Browsing by Author "Shankar, AUR"

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    item: Conference-Full-text
    Areca fiber reinforced alkali-activated black cotton soil using class f fly ash and limestone powder for pavements
    (Springer, 2021) Chethan, BA; Shankar, AUR; Pasindu, HR; Bandara, S; Mampearachchi, WK; Fwa, TF
    Alkali activation has gained importance in place of cement treatment in construction due to reduced CO2 emissions. The precursors that are rich in silica, alumina, and calcium can be used for soil stabilization with a suitable alkali solution. In this investigation, 0–45% class F fly ash with a constant 5% limestone powder was used to stabilize black cotton soil. These mixes were reinforced with 0.5% areca fibers and stabilized using the alkali solution. Alkali solution was prepared using 8 molar NaOH solution and Na2SiO3 solution with Na2SiO3/NaOH of 1.5. The use of limestone powder has favoured the quick UCS gain on 3 days of room temperature curing. Fiber reinforcement has shown a significant influence on flexural strength and fatigue life improvement. Areca fibers reinforcement has resulted in enormous resistance to plunger penetration during the unsoaked CBR test. However, on further 4 days of soaking, samples lost the bonding and exhibited low CBR. The SEM images showed the compact microstructure of the set mix. The formation of cementitious products is evident from the XRD micrograms due to the dissolution of silica, alumina, calcium, and other compounds by the alkali solution. When subjected to wetting–drying and freezing–thawing durability tests, the set mixeswere failed due to leaching of mineral constituents and further breaking of soil structure. Even though stabilized specimens exhibited significant strength improvement in dry conditions, they are unsuitable in wet conditions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    item: Conference-Full-text
    Laboratory investigations on lateritic soil stabilized with rbi grade 81, coconut fiber and aggregates
    (Springer, 2021) Chethan, BA; Shankar, AUR; Pasindu, HR; Bandara, S; Mampearachchi, WK; Fwa, TF
    Soil stabilization is an excellent old technique adopted to improve the properties of any weak soil. In the recent past, many chemical stabilizers came to the market. In this study, a commercial stabilizer-RBI Grade 81’s (dosage 2–8%) potential to improve lateritic soil properties was investigated. At 6% RBI Grade 81 dosage, the effect of reinforcement was evaluated by using 0.5 and 1.0% coconut fibers. Strength improvement of 6% RBI Grade 81 stabilized soil admixed with <12.5 mm size aggregates (5, 10, and 15%) was studied to know the effect of granular layer demolition waste incorporation. CBR and UCS tests were used for strength evaluation. Considerable improvement in mix strength was observed above 6% RBI Grade 81 dosage on 28 curing days for the soil incorporated with fibers and aggregates. A linear fit was established between UCS and soaked CBR, which shows a high correlation (>0.9), and Prob > F is <0.06 depicting high reliability for the estimation of soaked CBR from UCS. Further, fatigue and durability tests were carried out to understand stabilized soil’s behavior under dynamic load application and performance during monsoon to simulate the submerged condition of the pavement in dense rainfall areas (>3500 mm). Stabilized lateritic soil mixes sustained freeze–thaw cycles effectively with weight loss of <14%. However, even at an 8% RBI Grade 81 dosage, the mix has not satisfied the wetting–drying test requirement. Stabilized soil blends showed excellent fatigue performance under repeated loads. The 6% RBI Grade 81 treated soil mixes can be used for modified subgrade.