Abstract:
Volume-changing soils are among the most challenging geomaterials commonly met
on the planet during infrastructural development. This study investigates the change
in the geotechnical and microstructural characteristics of expansive soils treated with
cinder fine and fly ash.
The expansive soil used in this study has a high plasticity and a sizable potential for
swelling. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests' results show a very weak/poor
soil (0.88%), which makes the soil unsuitable for pavement subgrade layers in
accordance with ERA-2013 geotechnical design specifications. With varying
amounts of fly ash and cinder particles, expansive soil can be stabilized. First,
different amounts of cinder fines were added to the expansive soil to stabilize it (4%,
8%, 12%, 16%, 20%), and then fly ash was added in increments of 5% from 5 to
25%. Additionally, 20% Cinder Fine and a variety of 5% to 25% at 5% intervals of
Fly Ash were added.
For a soil treatment using 20% cinder fines and 20% fly ash, the liquid and plasticity
index values dropped by 66.2% and 95.2%, respectively, while the unconfined
compressive strength (UCS) value increased by 86.6%. Further investigations were
carried out using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging equipment to assess
the change in microstructural properties of stabilized expansive soil employing the
soil stabilizer mix ratio that resulted in strength improved quality sample. The results
show that the fabric and morphology of the stabilized sample have changed.
Additionally, the dispersed raw expansive soil was transformed into a more cohesive
and flocculated mass after being treated with a mixture of 10% Class-C fly ash and
20% cinder fines. The SEM image further reveals that the mechanical bonding of the
cinder particles results in well-developed floccules and a porous character.
Keywords: Expansive soil, Class-C Fly Ash, Cinder fines, Microstructural, SEM.