Geotechnical Properties Of Clay Soil Treated With Fly Ash

Construction sites with undesirable soil-bearing capacities are one of the most common problems for civil engineers, specifically, project areas including those which were susceptible to liquefaction and those covered with clay soils. Clay soil is unstable and can't withstand heavy loads resulting in construction failure. However, in most geotechnical projects, ground modification is required to meet the design specifications in construction sites. This study investigated the suitability of the local fly ash as a soil stabilizer to improve the soil properties of clay soil and to minimize the amount of waste to be disposed of in the environment. Several civil engineering laboratory tests were conducted to study the effects of fly ash on the improvement of the geotechnical properties of clay soil. Soil samples were mixed with 10%, 15%, and 20% of fly ash. Each percent mixture has three (3) specimens and was cured for 7, 14, and 28 days. The test results indicate an improved strength and better properties of clay soil when being mixed with fly ash. The tests conducted in this research were by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards of soil testing. The soil samples were taken at Brgy. Tinagacan, General Santos City, and fly ash were obtained in Sarangani Power at Maasim.