ANALYSIS OF CLAYEY SOIL IMPROVEMENT AS SUBGRADE USING SAWDUST ASH AND RICE HUSK ASH

Black cotton soil’s poor engineering qualities can lead to instability and the collapse of anything erected upon it. As a result, it is crucial to improve its qualities. The goal of the current study is to examine the impact of combining rice husk and sawdust ash on the engineering characteristics of black cotton soil. In contrast to sawdust ash, which was added to all mixed samples at 10% by weight of soil, rice husk ash was added to the soil in various percentages of 10, 15 and 20% by weight of black cotton soil. Laboratory tests such Atterberg’s Limits, Specific Gravity, Particle Size Distribution, Standard Proctor test, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) were carried out to examine the engineering qualities of the soil and its mixtures. The results showed that the engineering qualities of black cotton soil were significantly enhanced by the addition of 20% rice husk and 10% sawdust ash. As a result, sawdust and rice husk ash may act as soil stabilizing agents, making black cotton soil a better choice for building foundations. All testing were carried out in accordance with Indian standards regulations. It was observed that using industrial wastes, such as sawdust ash, to stabilize the soil for different building purposes is an option. However, this study clearly demonstrates that when an activator, such as RHA, is added to the sawdust ash, the stabilization of the soil is significantly Enhanced. The results are really positive.