GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF LATERITIC SOIL STABILIZED WITH CEMENT AND PULVERIZED WOOD CHARCOAL

• Main Authors: Aderinlewo, Olufikayo, Sorunke, Olayiwola, Afolayan, Abayomi, Tanimola, Moses
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Technical University of Moldova 2020-05-01
• Series: Journal of Engineering Science (Chişinău)
• Subjects: compaction; california bearing ratio; unconfined compressive strength; optimum
• Online Access: https://jes.utm.md/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/05/JES-2020-2-pp_128-134.pdf

This study investigates the geotechnical properties of lateritic soil stabilized with pulverized wood charcoal (PWC) in comparison with the same soil stabilized with cement which is considered to be the best stabilizer. Classification of the soil according to AASHTO revealed that the soil is an A-6 soil. Chemical tests carried out on PWC and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) indicated that the major oxides present in the OPC sample were CaO and SiO2 at 60.50% and 21.40% respectively and in the PWC were CaO and SiO2 at 39.46% and 28.46% respectively. This distinctly high concentration of CaO is responsible for their high stabilizing property. Compaction, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests carried out on the lateritic soil in its natural state and when PWC was added in varying proportions of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% by weight of soil indicated that the stabilizer enhanced the strength of the lateritic soil. The unsoaked CBR value of the soil attained the optimum value of 13.68% on addition of 6% PWC by weight of soil. The unconfined compressive strength improved from 148.65kN/m2 in the natural state to 296.6kN/m2 at 10% PWC addition. Based on the geotechnical properties obtained, charcoal has a high potential of being a veritable soil stabilizer and compares favourably with cement in compressive strength.