DOI: 10.36347/sjet.2023.v11i03.002

Pages: 25-33

The study investigated the use of cement and lime as composite mixture with Costus dewevrei De Wild. & T. Durand as for soil stabilization aimed at improving the properties of expansive soils used for road pavement. The maximum dry density (MDD), optimum moisture content (OMC), consistency limits, California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the soil were subjected test to ascertain the performances of the cement and lime with bagasse composite. The results showed that the composite materials improved the soil properties, but the maximum dry density (MDD), optimum moisture content (OMC), liquid limit (LL), plasticity index (PI), California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the expansive soil stabilized with cement and bagasse ash composite were greater than the soil samples stabilized with lime and bagasse ash composite. Meanwhile, the value of plastic limit (PL) obtained from the soil sample stabilized with lime and bagasse ash was higher than the value recorded in the soil sample stabilized with cement and bagasse ash. The optimum values UCS and CBR were recorded at 8% combined proportion of bagasse ash with cement and lime. Therefore, the improvement recorded in the soil properties proved that the combined effect of bagasse ash obtained from Costus dewevrei De Wild. & T. Durand and cement or lime, is effective and can be applied as stabilization material to reduce shrinkage and swelling of expansive soil that often lead to road pavement failure.