Study on Performance of Expansive Soil Using Agro Waste as a Sustainable Stabilizer

For a safe construction of diminutive and edifice structures in soil, the foundation soil should be keenly observed and improved before the construction activities. To improve the soil characteristics, replacing the traditional methods of soil stabilization can be done by utilizing the agriculture wastes as one of the best cost-effective and sustainable method. For this study, agriculture waste wheat husk ash (WHA) of different percentages (3, 6, 9 and 12%) were mixed to the problematic soil at varying curing periods (3, 7, 14 and 28 days) and tests like standard proctor compaction, unconfined compressive strength and free swell index test were done in order to know the optimum percentage of additive to develop the improved characteristics of the soil. According to the test results, wheat husk ash of 9% showed an enhancement of 150% in strength at 28 days of curing, indicating it as the optimum dosage and there is a volume reduction in soil by 50% with the addition of WHA compared with untreated soil. Wheat husk waste which is one of the agricultural wastes produced abundantly causing waste disposal problem and threat to the surroundings can be utilized in soils for strength enhancement which leads to a sustainable eco-friendlier environment by reducing the environmental impacts.