Soil Mechanics 2016

FINAL EXPERIMENT
TITLE: “Soil Stability using Corn Husk and Aglime”
Objectives:
This study generally aims to analyze the ability of corn husk and aglime to stabilize the
soil:
 •To determine the physical properties of the soil used from Marilao, Bulacan.
 •To determine the percentage of corn husk and aglime that will give a maximum
compressive strength.
 •To determine the compressive strength of soil mixed with partial pulverized corn husk
and aglime.
 •To emphasize the significance of corn husk and aglime as a stabilizer to help improve
the strength of the soil.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:

 Recognize the concept of Atterberg limits and how it influences the behavior of the soil.
 Familiarized with materials and instruments used in experiment.
 Have detailed knowledge about compressive strength in soil.

Discussion:

Abstract:

Soil is the basic foundation for any Civil engineering structures. It is required to bear
the loads without failure. In some places, soil may be weak which cannot resist the
oncoming loads. In such cases, soil stabilization is needed. Hence, the Philippines is rich
with agricultural product which are rice, sugarcane and corn. Corn husk is rich with fibers
that can help to stabilize the soil. Also, with the help Aglime. Aglime is a soil stabilizer made
from crushed limestone or chalk. The primary active component of the Aglime is calcium
carbonate that has a good effect in stabilizing a soil. We’re decided to mix these two
materials to determine if there’s some any reaction occurs to the soil. Soil reinforcement is
defined as a technique to improve the stability of a soil. A stable soil is necessary for a
stable and strong infrastructure, roads, etc. Soil is where most of the structures are

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anchored, thus making it very important. Through the years, a lot of researchers have been
studying on how to economically and inexpensively improve stability of soil. Fortunately,
corn husk and aglime, which serves a detrimental factor to us, is found out to be a good
admixture for soil. Through this study, not only developing of soil stability using corn husk
and aglime are emphasized, but also conversion of two organic waste as a nuance to
something useful is highlighted. This technique of soil stabilization can be effectively used to
meet the challenges of society, to reduce the quantities of waste and producing useful
material from non-useful waste materials.

CHAPTER I

The Problem and its Background

Introduction:

In building a construction, the foundation is very important and has to be strong to

support the entire structure. In order to obtain a strong foundation, the soil surrounding it
plays an important role. So, to work well in the field of soils, we need to have appropriate
information about their properties and factors which can affect its performance. Improving
an on-site soil’s engineering properties is known as soil stabilization.

Soil stabilization is required when the soil available for construction is not suitable for
the intended purpose. It includes compaction, reconsolidation, drainage and many other
such processes. Stabilization can increase the shear strength of a soil and/or control the
shrink-swell properties of a soil, thus improving the load bearing capacity of a sub-grade to
support pavements and foundations.

In a present time, there has been a high demand for infrastructure, raw materials and
fuel, soil stabilization has started to take a new shape. With accessibility to a better
research, resources and apparatus, the researches use different stabilizing agent in soil
stabilizing. Here, in our study, soil stabilization has been done with the help of easy to

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access corn husk that we can get from waste in corn industry and Aglime obtained from
limestone in mining industry.

In this study, we will explore the possible effect of combining dried corn husk and Aglime
into the soil. This will cite the difference of ordinary soil in comparison to its counterpart which
applies dried corn husk and aglime particles as an admixture of soil stabilization.

Statement of the Problem:

In this study, different test would be performed to know if pulverized corn husk and
aglime can fit greatly as a stabilizer. Will the pulverized corn husk and aglime be able to help in
stabilization of soil?

The following questions would be answered according from the data and results of the
tests:

1.What is the comparative compressive strength of soil sample cylinder compared to

soil sample cylinder with pulverized corn husk with aglime?

2.What mixture (0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25%) would give a significant increase in the
compressive strength?

3.How this corn husk and aglime will affect the stability of soil?

Significance of the Study:

This study will give a low cost of structure in an allowable strength of loadings:

 Economy – it will benefit the economy, by using Corn Husk and aglime as a stabilizer.
Cheap, easy to find and organic.

 Profession – this study will help civil engineering profession advancement by utilizing
new products to be adopted as engineering materials.

 Research – to access a new material and gain additional knowledge in the field of
engineering materials and soil mechanics

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 Society – it will serve as an informative study that will help in continuing search for
new products in engineering materials and eventually in the field of civil engineering.

Theoretical Framework

The designed soil specimen has 4 simple input: Pulverized Corn Husk and Aglime,
Water and the soil sample retrieved from Marilao, Bulacan. The soil sample was sieved at No.4
and the Corn Husk and Aglime was grinded into small bits. The input is then mixed and molded
according to standard and the finished product will then be tested to determine the
compressive strength of soil which will be compared to the properties of soil without the
admixture of subjected materials.

Conceptual Framework:

INPUT
PROCESS OUTPUT

NATURAL (CLAY)
Test results of
SOIL OF MARILAO DRYING OF CORN the soil by its
BULACAN HUSK compressive
CORN HUSK PULVERIZING
AGLIME MIXING capability and
WATER COMPRESSIVE TEST impact-
resistance.

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FLOW CHART OF THE STUDY

CHAPTER II

Review of Related Literature

A study was conducted to investigate the potential of corn husk ash as an enhancer for
the production of soil blocks for low cost housing. Five different levels of stabilization (0%, 5%,
10%, 15% and 20%) using corn husk ash were adopted for this study. In general, there was a

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significant improvement in the compressive strength characteristics of the stabilized soil
blocks. From the compressive strength test results, compressive strengths of 4.177MPa,
4.380MPa and 4.053MPa were obtained for blocks admixed with 0%, 5% and 10% corn husk
ash respectively. Soil blocks mixed with 20% corn husk ash had the highest compressive
strength of 5.311MPa followed by blocks which had 15% corn husk ash addition also with a
compressive strength of 4.917MPa. The water exclusion and the abrasion resistance
properties also showed significant improvement as the quantity of corn husk ash increases.
There was a significantly strong negative correlation of 0.754 existed between the abrasion
coefficients and the water absorption coefficients of the soil blocks. Stabilizing of soil with corn
husk ash can improve the properties of soil and soil blocks making the suitable for use as a
building material for the construction of load bearing walls.

("Enhancing the Properties of Soil Bricks by Stabilizing with Corn Husk Ash"., Peter
Paa Kofi Yalley and Emmanuel Asiedu (2013))

This article is entitled as "Effect of Corncob ash on the geotechnical properties of

Lateritic soil stabilized with Portland cement" The researchers studies the effect of corncob ash
on cement. In their country, there are so many corns that produced every year. The disposal of
this enormous waste can contribute pollution of the environment. So, the researchers have
considered recycling it for various applications. The higher the corncob ash content in the CCA
blend, the higher the plasticity, swell potential and the permeability of the soil; and the lower
the bearing capacity and strength of the soil. Of the blends, 60C:40CA blend gave the best
geotechnical properties. Mixture of cement and corncob ash, which is cheaper than wholly
using cement, can be used to improve soils with similar geotechnical properties to that of the
soil used in this study in order to make them better suited for use as pavement layer materials.

(“Effect of Corncob ash on the geotechnical properties of Lateritic soil stabilized with
Portland cement”., Akinwumi I.I., Aidomojie O.I. (2015))

This study assesses the effects of Corn Cob Ash (CCA) on lime-stabilized lateritic soil.
Preliminary tests were carried out on the natural soil sample for purpose of identification and
classification. Lime being the main stabilizing material was thoroughly mixed with the soil

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sample to determine the optimum lime requirement of the sample as a basis for evaluating the
effects of the CCA. The optimum lime requirement was 10%. The CCA was thereafter added to
the lime stabilized soil in varying proportions of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10%. Unsoaked CBR increased
from 83% at 0% CCA to highest value of 94% at 4% CCA. Unconfined Compressive Strength
(UCS) values increased from 1123kN/m2 at 0% CCA to highest value of 1180kN/m2 at 4%
CCA. It was therefore concluded that CCA can serve as a good complement for lime
stabilization in lateritic soil.

("Effects of corn cob ash on lime stabilized lateritic soil"., Emeka Segun Nnochiri
(March 2018))

This paper reports the investigation of Corn Cob Ash as a pozzolan and a stabilizing
agent for lateritic soils in road pavement construction. The soil was subsequently mixed with
CCA in varying percentages of 0%, 1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, 6% and 7.5% and the influence of CCA
on the soil was determined for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, Compaction Characteristics, CBR and
the Unconfined Compression Test. These tests were repeated on laterite CCA-cement mix and
laterite-cement mix respectively in order to detect any pozzolanicity in CCA when it combines
with Portland cement and to compare results with a known soil stabilizing agent. The result
shows a similarity in the compaction characteristics of soil-cement, soil-CCA and soil-CCA-
cement, in that with increasing addition of binder from 1.5% to 7.5%, Maximum Dry Density
progressively declined while the OMC steadily increased. In terms of the strength parameters,
the maximum positive impact was observed at 1.5% CCA addition for soil-CCA with a CBR
value of 84% and a UCS value of 1.0MN/m2, compared with the control values of 65% and
0.4MN/m2 respectively. For the soil-CCA-cement mix, the strength parameters CBR and UCS
continued to increase with increasing binder addition within the tested range for the ratios 1:2
and 1:1 and 2:1 CCA: cement. Significantly, the results from the soil-CCA-cement mix, indicate
the pozzolanicity of CCA in that UCS values were higher by at least 14% for the 1:1 ratio, than
was attained with the addition of only the corresponding quantity of cement.

("An Evaluation of the Influence of Corn Cob Ash on the Strength Parameters of
Lateritic Soils"., Yinusa A. Jimoh , O. Ahmed Apampa (2014))

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The effect of lime-guinea corn husk (GHA) ash on the engineering properties of lateritic
soil was assessed. The lateritic soil, which was modified with guinea corn husk ash and lime
as stabilizing agents, was obtained from kudenda along Kaduna-Abuja express way Kaduna
(lat. 070, long. 100). The Optimum moisture content (OMC) and Maximum dry density (MDD)
of the laterite without stabilizing are 15.24% and 1.73g/cm3 respectively. The sample, on
stabilizing with lime-GHA ash, the OMC at 2%, 4%,6%,8%, 10% and 12% of the lime - GHA
ash were 15.57%, 15.13%, 18.27%, 18.17%, 21.16% and 21.36% respectively with
corresponding MDD of 1.72 g/cm3, 1.74 g/cm3, 1.74 g/cm3, 1.66 g/cm3, 1.62 g/cm3,and 1.61
g/cm3. The OMC at every percentage Lime-GHA were used to cast lateritic bricks and air-dried
for 7days, 14days and 21days.The compressive strength of the bricks for 7, 14 and 21days
were found to be 0.89N/mm2,0.92N/mm2 and 1.10N/mm2for the control; the compressive
strength of the cubes at 7, 14 and 21 days were observed to increase with curing age and
reach the optimum strength 8, 10 and 10days respectively (corresponding values of 1.14, 1.21
and 1.35 N/mm2).It is therefore deduced that lateritic soil strength can be improved at 10%
each for lime and GHA.

("Effect of Lime-Guinea Corn Husk Ash on the Engineering Properties of Lateritic Soil".,
S. A. Akinloye, G.M. Bankole and A. Medubi (2014))

Soil present in nature may have no. of strength deficiencies. Thus needs to be stabilized
and its properties needs to be modified in appropriate way to gain high strength characteristics.
Large scale agricultural commodities producing nations are facing problems due to agricultural
wastage produced like rice husk, corn cob etc. As corn cobs does not decompose easily
results in causing numerous problems to surroundings as well as environment. Corn cob ash
produced by burning corn cobs. Corn cob ash rich source of silica and thus having large
tendency to behave like pozzolana make it suitable for using as cementious material. Objective
and motive of study investigation is to investigate Soil. UCS value for optimum mixture Soil:
Cement: Corn cobash (92:02:06) increases by 310% for 7 days curing spell with respect to the
virgin clayey soil value and increases by 402% for 14 days curing spell. UCS and shear
strength diminutions with tallying of corn cob ash beyond 6% but both still are grander than
virgin clay. It indicates that corn cob-ash adding imparts great strength to the strength features

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of clayey soil. Corn cob-ash is when used with cement for upgrading strength properties of
clayey soil results in a cheaper practice which is less inflated than using only cement.

("Effect of cement and corn cob ash on UCS and direct shear test of clayey soil".,
Gurjap Singh Somal, Gurdeepak Singh and BS Walia (September 2017))

Black cotton soils are considered to be problematic soils as these soils as these soils
undergo large volumetric changes with the change in moisture content due to the presence of
montmorillonite mineral. Increase moisture content causes swelling of the soil and loss of
strength and decrease in moisture content to improve the engineering properties of some local
soils for construction of stabilized pavement layers, stabilizes earth buildings and support layer
for the foundation of buildings. The paper aims at providing experimental insights on the
engineering properties of black cotton soil stabilized with corncob ash (CA) to ascertain its
suitability varying ratio and unconfined compression strength, considering CA contents, varying
from 0 to 20% were carried out. The results show that the addition of CA to the soil generally
reduced its plasticity, swell potential and increased its strength. CA stabilization being more
economical and environment friendly, improved the geotechnical properties of the soil for
pavement layer material application.

("Stabilization of Expansive Soils by Using Corncob Ash"., P.Madan Mohan Reddy,

P.Thanmai and N.Trilok Kumar (June 2018))

Soil sample collected from Maikunkele area of Minna, classified as an A-7-6 lateritic soil
on AASHTO classification was stabilized with 2-12% rice husk ash (RHA) by weight of the dry
soil. Using British standard light (BSL) compaction energy level, performance of the soil-RHA
was investigated with respect to compaction characteristics, California bearing ratio (CBR) and
unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. The results obtained, indicates a general
decrease in the maximum dry density (MDD) and increase in optimum moisture content (OMC)
with increase in RHA content. There was also slight improvement in the CBR and UCS with
increase in the RHA content. The peak UCS values were recorded at between 6-8% RHA,
indicating a little potential of using 6-8% RHA for strength improvement of A-7-6 lateritic soil.

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(“Potentials of Rice Husk Ash for Soil Stabilization”., Alhassan, Musa. (2008).)

CHAPTER III

Methodology

In this chapter the research design, materials and methods, treatment of data, and the
decision were criteria discussed. The main objective is to present the methodology and
research design.

Research Design

This study will use experimental method in collecting the necessary data in the physical
properties of the soil and its compressive strength with mixture of corn husk and aglime.

Experimental method of research was used due to the involvement of the series of
experiments involved in determining the physical properties of the soil used specifically the
moisture content, void ratio, degree of saturation and optimum moisture content.

Each specimen contains 0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25% have 3 specimens for 3 trials.

Materials and Methods

PREPARATION OF THE MIXTURE

1. Wash the gathered corn husk to remove the mud and other dirt to its surface. Crushed
and pulverized it. The aglime is already pulverized.
2. Let it dry on the dryer machine for about 15-20minutes to remove any excess moisture.
3. Cut it on a small piece so it can be easily grinded.
4. When it completely dry, it is now ready to be grinded on the pulverizing machine.

MOISTURE CONTENT DETERMINATION

Resources:

1. Tin cup

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2. Triple beam balance
3. Oven

Procedures:

1. Weigh a tin cup including its cover. Determine the mass of the tin cup.
2. Place the sample of soil in the tin cup. Determine the weight of the soil and the tin
cup.
3. Place the sample in the oven for at least 4 hours.
4. When the sample has dried, obtain the mass of cup and dry soil.
5. Compute the water content. The difference between weight of wet soil plus cup and
weight of dry soil plus cup is the weight of water (Ww). Also compute the weight of
dry soil (Ws).
6. To determine the water content (%).
%= Ww/Ws x 100
7. Repeat until four (trials) are achieved. Determine the average moisture content.

UNIT WEIGHT DETERMINATION (ASTM D7263)

1. Cut a sample of soil to about 1-inch diameter and 2 - 3 inches long. Weigh up to 0.2
gram. Surface should be smooth and rounded.
2.
3. Immerse the coated sample in graduated cylinder and determine its displacement.
The volume of the sample is the volume of the water displaced minus the volume of
the paraffin.
4. Compute the unit weight in grams/cu.cm

SPECIFIC GRAVITY DETERMINATION (ASTM D854)

Calibration of Pycnometer

1. Transfer carefully the 25-gm sample to the calibrated bottle and add distilled water
until about ½ full. Care must be exercised so as not to lose any of the soil in the
transfer.
2. Expel the entrapped air by boiling gently for at least 10 minutes. Roll the bottle
occasionally to facilitate the removal of air.
3. Cool the sample to room temperature or to a temperature within the range of the
calibration curve of the bottle used

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Determination of Specific Gravity

1. Fill the bottle with distilled water to the calibration mark as discussed in step 2 from
calibration of bottle.
2. Dry the outside of the bottle, as in step 3, Pycnometer calibration.
3. Weigh the bottle with water and soil, and record as W b.
4. Read and record the temperature of the contents to 0.1, as in step 5, pycnometer
calibration.
5. Repeat procedures for at least 3 trials.

VOID RATIO AND DEGREE OF SATURATION DETERMOINATION

The void ratio can be determined from the formula shown below:

Equation 4

The degree of saturation can be determined from the formula shown below:

Equation 5

LIQUID AND PLASTIC LIMIT (ASTM 7263)

RESOURCES

1. Liquid limit device with groove tool

2. spatula
3. Soil oven, pan
4. Tin can
5. Triple beam balance
6.
Liquid Limit Test

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1. Prepare at least 250g of representative air-dry soil sample passing the no. 40 sieve.
Pulverize this soil sample. Be sure to break all lumps to elemental particles.
2. Prepare at least 3 moisture tin cans. Mix the prepared sample with a small amount of
water. Mix the sample of soil thoroughly until it becomes uniform and consistent in
appearance (no lumps). A major source of error is poor mixing.
3. On the liquid limit device cup, place an amount of soil. Smooth the pat surface. Using
the grooving tool, cut a groove at the middle.
4. Fasten the brass cup to the hinge of the liquid limit device.
5. Using the 1cm. block at the end of the grooving tool, adjust the height of the fall to
exactly 1 centimeter. Height of fall is very critical and as little as 0.1cm can affect the
liquid limit by several percent.
6. Prepare 3 different consistencies of soil based on the number of blows in the liquid
limit device: 25-35, 20-30 and 15-25 blows. This is done carefully by adding water to
the soil.
7. Mix the soil sample until the consistency would require 25-35 blows to close the groove
for about 12.5 mm. Take moisture content near the groove using 30g of soil to
determine the moisture content by placing in the oven. Keep the temperature at 105
o
C.
8. Add additional water to test the remaining consistencies of soil. Repeat procedure 7.
9. Draw the flow curve wherein the data is recorded with the water content in the domain
and the log N in the abscissa. The water content that would require 25 blows to close
the groove is the liquid limit of the sample.

Plastic Limit Test

1. Take a sample of about 100 grams.

2. Start rolling the soil between the finger and the glass plate with adequate pressure to
form a soil thread approximately 3mm with 80-90 strokes per minute. When the
diameter of the threads of soil becomes 3mm, break the threads in smaller pieces,
reform into a ball and re-roll. Continue this re-balling and re-rolling until threads
crumble under pressure and soil can no longer be rolled into threads.
3. When the threads crumbles at a diameter greater than 3mm this is satisfactory to
define the plastic limit.
4. Place the crumbled soil in a tin can until a weight of about 30grams is achieved. Do

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this until two (2) samples are achieved. Place it in an oven to oven dry. Maintain the
temperature at 105 oC.
5. After determining the moisture content, determine its average. The result is the plastic
limit of the soil.

STANDARD PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST (ASTM D698)

RESOURCES

1. Compaction mold and hammer

2. Moisture sprayer
3. No. 4 sieve
4. Rubbed tipped pestle
5. Scoop
6. Spatula
7. Large mixing pan
8. Balance
9. Drying oven

PROCEDURE:

1. Weigh the empty mould.

2. Obtain a representative specimen of the soil sample to be tested. Break sample with
the use of rubber pestle and pass through No. 20 sieve.
3. Form a 2 to 3-inch layer using the soil passing though No. 20 sieve.
4. Press soil until it is smooth and compact it with a specific number of evenly distributed
blows of the hammer, using a one-foot drop. Rotate the hammer to ensure a uniform
distribution of blows.
5. Repeat the same procedure for the second and third layers seeing to it that a uniform
distribution of blows.
6. After compaction of the third layer the soil should be slightly above the top rim of the
mold.
7. Remove the collar and trim off the soil from the top of the mold. Tart trimming along the
center and work towards end of the mold.

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8. After the soil has been made even with the top of the mold and all base soil cleaned
from the outside, weigh the cylinder sample to 10 lb.
9. Remove the soil from cylinder and obtain a representative sample of 50gm for a water
content determination. The water content sample should be made up with specimens
from the top, middle and bottom of the compacted soil.
10. Break up by hand then removed from the cylinder and remix with the original sample
and raise its water content by 3% by adding water to the sample with sprayer. Mix the
soil thoroughly. By weighing the sprayer before and after the spraying, the amount of
water added is known.
11. Keep repeating the procedures for 5 to six times until soil is sticky. Use 3%
approximate water content.
12. Compute dry density of each sample and plot the compaction curve. Determine the
Optimum Moisture Content of the sample.

UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST (ASTM D2166 – 00 Section 7)

RESOURCES:

1. Unconfined compression apparatus, proving ring type

2. Proving ring, capacity 1 kN, accuracy 1N.

3. Dial gauge, accuracy 0.01 mm.

4. Weighing balance

8. Split mould

9. Sample extractor

10. Knife

11. Vernier calipers

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PROCEDURE:

1. Take the specimen from the seals and cylindrical molds.

2. Place the specimen in the loading device so that it is centered on the bottom platen.
Adjust the loading device carefully so that the upper platen just makes contact with the
specimen.

3. Zero the deformation indicator and apply the load so as to produce an axial strain at a
rate of ½ to 2% per min.

4. Record the load at sufficient values at sufficient interval. The rate of failure should be
chosen so that the time to failure does not exceed about 15 minutes.

5. Continue loading until the load value decreases.

6. The Compressive Strength shall be calculated as follows:

CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO TEST ON SUBGRADE SOIL

RESOURCES:

1. Cylindrical moulds – 150 mm and 175 mm diameter and 50mm lenght

2. Compaction rammer
3. Surcharge weight-annular weights 2.5 kg and 147 mm diameter
4. IS sieve 20 mm
5. Coarse filter paper
6. Balance

PROCEDURE:

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1. Sieve the sample through 20mm IS sieve. Take 5 kg of the sample of soil specimen.
Add water to the soil in the quantity such that optimum moisture content or field
moisture content is reached.
2. Then soil and water are mixed thoroughly. Spacer disc is placed over the base plate at
the bottom of mould and a coarse filter paper is placed over the spacer disc.

3. The prepared soil water mix is divided into five. The mould is cleaned and oil is applied.
Then fill one fifth of the mould with the prepared soil. That layer is compacted by giving
56 evenly distributed blows using a hammer of weight 4.89kg.

4. The top layer of the compacted soil is scratched. Again second layer is filled and
process is repeated. After 3 rd layer, collar is also attached to the mould and process is
continued.

5. After fifth layer collar is removed and excess soil is struck off. Remove base plate and
invert the mould. Then it is clamped to baseplate.

6. Surcharge weights of 2.5 kg is placed on top surface of soil. Mould containing specimen
is placed in position on the testing machine.
7. The penetration plunger is brought in contact with the soil and a load of 4kg(seating
load) is applied so that contact between soil and plunger is established. Then dial
readings are adjusted to zero.
8. Load is applied such that penetration rate is 1.25mm per minute. Load at penetration of
0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5mm are noted.

Standard Load Values for CBR Test

Standard
Penetration(mm) Unit Standard Load(kg/cm2)
Load(kg)
2.5 1370 70
5 2055 105
7.5 2630 134
10.0 3180 162

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12.5 3600 183

Observations during CBR Test

Weight of soil taken =

Weight of surcharge =

Area of plunger, A =

Proving Ring Calibration Factor =

Sl No. Penetration(mm Reading

) Proving load on Corrected
Unit Load
dial plunger load
(kg)

Result of California Bearing Ratio Test

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California Bearing Ratio at 2.5mm penetration =

California Bearing Ratio at 5.0mm penetration =

California Bearing Ratio of subgrade soil =

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