USES OF LIME -RICE HUSK ASH AND PLASTIC FIBERS

AS MIXTURES-MATERIAL IN HIGH-PLASTICITY
CLAYEY SUBGRADE: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Ario Muhammad* and Agus Setyo Muntohar, S.T., M.Eng.Sc., Ph.D.**

*
Student, Department of Civil Engineering,
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta
**
Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering,
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

ABSTRACT
Silica produced from rice husk ashes have investigated successfully as a
pozzolanic material in soil stabilization. However, rice husk ash cannot be used
solely since the materials lack in calcium element. As a result, rice husk ash shall
be mixed with other cementitious materials such as lime and cement to have a solid
chemical reaction in stabilization process. The main objective of this study focused
on bearing capacity of the stabilized clayey subgrade with lime-rice husk ash and
fibers. The main laboratory test shall be compaction and CBR tests. The
investigation results revealed that the inclusion of lime-rice husk ash-fiber into the
soil decreased MDD and OMC. On the other hand, stabilization and reinforcement
with lime-rice husk ash and fibers waste improved significantly the CBR values.
Keywords: soil improvement, clay soil, lime-rice husk ash, plastic-sack fiber,
compaction, CBR.

INTRODUCTION
Soil improvement by using rice husk ash has been investigated in early
1970s. During the 30 years, many laboratory investigations have done to study the
effect of rice husk ash on the mechanical properties of the stabilized soils. Rice
husk ashes are rich with siliceous materials. A material containing siliceous
material is suitable to be used as pozzolana mix and replacement of portland
cement. In practice, rice husk ash cannot be used solely since the materials lack in
calcium element. As a result, rice husk ash shall be mixed with other cementitious
materials such as lime and cement to have a solid chemical reaction in stabilization
process. In this paper, utilization of the rice husk, lime, and fiber is presented to
illustrate its application for subgrade mixtures.

Uses Of Lime -Rice Husk Ash And Plastic … (Ario Muhammad, dkk) 145
Review Of The Rice Husk Ash Stabilized Soils
Basha et al (2004) reported that rice husk ash was potentially to stabilize the
expansive and non expansive soils solely or by mixing with cement. In general, 6 –
8 % of cement and 10 – 15 % rice husk ash showed optimum amount to improve
the properties of soils. Reduction in plasticity index, the increase of strength and
resistance to immersion were indicator of soil improvement. Addition of lime and
rice husk ash reduced liquid limits while the plastics limits increase. As a result, the
plasticity indices reduced. Reducing the plasticity index resulted in increases of the
shear strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle of the stabilized soils
(Muntohar, 2002).
To improve tensile strength of the stabilized soils, Muntohar (2006)
reinforced the stabilized soil by using plastic-sack fibers. The investigation showed
that plastic-sack fiber increased the tensile strength of the stabilized soil with lime
and rice husk ash. Santoni et al. (2000) observed that inclusion of the fiber in sand
soils improved the unconfined compressive strength.

RESEARCH METHOD
Materials used
Soil
The soil used in this study comprises of 14% sands, 67% silts, and 19% clays
fraction. The particle size distribution is shown in Figure 1. The soil texture is
likely to be categorized as clayey-silt soils. The liquid limit was tested using
Casagrande method, and the N-flow curve is shown in Figure 2. Based on the
figure, the liquid limit of the soil sample was range from 66% to 90%. The plastic
limit of the soil sample is 29%. Hence, the plasticity index of the soil sample is
about 37% to 615, and the soil is classified into CH symbol (high-plastic clay) and
A-7-6 group according to USCS and AASHTO classification respectively. Table 1
presents the index properties of the soil used in this study.

146 Jurnal Ilmiah Semesta Teknika, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2007: 145 – 154
 Figure 1 Particle size distribution of the soil used in this study.

120

LL = 66 ~ 90 %
100
Water content (%)

LL
80

60 LL

40

20
15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Number of blow (N)

Figure 2 Liquid limit determination of the soil used in this study.

Uses Of Lime -Rice Husk Ash And Plastic … (Ario Muhammad, dkk) 147
 Table 1 Index properties of the soils sample.
Properties Results
Specific Gravity, Gs 2.35
Liquid limits, LL 60 %-90 %
Plastic limits, PL 29
Maximum dry density, 12.7
MDD kN/m3
Optimum moisture content, 20.27 %
OMC
Soil fraction:
a. Clay 19 %
b. Silt 67 %
c. Sand 14 %
Soil classification: CH
(USCS)
A-7-6
(AASHTO)

Lime and Rice Husk Ash

The lime used in this study was powder-hydrated lime. For soil stabilization
purpose, materials passed ASTM sieve No. 40 (0.43 mm) was used as mixture
material. The rice husk ash was produced locally which has obtained from rice
husks burnt in a brick industry near Yogyakarta. To produce a fine rice husk ash,
the rice husk should pass the ASTM sieve size No. 40. Both of the lime and rice
husk ash are stored in air-tight plastic bag to prevent hydration reaction with
environment-moist.
Fibers
The fibers used in this research were obtained from plastic-sack waste which
is predominantly made from polypropylene materials. The fibers was decomposed
and seized in 5 mm to 25 mm length. The fibers width was about 1.5 mm.
Laboratory Tests
The main objective of this study focused on bearing capacity of the stabilized
clayey subgrade with lime-rice husk ash and fiber. Hence the main laboratory test
shall be compaction and CBR tests. The test procedures of compaction and CBR
were conducted according to ASTM D 968-70 and ASTM 1883-73 respectively.
For the stabilized soils, the admixture materials, i.e. lime, rice husk ash, were
mixed in 12 % and 24 % of the dry weight of soil matrix respectively. The fiber
content was varied from 0.3 % and 0.6% of the dry weight of soil matrix. The
specimens for CBR test were prepared at their optimum moisture content and
maximum dry density of proctor-standard compaction. Before the CBR test, the

148 Jurnal Ilmiah Semesta Teknika, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2007: 145 – 154
samples were kept cured in air-tight plastic bags to prevent the loss of moisture for
14 days and to allow chemical reaction between the soil and admixtures.
The basic CBR test involves applying load to a small penetration piston at a
rate of 1.3 mm (0.05") per minute and recording the total load at penetrations
ranging from 0.64 mm (0.025 in.) up to 7.62 mm (0.300 in.). Figure 3 shows the
sketch of CBR test. Values obtained are inserted into the following equation to
obtain a CBR value:
Pa
CBR  100%
Ps
where:
Pa = unit load on the piston (pressure) for 2.54 mm (0.1 in.) or 5.08
mm (0.2 in.) of penetration
Ps = standard unit load (pressure) for well graded crushed stone:
Ps = 6.9 MPa (1000 psi) for 2.54 mm (0.1") penetration
Ps = 10.3 MPa (1500 psi) for 5.08 mm (0.2") penetration

Applied load
(load cell)

1.95" Dial gauge of

penetration
Penetration
piston

Standard
angular
surcharge
weight

Standard
CBR mould

Soil sample

6"

Base

Figure 3 Sketch of CBR test.

Uses Of Lime -Rice Husk Ash And Plastic … (Ario Muhammad, dkk) 149
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
The tests results of proctor-standard compaction and CBR are presented in
the Table 2. The following section will present the discussion of the test results.

Table 2 Geotechnical Properties of Treated Samples.

Soil samples MDD O C
o. (kN/m3) MC (%) BR (%)
Original soil 12.7 20 4
1 .3
Soil + L + RHA 10.3 15 8
2 .6
Soil + L + RHA 10.54 15 2
3 +0.3% Fiber .5 7
Soil + L + RHA 10.5 15 3
4 +0.6% Fiber .4
Note: L = 12 % lime, RHA = 24 % rice husk ash, MDD = maximum dry density,
OMC = optimum moisture content.

Compaction Characteristics
Figure 4 shows the effect of adding plastic-sack fiber on the compaction
characteristic of the stabilized soils. In general, the compaction curves of the
stabilized soils (S2, S3, S4) are lower than the compaction curve of the unstabilized
soils (S1). All the stabilized soils are on the left-side of the optimum moisture
content of the unstabilized soil (S1). This characteristic imply that maximum dry
density and optimum moisture content of the stabilized soil decreased with addition
of fiber amount in stabilized soils. As presented in Table 2, the maximum dry
density decreased from 12.7 kN/m3 (S1) to 10.3 kN/m3 (S2). The results show that
the maximum dry density increased slightly if the stabilized soils are reinforced
with 0.3 % (S3) and 0.6 % (S4) fibers. The results also show that the optimum
moisture content decreased from 20.3% (S1) to 15.4 % (S4). The characteristics
indicated that inclusion of fibers into stabilized soils do not change significantly the
maximum dry density and optimum moisture content.

150 Jurnal Ilmiah Semesta Teknika, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2007: 145 – 154
 13
Dry unit weigth, d (kN/m )
3

S1
12 ZA
V
S
11 r =
90
%

10 S2

S4
S3
9
10 20 30 40 50

Water content (%)

Figure 4 Compaction characteristics of the soil samples (ZAV = zero air void, Sr =
degree of saturation).
Theoretically, increasing of maximum dry density value is an indicator of
improvement. But, this characteristic is shown in the recent study. The possible
reasons causing the behavior is owing to the flocculated soil-grain as a result of the
pozzolanic reaction between lime-rice husk ash and soils. Coincidently, a larger
void was formed between the soil particles and then, the void was occupied by air.
However, since the pozzolanic reaction yield stiffer granulated-soil skeleton, the
stabilized soil was not easier to be compacted at the same compactive energy as the
unstabilized soil. As shown in Figure 4, the dry density of stabilized soils is located
below the zero air void curve. Muntohar (2002) indicated that decreases in
maximum dry density of stabilized clay soil with line-rice husk ash were owing to
low specific gravity.

California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

California bearing ratio (CBR) value are the commonly method used to
evaluate the bearing capacity of a subgrade for roadway. Subgrade strength is
expressed in terms of its CBR value in percentage. The CBR value is measured by
an empirical test devised by the California State Highway Association and is
simply the resistance to a penetration of 2.45 inch of a standard cylindrical plunger
to various penetrations in crushed aggregate, notably 13.24 kN (or 6.9 MPa) at 2.54
mm (0.1 in.) penetration and 19.96 kN (or 10.3 MPa) at 5.08 mm (0.2 in.)

Uses Of Lime -Rice Husk Ash And Plastic … (Ario Muhammad, dkk) 151
penetration. Figure 5 shows the CBR test results of the soil samples which present
pressures at various penetrations.

5
Samples CBR
S-1 4%
S-2 8%
S-3 27 %
4 S-3
S-4 3%

3
Pressure (MPa)

1
S-2

S-4

S-1
0
0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5

Penetration (mm)

Figure 5 Pressure and penetration relationship of the tested soil samples.

Figure 5 shows that the stabilized soils with lime-rice husk ash (S2) has
higher resistivity against the applied load at 2.54 mm and 5.08 mm penetration if
comparing with unstabilized soil (S1). By mixing with lime-rice husk ash, the CBR
value of clay soils enhances double from 4% to 8%. This behavior indicates that
stabilization process has worked as expected of pozzolanic reaction. Inclusion of
0.3% fibers into stabilized soils (S3) increase the CBR value about 7 times from
4% to 27%. This result indicates that inclusion of the fibers contribute to against
the applied load. Additional inclusion fibers to 0.6% into stabilized soil cause

152 Jurnal Ilmiah Semesta Teknika, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2007: 145 – 154
decreasing of the CBR value to about 3%. However, the penetration curve of the
stabilized soils (S4) can be extended up to 7.5 mm.

Table 3 Classification of the CBR values for subgrade or base course layer.
(Bowles, 1986)
CB Genera Uses
R(%) l rating
0– Subgra
3 Very poor de
3– Poor to Subgra
7 fair de
7– Fair Subgra
20 de
20 Good Base
– 25 subgrade
>75 Excell Base
ent

Uses the classification given in Table 3, the stabilized soil samples can be
used as subgrade and base course respectively for S2 sample and S3 sample. For
the given CBR values, the rating of the subgrade range from fair to excellent.

CONCLUSIONS
This study has been successfully investigated the used of lime-rice husk ash
and fiber waste as stabilization and reinforcement for clay soils. Based on the
investigation results, the following conclusions can be drawn:
1. Addition of the lime and rice husk ash in clay soil decreases significantly the
maximum dry density and optimum moisture content. Inclusion of the fibers
waste only reduces slightly the maximum dry density and optimum water
content of the stabilized soils.
2. The CBR value of the stabilized soil with lime and rice husk ash increases
double. Inclusion of the fiber waste in the stabilized soils increases
significantly the CBR value.
3. Stabilization and reinforcement of the clay soil with lime-rice husk ash and
fibers waste can be applied as subgrade or base course for roadway
construction.

Uses Of Lime -Rice Husk Ash And Plastic … (Ario Muhammad, dkk) 153
REFERENCES
ASTM. 2003. Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Charactheristics
of Soil Using Standard Effort, D 698-70, pp. 78-87.
ASTM. 2003. Standard Test Methods for CBR of Laboratory-Compacted Soils, D
1883-73, pp. 171-177.
Basha, E.A., Hashim, R., Muntohar, A.S., 2004, Stabilization of clay and residual
soils using cement-rice ash mixtures, Jurnal Teknik Sipil Vol. 5, pp. 51 – 66.
Bowles, E.J., 1986, Engineering Properties of Soils and Their Measurement, Mc
Graw-Hill, Singapore.
Muntohar, A.S., 2006, Kuat Dukung tanah Lempung Dengan Campuran LRHA
dan Serat Karung Plastik, Laporan Penelitian Dosen Muda (Research
Sponsored by Directorate General of Higher Education), Fakultas Teknik,
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta.
Muntohar, A.S., 2002, Utilization of uncontrolled burnt rice husk ash in soil
improvement, Dimensi Teknik Sipil, Vol. 4, pp. 100 – 105.
Santoni, L.R., Tingle, S.J., Webster, L.S., 2001 Engineering properties of sand-
fiber mixtures for road construction, Journal of Geotechnical and
Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 127, No 3, March, 2001 pp. 258 – 268

154 Jurnal Ilmiah Semesta Teknika, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2007: 145 – 154