Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Influence of biomass ash and marble dust on swelling and strength characteristics of expansive soil

Author(s):

Deheng Zhang ^{1, 2}, Shulin Sun ^{3, 4}, Fenqiang Xu ², Ningning Xue ²

Recieved Date: 2013-06-22, Accepted Date: 2013-09-10

Abstract:

In the present study, laboratory swelling and strength tests were conducted on expansive soils to assess the effectiveness of adding biomass ash (BA) and marble dust (MD) to improve the soil properties. The BA was added in the proportions 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by dry weight of soil. Direct shear strength and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) testing showed that the optimum percentage of BA was 10%. MD was added to soil containing the optimum content of BA (MD:BA:soil = 10:10:80, 15:10:75 and 20:10:70 by weight) to improve the strength and durability of the samples. With increasing BA and MD contents, the free swelling index, swelling pressure, swelling potential and maximum dry density of the soil all decreased, and optimum moisture content increased. The direct shear strength and UCS of BA-soil blends increased with the addition of 10-15% MD; the cohesion clearly increased; and the UCS of the mixtures were 72.5% greater that for the untreated soil. Further addition of MD had a negative effect on both the shear strength and UCS. Tests showed that the addition of MD improved the BA-soil durability. The optimum blend of MD:BA:soil was 15:10:75.

Keywords:

Expansive soil, biomass ash, marble dust, durability, direct shear strength, unconfined compressive strength

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 2362-2367

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