Stabilization of Expansive Soil by Fly Ash and Stone Dust

Soil stabilization is the alteration of soil properties to improve the engineering performance of soils. The properties most often altered are density, water content, plasticity and strength. The primary reason fly ash is used in soil stabilization applications is to improve the compressive and shearing strength of soils. The performance of fly ash and stone dust was studied by conducting California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests. Studies were made with different percentage of fly ash and stone dust. The results have shown that the fly ash and stone dust enhances the sub grade strength. During this work, the effect of moisture content, degree of compaction, etc. on various geotechnical properties of soil are studied. A series of tests such as heavy weight compaction and CBR test are done to estimate the strength characteristics of compacted soil using fly ash and stone dusts as well as tests like specific gravity test, grain size distribution test by mechanical sieve analysis etc. are performed to obtain some physical properties of soil. These results will be very much helpful for the successful utilization of fly ash and stone dust in different fields such as embankment construction, road base and sub-base construction, designing of retaining walls etc. in an eco friendly manner.