International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

STRENGTH IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL USING FLY ASH

AND LIME
C. Zonunsiama1 and A. Kalita2
1
Under graduate student, NERIST, Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh, India
E Mail: siamteayureka@gmail.com
2
Assistant Professor, NERIST, Arunachal Pradesh, India
E Mail: ajanta.pari@gmail.com

Abstract :
This research work insights on the evaluation of behaviour of red soil stabilised with fly ash and lime and their suitability for being
used in sub-grade layers. In order to achieve these, the following tests were carried out: Sieve analysis, Atterbergs limit tests, Compaction test,
unconfined compressive strength test and California Bearing Ratio test. The fly ash is utilized in the local construction industry in a way to
minimise the amount of waste to be disposed to the environment causing environmental pollution. The test result reveals that the optimum
content of admixture for achieving maximum strength is approximately 35% fly ash mixed with 4% lime by mass of the soil which is followed
by 20% fly ash and 4% lime and both can be considered for the designing of sub-base layer.

KEYWORDS- Red soil, fly ash, lime, UCS, CBR

1. INTRODUCTION
Some waste materials such Fly Ash may be used to stabilize soil. Addition of such materials will increase the physical as well as chemical
properties of the soil. A soil mass consists of solid particles which form a porous structure. The quality and life of pavement is greatly affected
by the type of sub grade, sub base and base course materials. The most important of these are type and quality of sub grade soil. But in India
most of flexible pavements are used to be constructed over weak and problematic sub grade. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of these sub
grade havevery low, it needs more thickness of pavement. So, we should do stabilize of soil. The OMC, CBR increased with an increase in Lime
percentage but liquid limit, Plastic limit, MDD of soil decreased with increase in Lime percentage. The liquid limit, plastic limit and MMD of
the soil decreased and the OMC, CBR increased with an increase on Fly Ash content.

Athanasopoulou (2014) has presented a paper on Addition of Lime and Fly Ash to Improve Highway Subgrade Soil. He has found out that the
addition of fly ash and lime reduces the plasticity index of the soil and reduces the MDD and increase the OMC. A remarkable improvement of
CBR is brought about by the admixture, lime.Dixit et.al (2016) has studied the effect of fly ash on geotechnical properties of soil and found out
that the addition of fly ash reduces the MDD and increases the OMC of the soil. They also concluded that the CBR of the soil also increases with
increasing fly ash content up to 30%.

Sahoo et.al (2010) also has studied the strength characteristics of fly ash mixed with lime stabilized soil and found out that the maximum
strength of the soil is attained when the soil is mixed with 15% of fly ash and 4% of lime, further increase in the admixtures results in the
decrease in the strength of the soil.

Kaur and Singh (2012), in their study of soil improvement with lime, concluded that lime alone decreases the MDD of the soil and increases the
OMC of the soil. The compressive strength of the soil also increased due to the activity of lime. But the presence of lime in excess results in
decreasing of the strength.

2. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAME
2.1. Materials

The soil sample used for the laboratory experiments was collected from the RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITY, Doimukh, and Arunachal.The soil
was being excavated with a spade at the time of collection in plastic bags and then manually transported to the laboratory. The soil is classified
as poorly graded sandy soil (SP)according to the IS soil classification. The fly ash used can be classified as class-F fly ash, collected from Iron
smelting industry located in Banderdewa, Assam. The lime used for the experimental program is from local shops, cheap and easily available.

Table 1. Properties of soil

PROPERTY VALUE
Liquid limit (%) 22.41%
Plastic limit (%) 15.86%
Plasticity index (%) 6.55%
Specific gravity 2.37
Fine sand fraction (0.06 mm - 0.2 mm) 38.50%
Medium sand fraction (0.2 mm - 0.6 mm) 21.20%
Silt size fraction (0.002mm - 0.06 mm) 32.60%
Clay size fraction (< 0.002 mm) 7.70%

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455
2.2. Preparation of specimens

Samples were made by replacing the soil sample with fly ash alone and then with the combination of fly ash and lime by percentages by mass
and then used for the laboratory experiments.

Table 2. Composition of various mixes

Red soil Fly ash Red soil + Fly ash Red soil + Fly ash + Lime

100%RS 100%FA 80%RS+20%FA RS + 20%FA + 2%L

65%RS+35%FA RS + 35%FA + 2%L
50%RS+50%FA RS + 50%FA + 2%L

RS + 20%FA + 4%L
RS + 35%FA + 4%L
RS + 50%FA + 4%L

3. COMPACTION TEST
The standard proctor compaction test is carried out on different mixtures soil, fly ash and lime to determine their respective OMC and MDD.
The variations of optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD) with different percentages of fly ash contents are shown
in figure1. The maximum dry unit weight decreases with increase in the Fly ash content; it is shown in the figure 2. While figure 3 indicates that
the optimum moisture content increases with increase in Fly Ash content.

On the addition of fly ash to the soil, there is a partial replacement of the soil by fly ash. As the fly ash has a lower specific gravity, it results in
lowering of the maximum dry unit weight of the mixture. This decrease in the unit weight can also be attributed to the fly ash particles filling the
voids between the particles of the soil. On mixing the soil with fly ash, the small fly ash particles act as a coating material of the soil and
increase the particle size, which in turn increases the size of the voids between the particles.

17
16
Dry Unit Weight (kN/m3)

15 RS
14 RS + 20%FA
13
RS + 35%FA
12
RS + 50%FA
11
0 10 20 30 40 FA

Water Content(%)

Figure 1. Compaction curves of various Soil - Fly Ash mixes

MDD vs FA Content
17
16
MDD (kN/m3)

15
14
13 MDD vs FA
12
11
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
FA ( % )

Figure 2. Variation of MDD with Fly Ash content

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455
From figure 3,it can be seen that, the increase in OMC is due to the addition of Fly Ash. In other words, with increase in the Fly Ash content the
OMC value increases, this implies that more water is required in order to compact the soil and Fly Ash mixtures. The increasing in the OMC of
the soil fly ash mixture is due the addition of fly ash, which decreases the quantity of free silt and clay fraction and coarser materials with
larger surface areas are formed.

OMC vs FA Content
35

30

25
OMC(%)

omc vs fa
20

15

10
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
FA(%)

Figure 3. Variation of OMC with Fly Ash content

The addition of fly ash and lime to the soil causes considerable changes in the compaction characteristics of the soil. The magnitudes of change
in MDD and OMC of all the mixes are greater with 2% of lime addition than 4% lime addition. This is due to the reduced demand for lime for
short-term modification of the mixes.

16.2
MDD vs FA
16
15.8
15.6
MDD (kN/m3)

15.4 Without Lime

15.2
With 2%Lime
15
With 4%Lime
14.8
14.6
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
FA(%)
Figure 4. Variation of MDD and Fly ash content with different lime contents
OMC vs FA
29
27
25
OMC(%)

23
21 Without Lime

19 With 2%Lime
17 With 4%Lime
15
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
FA(%)
Figure 5. Variation of OMC and Fly ash content with different lime contents

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

4. UNCONFIMED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST

The unconfined compression test is by far the most popular method of soil shear testing. To perform an unconfined compression test, the
samples were made as per table 2 and were extruded from the sampling tube and then each sample is tested after 0 day, 7 days, 14 days and 28
days of curing. For all specimens, strain was applied at the rate of 1.25mm per min and the failure stress and its corresponding strain were noted.
The average peak stress of three specimens was taken as the unconfined compressive strength. Figure 6 reflects the variation of UCS of various
samples with curing period. It can be noted that the compressive strength after 28 days of curing period is the highest for all samples. In other
words, UCS is proportional to the curing period.

450
400
350
300 RS
UCS(kPa)

250 RS+20%FA

200 RS+35%FA
RS+50%FA
150
FA
100
50
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Curing Period (Days)
Figure 6. Variation of average UCS of RS-FA mixes with curing period.

The unconfined Compressive Strength Test was performed following the same procedure, adding 2% and 4% of lime by weight of the soil to
each of the mixes. The influence of lime in enhancing the strength of the soil is very much noticeable event at a very low percentage. The
following Figures-7, 8, 9 and 10 reflects the influence of the action of different percentage lime after 0 day, 7 days, 14 days and 28 days of
curing respectively. Due to the setting property of lime, it helps the fly ash contents to set completely and hence giving more strength and
durabily to the soil.

Figures 11 and 12 depicts that the UCS is proportional to the curing period for soil-fly ash-lime mixtures as in that of soil-fly ash mixtures. It can
be seen that addition of lime up to 4% substantially increased the strength of the soil. On the other hand, the addition of fly ash beyond 35%
results in the decrease of UCS. For all curing periods, the mixture of RS+35%FA+4%L remains the highest.

0 Day Curing
120

100

80
UCS(kPa)

60 0%L

40 2%L
4%L
20

0
10 20 30 40 50 60
FA content(%)
Figure 7. Variation of average UCS of RS-FA mixes with Lime content ( 0 day curing)

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455
7 Days Curing
350

300

250

UCS(kPa)
200 0%L

150 2%L
4%L
100

50

0
10 20 30 40 50 60
FA content(%)
Figure 8. Variation of average UCS of RS-FA mixes with Lime content ( 7 days curing)

14 Days Curing
400
350
300
250
UCS(kPa)

200 0%L
150 2%L
100
50
0
10 20 30 40 50 60
FA content(%)
Figure 9. Variation of average UCS of RS-FA mixes with Lime content ( 14 days curing)

28 Days Curing
600

500

400
UCS(kPa)

300 0%L

2%L
200

4%L
100

0
10 20 30 40 50 60
FA content(%)
Figure 10. Variation of average UCS of RS-FA mixes with Lime content ( 28 days curing)

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

300

250

200 RS+20%FA+2%L

UCS(kPa)
150 RS+35%FA+2%L
100
RS+50%FA+2%L
50

0
0 10 20 30
Curing period ( Days)
Figure 11. Variation of average UCS of RS-FA- 2%L mixes with curing period
600

500

400 RS+20%FA+4%
UCS(kg/cm2)

300 RS+35%FA+4%L
200
RS+50%FA+4%L
100

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Curing period ( Days)
Figure 12. Variation of average UCS of RS-FA- 4%L mixes with curing period

5. CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO TEST

The California bearing ratio test is penetration test meant for the evaluation of subgrade strength of roads and pavements. The results obtained by
these tests are used with the empirical curves to determine the thickness of pavement and its component layers. This is the most widely used
method for the design of flexible pavement.Three different tests were conducted. In the first test, the CBR characteristics of the red soil were
studied. In the second test, to study the improvement of soil, CBR test were conducted on both soil-fly ash mixes. In the third test, tests were
carried out after the addition of lime to the soil-fly ash mixes. The CBR tests were carried out on all specimens of the mixes under both soaked
and unsoaked conditions. As it can be observed from figures 13 and 14, the addition of small percentage of lime gives significant improvement
in the soaked CBR value. Minimum soaked CBR values of 6% and 20% are necessary for subgrade and sub base respectively. So, the samples
having CBR value higher than 6% and 20%, like RS + 35%FA + 4%L can be used for the improvement of subgrade and sub base layer
respectively.

Soaked CBR
50

40

30
CBR (%)

0% Lime
20 2% Lime
4% Lime
10

0
10 20 30 40 50 60
FA Content (%)
Figure 13. Soaked CBR values of all RS-fly ash-lime mixes

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

Unsoaked CBR
29
27
25

CBR (%)
23 0% Lime
21 2% Lime

19 4% Lime

17
15
10 20 30 40 50 60
FA Content (%)
Figure 14. Unsoaked CBR values of all RS-fly ash-lime mixes

Under soaked conditions the CBR value is highest for RS+35%FA+4%L, the CBR value increases from 12.26% at 0% lime to 45.64 at 4% lime.
A minimum CBR value of 6% and 20% are recommended for the use in the subgrade and sub-base layer of strong and durable road pavements.
When the lime is added to the red soil and FA mixes, the CBR value are much higher than 6%. So, the samples having CBR values more than
6% can effectively be used for the design of subgrade layer. Also, CBR value which is more than 20% like RS+35%+4%L can be used for the
design of sub base layer.

6. CONCLUSIONS
i. The MDD of the soil-fly ash mixes does not get significantly altered up to 20% replacement of soil with fly ash. With further addition
of fly ash, the MDD decreases. The MDD of the fly ash is 12.45 kN/m3, which is much lower than that of the soil (16.18 kN/m3). On
the other hand, The OMC of the soil-fly ash mixes without lime gradually increases with higher fly ash content.
ii. The MDD and OMC of the soil are significantly affected by the addition of lime and fly ash. For a given proportion of fly ash, the
OMC increases with the increase in the amount of lime.
iii. The unconfined compressive strength of the fly ash stabilised soil was found to increase with increase in curing period. And the same
was observed when it is stabilized with fly ash and lime. After 28 days of curing, red soil mixed with 35% of fly ash and 4% lime by
weight gives the highest compressive strength.
iv. When lime is added to the soil-fly ash mixture, there is significant improvement in its compression characteristics. The effect of fly
ash is not much considerable. However, lime aids the pozzolanic activity of fly ash.
v. The soaked CBR value is observed to have increased with lime and fly ash content. The addition of small percentage of lime gives
significant improvement in the soaked CBR value. The hydration products contribute to the development of strength. With 4% lime
added both the red soil fly ash mixes with 35% fly ash content can be considered for sub base layer.

REFERENCES
1. Athanasopoulou,, 2014. Addition of Lime and Fly Ash to Improve Highway Subgrade Soil. Journal of materials in civil engineering.
26(4): 773-775
2. Dixit, A., Nigam M., and Mishra R., 2016. Effect of fly ash on geotechnical properties of soil. International Journal of Engineering
Technologies and Management Research. 3(5), 7-14.
3. J.A. Ige and S.O. Ajamu, 2015. Unconfined compressive test of a fly ash stabilized sandy soil. International Journal of Latest Research
in Engineering and Technology (IJLRET), 1(3), 1-11.
4. Kaur, P. and G., Singh, 2012. Soil improvement with lime. IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSRJMCE), ISSN :
2278-1684 Volume 1, 51-53.
5. Sahoo, J.P., Sahoo, S., Yadav and V., Kumar, 2010. Strength Characteristics of Fly Ash Mixed With Lime Stabilized Soil. Indian
Geotechnical Conference, GEOtrendz, December 1618, 2010, IGS Mumbai Chapter & IIT Bombay.

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