COW DUNG ASH ON ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF LATERITIC SOIL FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN NIGERIA
Keywords:
Cow dung ash, lateritic soil, soil stabilization, geotechnical properties, Califonial bearing ratio, Un confined Compressive strength, and eco-friendly stabilizerAbstract
The environmental impact and high cost of conventional stabilizers like cement and lime, coupled with the low strength and bearing capacity of lateritic soils that have been utilized in road construction, put focus on eco-friendly alternatives in the form of cow dung ash (CDA). The effects of CDA on the engineering properties of lateritic soil at the Ado Ekiti–Ikare Akoko axis with depth ranges of 1.2–1.5 m were investigated in this study. Tests conducted as per BS 1377 (1990) included moisture content, grain size analysis, Atterberg limits, compaction, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and triaxial shear strength. Oxide analysis confirmed CDA to be a pozzolanic material. Stabilization tests at the 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% CDA proportions fixed the optimal percentage of additive. The Plasticity Index (PI) ranged from 4.60% to 19.11%, and most were silty or clayey gravel sand and silty soils. Addition of CDA reduced PI, improving workability, and improved maximum dry density, CBR, UCS, and shear strength, with best performance at 4% CDA. These gains met requirements for the sub-base course, testifying to the effectiveness of CDA as a stabilizer. The study reveals that agricultural waste such as cow dung can be used as a sustainable soil stabilizer with environmental and engineering benefits for road construction.References
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