Effect of marble dust on strength and durability of Rice husk ash stabilised expansive soil

This paper presents the results of a laboratory study undertaken to investigate the effect of Marble dusts on strength and durability of an expansive soil stabilized with optimum percentage of Rice Husk ash (RHA). The optimum percentage of RHA was found out be 10% based on Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests. Marble dust was added to RHA stabilized expansive soil up to 30%, by dry weight of the soil, at an increment of 5%. Compaction tests, UCS tests, Soaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests, Swelling pressure tests and Durability tests were conducted on these samples after 7 days of curing. The UCS, and Soaked CBR of RHA-stabilized expansive soil increased up to 20% addition of Marble dust. Further addition of Marble dust had negative effects on these properties. The Maximum Dry Density(MDD) and Swelling pressure of expansive soil goes on decreasing and Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) goes on increasing irrespective of the percentage of addition of Marble dust to RHA stabilized expansive soil. From the Durability test results it was found that the addition of Marble dust had made the RHA stabilized expansive soil durable. For best stabilization effect the optimum proportion of Soil: Rice husk ash: Marble dust was found to be 70: 10: 20.