The Engineering Analysis and Composition of Rice Husk Ash, Powdered Glass, and Cement as Stabilizers

Abstract

The stabilizing effects of three different compounds rice husk ash, glass powder, and cement on the properties of lateritic soil are contrasted in this study. First, the basic properties of the lateritic soil were ascertained by testing for color, moisture content, specific gravity, particle size distribution, and Atterberg limits. Then, by weight of the soil, varying amounts of each stabilizing agent were added to the lateritic soil: 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15%. Compaction tests and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests on the sample mixtures were then used to evaluate the effects of the components on the lateritic soil. To determine the samples' % oxide concentration, chemical tests were also performed on them. The results of the compaction test showed that the three mixed samples with the highest maximum dry densities (MDD) were 2.32 g/cm3 (at a 2.5% cement addition), 2.28 g/cm3, and 2.18 g/cm3 (at a 5% addition of rice husk ash), with corresponding optimum moisture contents (OMC) of 10.06%, 14.3%, and 12.31%, respectively. Cement and glass powder provided the highest values and closely resembled one another in dry conditions, according to the CBR trials, which showed that the CBR values rose in every case when more materials were added. The cement, powdered glass, and rice husk ash, respectively, included sizeable amounts of CaO (53.60%), SiO2 (68.45%), and SiO2 (89.84%) oxides, per the chemical analysis.