7, 8 were indicated that the CBR value was increased by
86% for unsoaked CBR where as 55% increase in soaked CBR 40 Soil
for 5% addition of fly ash with soil due to some chemical
Soil + 5%FA + 2%SBA
reaction, then the value was decreased by 55% in unsoaked 20
CBR and 45% decreased in soaked CBR for addition of 10% fly Soil + 10%FA + 2%SBA
ash with soil. As percentage increase of fly ash keeping 0
percentage of sugarcane bagasse ash constant decreases MDD. 0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600
This may also be due to grain size effect, specific gravity of
both material etc. The increase in CBR value could be attributed Penitration(inch)
to the progressive cementation of soil-fly ash-sugarcane bagasse Figure-8: Soaked CBR of untreated soil and treated soil with
ash as a result of hydration and the pozzolanic reaction. FA-SBA.

Table-3: CBR value of untreated soil and treated soil with FA - Conclusion
SBA.
Unsoaked soaked The soil was characterized as silty sand with low plasticity in
FA-SBA % CBR value CBR value accordance with ASTM C136. The fly ash was found to be
(%) (%) uniformly graded, keeping the quantity of sugarcane bagasse
ash constant, on increasing the fly ash content, the specific
Untreated Soil 3.460 2.978
gravity decreased.
Soil+5% Fly ash+ 2% SBA 6.423 4.631
On increasing the fly ash content maintaining the quantity of
Soil+10% Fly ash + 2% SBA 2.686 2.523 sugarcane bagasse ash constant, the optimum moisture content

International Science Community Association 4

Research Journal of Engineering Sciences________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278 – 9472
Vol. 6(9), 1-5, October (2017) Res. J. Engineering Sci.

increased and the maximum dry density decreased. The 11. Hasan H., Dng L., Khabbaz H., Fatahi B. and Terzaghi S.
additions of these admixtures are akin to increased compactive (2016). ICTG. Published by Elsevier B.V., 143, 1368-1375.
effort. Hence soil is rendered more stable. 12. Mir B.A., Jha J.N. and Gupta K. (2016). Some studies on
the behaviour of Sugar cane bagasse ash Admixed with
CBR value of unsoaked and soaked sample was maximum with
cement stabilized soil. International conference on soil and
increase of 86% and 55% respectively at 5% FA addition to 2%
environment, ICSE, 2016, Bangalore, 1-8.
SBA. However the CBR result indicates that fly ash and
sugarcane bagasse ash had the ability to protect the treated soil 13. Nguyen L.D., Fatahi B. and Khabbaz H. (2014). A
from adverse effect by increased strength value. constitutive model for cemented clays capturing
cementation degradation. International Journal of
Recycling/utilization of fly ash and sugare cane bagasse ash has Plasticity, 56, 1-18.
the advantage of using industrial waste by-products without 14. Chavan P. and Nagkumar M.S. (2014). Studies on Soil
harmfully affecting the environment or probable land use with stabilization by using bagasse ash. International Journal of
in addition fly ash and sugarcane bagasse ash proved to be Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET),
effective admixtures for enhancing the engineering behaviour ISSN: 2278-0882 ICRTIET-2014, 89-94.
considerably.
15. Varaprasad C.R. and Sharma R.K. (2014). Influence of
sand and fly ash on clayel soil stabilisation. 36-40. IOSR-
References
JMCE, e-ISSN: 2278-1684, ISSN: 2320-334X.
1. Chhachhia A. and Mital A. (2015). Review on 16. Cokca E. (2001). Use of Class C fly ashes for the
improvement of clayey soil stabilized with bagasse ash. stabilization of an expansive soil. Journal of Geotechnical
4(1), 238-240. ISSN (2278-6643). and Geo environment Engineering, 127(7), 568-573.
2. Phanikumar B.R. and Sharma R.S. (2014). Effect of fly ash 17. Kaushik P.N., Sharma K.J. and Prasad D.C. (2003). Effect
on Engineering properties of expansive soils. Journal of of fly ash and lime- fly ash on characteristics of expansive
Geotechnical and GeoenvironmentalEngineering, 764-767. soils. Proc. of IGC2003, Roorkee, 459-462.
3. Bose B. (2012). Geo engineering properties of expansive 18. Manjesh L., Ramesh N.H., Kumar M. and Sivapullaiah
soil stabilized with fly ash. Electronic Journal of P.V. (2003). CBR values of soil-flyash mixture for road
Geotechnical Engineering, 17, 1339-1353. construction. In Proc. Indian Geotechnical Conf., Roorkee,
4. Prabhakar J., Dendorkar N. and Morchhale R.K. (2004). India, December, Indian Geotechnical Society, 1, 451-454.
Influence of fly ash on strength behaviour of typical soil. 19. Pradhan P.K., Kar R.K. and Naik A. (2012). Effect of
Construction and building materials,18(4), 263-267. random inclusion of polypropylene fibers on strength
www.elseview.com. characteristics of cohesive soil. Geotechnical and
5. Senol A. (2012). Effect of Fly ash and polypropylene fibres Geological Engineering, 30(1), 15-25.
content on the soft soils. Bull EngGeol Environ, 71(2), 379- 20. Cordeiro G., Toledo Filho R., Tavares L. and Fairbairn E.
387. www.elseview.com (2008). Pozzolanic activity and filler effect of sugar cane
6. Ferguson G. (1993). Use of self-cementing fly ashes as a bagasse ash in Portland cement and lime mortars. Cement
soil stabilizing agent. Proceedings of session on fly ash for and Concrete Composites, 30(5), 410-418.
soil improvement, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication,
36, 1-14.
7. Edil T.B., Sandstrom L.K. and Berthouex P.M. (1992).
Interaction of inorganic leachate with compacted
pozzolanic fly-ash. J. Geotech.Eng., 118(9), 1410-1430.
8. Fatahi B., Le T.M., Fatahi B. and Khabbaz H. (2013).
Shrinkage properties of soft clay treated with cement and
geofibers. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering,
31(5), 1421-1435.
9. Fatahi B. and Khabbaz H. (2012). Mechanical
characteristics of soft clay treated with fibre and cement.
Geosynthetics International, 19(3), 252-262.
10. Mir B.A. and Sridhran A. (2013). Physical and compaction
behaviour of clay soil-fly ash mixtures. GeotechGeolEng,
31(4), 1059-1072.

International Science Community Association 5