Preliminary investigation to Use Water Hyacinths (“EMBOCH”) for Stabilization of Expansive soils: A Case Study on source of Water Hyacinth LakeTANA
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Date
2018-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Since long, improvement in characteristics of expansive soil by using different materials has
been a challenging job for engineers. Construction in the 21st Century saw the advancement of a
large number of new materials and products accompanied by the emergence of new methods for
the utilization of waste materials. Many researchers have made an attempt with the use of
different materials like cement, Fly ash, lime Etc. but the aim of this study is to stabilize
expansive soils by the use of water hyctine locally known as „emboch‟.
The Expansive soil, collected from Ayira, Gondar, has been classified as an A-2-7 soil on the
AASHTO classification. It was stabilized using a dry water hyctine from 5% to 15%
replacement by dry weight of the soil. The effect of the additives on the soil was investigated
with respect to atterberg limits, Specific gravity, free swell, moisture density relationships
California bearing ratio (Soaked CBR) and CBR Swell.
After the investigation, with the increment of water hyctine (WH), it was found that the optimum
moisture content increased until 10% and decreased on 15% while the maximum dry density
values decreased until 10% and increased on 15%. Free swell ratio of the stabilized samples
decreased with increasing WH content. CBR values slightly increased with the addition of WH.
The CBR of the soil at 15% of WH almost fall in to the category of fair sub grade. This shows a
potential of using WDE as potential material in stabilization of expansive soils.
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Keywords
Water Hyacinths (“EMBOCH”), Lake Tana, Expansive soils