Kaolin Stabilization of Olokoro Lateritic Soil Using Bone Ash as Admixture

Abstract

This study focused on the stabilizing potential of kaolin using bone ash as an admixture on the stabilization of Olokoro lateritic soil. Kaoline which is a deposite by the river bank was sourced from Agbaghara in Imo State, Nigeria and the bones from an abattoir in afo-ogbe, Mbaise also in Imo State. The Kaoline was grinded into powder and the bones burnt in open air using animal fat as fuel. The residue was fed into furnace at about 1000˚C, allowed to cool, milled and sieved with sieve of aperture 75µm to obtain bone ash before use. The following engineering confirmatory tests were carried out on the samples: Chemical Composition of Bone Ash, Sieve Analysis, Attergberg Limit, Compaction Test, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Specific Gravity and Undrained Triaxial Test. The kaolin was at a fixed proportion of 10% while the bone ash was added in the proportions of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% for Attergberg Limit Test, Compaction Test, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Test and Undrained Triaxial Test. The chemical composition test provided the chemical elements existing in the samples and shows that for bone ash it contains more calcium than can be accounted for on the basis of carbonate and phosphate. The soil sample was classified according to AASHTO soil classification system from the results obtained from Sieve Analysis and Alterberg Tests as A-7-5. The soil type is clayey soil with Plastic Limit of 26.9 and Liquid Limit of 60.0 and Plasticity Index of 33.1. Which is not good for construction purposes, hence the need for stabilization arises. From the compaction test carried out it was found that the addition of bone ash to the soil at different percentages reduced the optimum moisture (OMC) content and increased the maximum dry density (MDD). The CBR result showed that at 10% Kaolin content, addition of bone ash up to 8% increased the CBR and further increase to 10% Bone Ash decreased CBR. It improved from 29.7% at 0% of both Kaolin and Bone Ash to 80.3% a t 8% Bone Ash and 10% Kaolin. This value is acceptable for base course materials according to general specifications for road, foundation and bridges by Federal Ministry of Works, Lands and Transport. The Specific Gravity Test showed 2.63 which fell within given value for clay minerals. The Triaxial test shows that at the 8% BA and 10% Kaolin the cohesion improved

Effect of Electric Arc Furnace Slag on the Engineering Properties of Lateritic Soil

“…Lateritic soils which are products of intense weathering have wider applications in the Nigerian road construction projects and in tropical parts of the world, lateritic soils are used as a road making material and they form the subgrade of most tropical roads. Onyelowe, (2016), [4]. They are used as sub-base and bases for low-cost roads and these carry low to medium traffic.…”

“…They are used as sub-base and bases for low-cost roads and these carry low to medium traffic. Furthermore, in rural areas of Nigeria, they are used as building material for molding of blocks and plastering Onyelowe, (2016), [4]. Lateritic soils contribute to the general economy of the tropical and subtropical regions where they are in abundance because, they are widely utilized in civil engineering works as construction materials for roads, houses, landfill for foundations, embankment and dams Aginam et al, (2014), [5].…”