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Effect of rice husk ash on lime stabilization of soil

Article · November 2006

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J. N. Jha Kulbir S Gill


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Effect of Rice Husk Ash on Lime Stabilization of Soil

Dr J N Jha, Member
K S Gill, Non-member

The focus of the paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of using rice husk ash (RHA) as a pozzolana to
enhance the lime treatment of soil. The paper presents the influence of different mix proportions of lime
and RHA on compaction, strength properties, CBR values and durability characteristics of soil. The
results show that addition of RHA not only improves the strength development but also enhances the
durability of lime stabilized soil.

Keywords: Rice husk ash; Compaction; Unconfined compressive strength; CBR; Durability

INTRODUCTION of lime stabilization may be greatly increased. The


improved characteristics of soil, resulting from the
Many procedures have been developed to improve the
utilization materials like flyash, blast furnace slag, and
engineering behaviour of soil by incorporating a wide
rice husk ash bring about environmental and economic
range of stabilizing agents, additives and conditioners.
benefits. However, on a comparative scale, the use of rice
Most of the methods involve the use of inorganic
cementing agents. The effectiveness of such agents relies husk ash has found only limited application.
on the formation of cementing bonds between the particles Rice husk is a major agriculture byproduct obtained from
in the soil system. The most common cementing agents paddy. For every 4 t of rice, 1 t of husk is produced. The
used are cement and lime. Soil stabilization has been husk is disposed off either by dumping it in an open heap
widely recommended for the construction of various near the mill site or on the roadside to be burnt later.
elements of the pavements.1,2 The use of locally available Burning the rice husk generates about 15%-20% of its
materials will lead to lower cost. An understanding of local weight as ash. The ash being very light is easily carried
conditions is of paramount importance while developing by wind and water thus contributing to air and water
any soil stabilizing technique for a given location. pollution. The huge quantity of ash generated requires
Climatic conditions can affect the behaviour of stabilized large areas for disposal. Its effective utilization by
soil as well as the construction procedures. exploiting its inherent properties is the only way to solve
Lime, as an additive, brings several beneficial changes in the environmental and disposal problems of the ash. A
the engineering properties of soil such as decrease in soil number of researchers have studied the physical and
plasticity and shrink swell potential apart from chemical properties of rice husk ash. Rice husk ash (RHA)
improving strength characteristics. Stabilization of soil cannot be used alone for the stabilization of soil due to lack
by lime is achieved through cation exchange, flocculation of cementitious properties. The high percentage of
agglomeration, lime carbonation and pozzolanic reaction. siliceous material present in rice husk ash indicates that
Cation exchange and flocculation agglomeration reactions it has pozzolonic properties4. The normal method of
take place rapidly and bring immediate changes in soil conversion of husk to ash is by incineration. The
properties, whereas, pozzolanic reactions are time properties of rice husk ash depend on whether the husks
dependent. These pozzolanic reactions involve have undergone complete combustion or have been
interactions between soil silica and/or alumina and lime partially burnt. The rice husk ash has been classified into
to form various types of cementation products thus high carbon char, low carbon ash and carbon free ash.5
enhancing the strength. The immediate reactions modify This paper brings out the results of an experimental
the soil structure whereby larger grain aggregates are programme carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of
formed, leading to several advantages in the suitability of using RHA as a pozzolana to enhance the lime treatment
soil in road construction.3 Some materials like volcanic of soil.
ash react with the lime more effectively than the ordinary
soils. If such materials are added to the soil, the efficiency MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials Used
Dr J N Jha and K S Gill are with the Civil Engineering
Department, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, The materials used in the present study were RHA,
Ludhiana, Punjab 141 006. hydrated lime and locally available soil. The composition
This paper (modified) was received on July 7, 2006. Written along with the physical properties of the materials used is
discussion on this paper will be entertained till February 28, 2007. reported in Tables 1–4.

Vol 87, November 2006 33


Table 1 Composition of rice husk ash used Specimen Preparation
Component %
The soil collected from the site was pulverized with a
SiO2 93.2 wooden mallet to break lumps and then air-dried.
Al2O3 0.59 Subsequently it was sieved through 2.36 mm IS sieve and
Fe2O3 0.22 then dried in an oven at 105oC for 24 h. Processing of RHA
CaO 0.51
was done in the similar way as that of soil. To mix the rice
husk and lime into the soil, the required quantity of
MgO 0.41
sieved, oven dried soil was first weighed and poured into a
K 2O 2.93 mechanical mixture. Then the required quantity of lime
Loss on Ignition 1.91 (slurry form) was added to the soil in small increments
Table 2 Properties of rice husk ash used
and mixed to ensure uniform mixing. The desired
quantity of RHA was then added to the soil-lime mix. This
Property Va l u e
mixture was thoroughly mixed using a 'two bladed mortar
Specific gravity 1.95 mixing bit', powered by an electric drill. Due care was
Maximum dry density, kN/m3 taken to ensure a uniform soil-lime-RHA mixture.
(Standard Proctor compaction) 8.5 Specimens were prepared and tested as per relevant
Optimum moisture content, %
Indian Standards. In order to check the reproducibility of
the test results, tests were conducted in triplicate for a
(Standard Proctor compaction) 31.8
given soil-lime-RHA composition. The results reported are
Angle of internal friction, degrees 38 the average of three test results.
Unsoaked CBR, % 8.75
Compaction and Strength Tests
Soaked CBR, % 8.15
In the compaction tests, the soil was thoroughly mixed
Table 3 Composition of hydrated lime used
with required water contents and allowed to equilibrate
Characteristics Va l u e for 24 h prior to compaction. The dry density-moisture
Minimum assay, % 90 content relationship was determined using the standard
Chlorides, % 0.04
Proctor compaction method as per IS specifications.
Similar tests were conducted as per IS methods for
Sulphates, % 40 various soil-lime-RHA mix. Maximum dry density (MDD)
Aluminum iron and insoluble matters, % 1.0 and optimum moisture content (OMC) were determined
Arsenic, % 0.0004 for each mix. Subsequent tests for each soil-lime-RHA mix
were conducted after compacting them at optimum
Lead, % 0.004
moisture content and maximum dry density. Since
density is an important parameter which controls
Table 4 Physical properties of soil strength and compressibility, the degree of compactness
Characteristics Va l u e was measured in terms of dry density. Therefore, the
Specific gravity 2.69 specimens were prepared at their respective standard
Proctor MDD-OMC.
Particle size distribution, %
Sand 12 One of the popular methods of evaluating the effectiveness
of stabilization is the increase in the unconfined
Silt 58
compressive strength1. As a general rule, for a given type
Clay 30 of stabilization, higher the compressive strength, the
Liquid limit, % 61.2 better is the quality of the stabilized material. Each
Plastic limit, % 34.5
specimen used in unconfined compression test was
compacted at optimum moisture content and maximum
Plasticity index, % 26.7 dry density. Specimens were cured in groups of three in a
Classification of soil MH thermostatically controlled incubator set at (30 ± 2)oC
Maximum dry density, kN/m3 before being tested in compression. Curing times adopted
were 7 days, 28 days and 56 days and at least three
(Standard Proctor compaction) 16.2
specimens were tested for each case.
Optimum moisture content, %
Calfornia Bearing Ratio Tests
(Standard Proctor compaction) 24.4
Unconfined compressive strength, MPa 0.21
Composite strength-stiffness parameters are employed for
the subgrade, where the pavement section and subgrade
Unsoaked CBR, % 3.65
have to resist repetitive loads with very low deformation
Soaked CBR, % 2.40 tolerance. California bearing ratio (CBR) is more

34 IE(I) Journal-CV
commonly used to describe the composite strength- 16.5
stiffness parameters. As reported in literature,
development of strength of lime-flyash-soil mix depends on 16

Max Dry density, kN/m3


curing period, moisture content and temperature. The 15.5
higher the curing temperature, the greater will be the
strength development. The strength after 7 days curing at 15
38oC is usually considered to be the same as for 28 days 14.6
curing at 20oC and the strength after 7 days curing at
55oC is about the same as one-year strength at 20oC.6 To 14 6 % RHA
12 % RHA
evaluate the suitability of soil-lime-RHA mix in the base 18 % RHA
13.5
and subgrade courses of flexible pavements, CBR tests
were conducted as per IRC 1981. Test samples were 13
0 3 5 7
prepared at optimum moisture content and maximum dry Lime content, %
density. Curing time adopted for test samples were 7 days (a)
at 38oC, which was then soaked for 96 h. Tests were 25

%
conducted both under soaked and unsoaked conditions.

content,
Durability Tests 23

The wet-dry test was used to evaluate the durability of the


21
specimens. For these tests, specimens were prepared at
the designated density and optimum moisture content moisture
and then moist cured for a specific number of days. 19
Subsequently, specimens were air dried for 24 h at room
Optimum

6 % RHA
temperature and then completely immersed in distilled 17 12 % RHA
water for 24 h. This completed one cycle of drying and 18 % RHA
wetting. The durability indices of the specimens were 15
obtained as a ratio of the compressive strength after 12 3 5 70
wetting and drying cycles divided by the compressive Lime content, %
(b)
strength of a sample prepared simultaneously, but stored Figure 1 Variation of standard Proctor compaction
under wet conditions during the entire test period.7 characteristics of soil with lime-RHA content

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Unconfined Compressive Strength


Compaction Parameters The effect of adding RHA on the unconfined compressive
For a given RHA content in the compaction tests, addition strength of lime soil mixture after 7 days, 28 days and
56 days of curing is shown in Figure 2. A general pattern
of lime decreased the maximum dry density of the
is observed in which the strength develops rapidly with
stabilized soil but increased the optimum moisture
the addition of RHA until an optimum condition is
content [Figures 1(a) and 1(b)]. Earlier studies had also
reached, beyond which the increase in strength is either
shown that the addition of lime leads to an immediate
nominal or there is marginal decrease in strength. The
decrease in the maximum dry density of soil and an
optimum RHA content is observed to be about 12 % in all
increase in the optimum moisture content, for the same the cases. Further, it is also observed that curing period
compactive effort. The decrease in the maximum dry has marked influence on the unconfined compressive
density of the treated soil is reflective of the increased strength and for a given lime content, unconfined
resistance offered by the flocculated soil structure to the compressive strength increases with increasing curing
compactive effort.8 The increase in optimum moisture period (Figure 3). Treatment with lime improves the
content is probably a consequence of additional water held strength characteristics of soil, but addition of 12 % of
within the flocculated soil structure resulting from lime RHA further improves the strength of the lime-stabilized
interaction. This trend does not change even after the soil. For example, for 7 % lime content and 28 days curing
addition of RHA. Figure 1 clearly shows that an increase period, the strength of RHA treated sample is about 1.77
in RHA results in a decrease of maximum dry density and times that of without RHA. Figure 3 also shows that a
increase in optimum moisture content. RHA, which has a sample with 5 % lime and 6 % RHA has a strength 1.37
low specific gravity, when present in excess of the amount times that of a sample with 7 % lime and without RHA
required for reaction with the available lime, might have even after 56 days curing. This indicates that in a lime-
reduced the dry density. Increase in optimum moisture RHA-soil mixture, a lesser amount of lime is required to
content is probably due to the additional water being achieve a given strength as compared with lime-soil
absorbed by the excess RHA. mixture. The gain in strength of lime-stabilized soil is
Vol 87, November 2006 35
1.00 1.40
MPa

compressive
1.20
0.80 1.00

strength, MPa
strength,

0.80 0 % RHA
0.60 0.60 6 % RHA
12 % RHA
0.40 18 % RHA

Unconfined
compressive

0.40 0.20

3 % Lime 0.00
5 % Lime 7 28 56
0.20 Curing period, days
7 % Lime
(a) 3 % Lime
Unconfined

compressive
0.00 1.30
0 6 12 18
1.10

strength, MPa
RHA, % 0 % RHA
(a) 7 days curing 0.90 6 % RHA
1.20 12 % RHA
MPa

0.70
18 % RHA
0.50

Unconfined
1.00
strength,

0.30
7 28 56
0.80 Curing period, days
(b) 5 % Lime
compressive
compressive

0.60 1.40
3 % Lime
1.20 0 % RHA
strength, MPa

0.40 5 % Lime
7 % Lime 6 % RHA
1.00
12 % RHA
0.20 0.80 18 % RHA
Unconfined

Unconfined

0.60
0.00
0.40
0 6 12 18 7 28 56
RHA, %
Curing period, days
(b) 28 days curing
(c) 7 % Lime
MPa

1.40
Figure 3 Variation of UCS of lime-RHA-soil mix with
1.20 curing period
strength,

value does not lead to strength development. The reason


1.00 may be attributed to the insufficient availability of lime
for pozzolanic reaction as well as the low strength
0.80 exhibited by RHA (untreated) alone.
compressive

0.60
Since RHA is much cheaper than lime, its addition to
3 % Lime lime-soil mix can result in cost reduction of construction
5 % Lime in addition to solving its disposal problem. In tropical
0.40
7 % Lime
countries where rice husks are abundant and considered
0.20 as waste material, use of RHA in the construction of
Unconfined

roads, airfields and other earthworks may particularly


0.00 become attractive, because of reduced construction costs
0 6
12 18 and conservation of high grade construction materials.
RHA, %
(c) 56 days curing Figure 3 shows the variation of unconfined compressive
Figure 2 Variation of unconfined compressive strength strength with curing period. It can be seen that the
of soil with lime-RHA content addition of RHA produces not only a higher strength but
primarily a result of pozzolanic reactions between silica also higher rate of initial strength development. A 12%
and/or alumina from the soil and lime to form various RHA content (optimum) produced the best results. It can
types of cementation products. By introducing RHA to the also be observed from Figure 3 that for all cases, the rate
soil, additional amount of silica are available for reaction of strength increase reduced at the later stage. Earlier
with lime resulting in further increase of strength. research also indicated that for lime stabilized soil, the
Presence of RHA in the soil lime mix beyond the optimum strength increases rapidly initially, notably during the
36 IE(I) Journal-CV
first seven days of curing, followed by a reduced and more conditions. It can be observed that addition of lime
or less constant rate for about 15 weeks9. This supports increases the CBR value considerably, which increases
the view that cementitious products are formed at an further under soaked condition. Literature indicates that
early stage, ie, as soon as flocculation is completed due to CBR value of soil under soaked condition increased
lime-clay reaction.10 It was also reported that the significantly after the addition of lime12 since the
increase in strength tailed off within one or two years and cementatious reaction can take place in an aqueous
that no changes took place, even in active clays, after 7 medium. Addition of RHA further enhanced the CBR
years.11 The dependence of strength development on value. The increase in CBR value with the addition of lime
curing period provides a considerable factor of safety for is due to the formation of various cementatious products
design based on 7 days, 28 days or 56 days strength. due to pozzolanic reaction between silica present in soil
and lime. When RHA is added,, additional amount of silica
Effect of Temperature
becomes available for reaction with lime, which further
To study the influence of curing temperature on increased the CBR value. Therefore, the efficiency of lime
unconfined strength, mixtures containing 5 % and 7 % stabilization may be greatly increased by the addition of
lime were moist cured in an oven for 28 days where forced RHA. For all the three lime contents considered in the
air circulation was maintained at 60oC. Results of study, an addition of 12 % RHA was found to be optimum
unconfined compression test of lime-soil-RHA mix cured 24
at 60oC with 5 % and 7 % lime are shown in Figure 4. The
figure clearly reveals that 5% lime gives more strength 22
than 7% lime. The maximum improvement occurs when 20
6% RHA is present in the soil, whereas 12% RHA was the
18
optimum quantity when the specimens were cured at CBR, %
30oC [Figure 2(b)]. Comparing Figures 2(b) and 4, it can 16 Unsoaked
be concluded that the rate of strength gain is higher if 14 Soaked
samples are cured at higher temperatures. Gain in
12
strength was more than 100% for the samples cured at
60oC if compared with the samples cured at 30oC 10
(Figure 2b). Earlier studies of lime treatment on soil had 0 6 12 18
RHA, %
also indicated that higher temperatures accelerated (a) 3 % Lime
curing, with improvement in strength. Many other
37
researchers subsequently confirmed this. It is interesting
to note that the increase in temperature results not only 35
in development of higher strength of lime treated soil, but
CBR, %

also enhancement of strength development when RHA is 33


added. Temperature and humidity are relatively high in 31
tropical countries therefore the use of rice husk ash for Unsoaked
29 Soaked
soil stabilization is well suited to these regions.
California Bearing Ratio 27

Figur 5 shows the variation of CBR with RHA content at a 25


given lime content both for unsoaked and soaked 0 6 12 18
RHA, %
1.70 28 Days Curing (b) 5 % Lime
30

28
1.50
26
UCS, MPa

CBR, %

24
1.30
Unsoaked
22 Soaked
5 % Lime
1.10 7 % Lime
20

18
0.90 0 6 12 18
RHA, %
0 6 12 18 (c) 7 % Lime
RHA, %
Figure 4 Variation of UCS of lime-RHA-soil mix cured at Figure 5 Variation of CBR of lime-RHA-soil mix with
60oC with RHA content RHA content

Vol 87, November 2006 37


for maximum improvement in CBR. Similar reported a loss of over 50% due to saturation for lime-
improvements in CBR values were reported in Indonesia stabilized soil. Durability index determined after 4 cycles
also when RHA and lime were added to soil.13 Sridharan, and 8 cycles here showed that there was a substantial
et al 14 reported that even the addition of a material like reduction in the strength of specimens after first cycle but
mooram improves the CBR value considerably. A it regained the strength during the subsequent cycles.
considerable increase in CBR value was reported when The reason for reduction in strength may be due to a
lime was added to flyash-soil mix.15 The tests conducted combination of many factors during the wet-dry cycles
at IIT Delhi using lime and flyash to stabilize silt show and the gain in strength subsequently is due to curing
effects. Thomson19 also reported that the ratio of soaked
considerable improvement in CBR values.16
and unsoaked strength were approximately in the range
Durability of 0.7-0.85, when the lime stabilized soil was subjected to
prolonged exposure to water.
A stabilized soil should have the ability to retain its
strength under in-situ conditions, ie, stable under In general, the addition of RHA produces not only stronger
changes in environmental condition also. The but also durable samples compared to those treated with
determination of the durability of a stabilized soil is a lime only. This implies that the maintenance costs for
problem because of the difficulty to simulate field roads, airfields etc will be reduced considerably.
conditions in the laboratory. Many test procedures have CONCLUSIONS
been developed for this purpose, eg, heating and cooling, Even though the addition of lime and RHA to soil
freezing and thawing, wetting and drying. For tropical increases the optimum moisture content and reduces the
regions only the last two are relevant. The results of maximum dry density, it enhances the development of
durability test after 12 cycles of wetting and drying are unconfined compressive strength of soil. Curing period
presented in Table 5. The results indicate a reduction in and temperature have a significant effect on development
unconfined compressive strength of the specimens of unconfined compressive strength, when RHA is added
subjected to wetting and drying. The period adopted for to lime-stabilized soil. With the increase in curing time
moist curing was 28 days for the determination of and temperature, the rate of strength increase is
durability index in the present investigation. It can also intensified by the addition of RHA. Durability of lime-
be observed from the Table that the average strength stabilized soil is enhanced by the addition of RHA.
retention lies in the range of 59% to 69% of the original Addition of RHA increases the CBR value considerably for
both soaked and unsoaked conditions.
strength of specimen after 12 cycles of wetting and drying
containing RHA and moist cured for 28 days. The sample REFERENCES
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Vol 87, November 2006 39

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