Effectiveness Of The Treatment Of Fine-Grained Lateritic Soil Using Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (Scba) For Use In Modern Day Construction

ABSTRACT

Sugarcane as an agricultural product is a readily available source of food for its sugar content. However, Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) is the bi- product formed at sugar industries from the burning of sugarcane after the sugar content has been extracted. Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) is a fibrous waste product containing mainly aluminum and silica, calcium ions to produce calcium aluminate hydrate (CAH) and calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) shown in the pozzolanic reaction below.

Ca2+ + 2(OH)- + Al2O3 (clay alumina > CAH

Ca2+ + 2(OH)- + SiO3 (clay silica)) > CSH

Over the years, sugarcane has posed adverse hazardous environmental impacts due to the poor disposal methods. From research, sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) has been found to improve the stability and overall suitability of any type of soil for engineering (construction) purposes amongst other uses.

During my project, 1%, 2%, and 3% sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) was mixed with equivalent proportions by weight of dry laterite soil.

Results:

a. The liquid limit (LL) increased from 35% to 46% and gradually decreased to 41% with increase in sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) content.

b. The plastic limit (PL) increased from 22.5% to 28.3% and gradually increased to 32.9%.

c. The plastic index (PI) increased from 12.5% to 17.7% and gradually decreased to 8.1 with increase in sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) content.

d. The shear strength increased gradually I.e. C= 17KN/m2 @ 20o showing a relatively increased cohesion as angle reduced.

e. Moisture content remained relatively same between (17.5 - 19.2) % as dry density reduced from 1.738g/cm3 to 1.702g/cm3

The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values increased gradually from 20.11% to 26.06%. Addition of increased SCBA content is however necessary to attain minimum CBR standard of 30%. (BS 1990).

KEYWORDS: Sugarcane, Sugarcane Bagasse, Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA), Agricultural Waste, Stabilization, Treatment, Atterberg Limits ((Plastic (PL) & Liquid (LL) Limits) & Plastic Index (PI)), Shear Stress, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Compaction, Fine-Grained Soil, Particle Size Distribution.