Optimization of RHA and Cement proportion for soil stabilization

Abstract

The process of changing a soil’s physical characteristics to provide it long-term, permanent improvements in strength is known as soil stabilisation. Increasing a soil’s overall bearing capacity and shear strength is how stabilisation is achieved. After stabilisation, a solid monolith forms, reducing permeability and hence the possibility for shrinkage and swelling as well as the damaging impacts of freeze-thaw cycles. The goal of this study is to improve the physical characteristics of soils for better building results by investigating the potential of cement and rice husk ash (RHA) as soil stabilizing materials. Using RHA, a byproduct of milling rice, this study investigates alternate, environmentally friendly stabilization techniques with respect to the limits of traditional cement-based stabilization. The study assesses the impacts of different RHA and cement mixtures on soil’s Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index using a thorough experimental approach. The factorial experiment provides important insights into changes in soil plasticity over a 3x3 matrix under nine distinct settings. The results show that while larger RHA percentages considerably lower the Plasticity Index, indicating improved soil stability, increasing cement concentration generally rises the Liquid and Plastic Limits. The satisfactory combination, determined to be 15% RHA and 8% cement, presents a possible path closer to producing soil that is less plastic and more durable. This obseravtion helps to broaden sustainable, low-cost techniques of stabilizing soil at the same time as also shedding light on the synergistic impacts of cement and RHA on soil parameters.