Abstract:
In Gilgit Baltistan region there is an extensive use of wood as a source of
energy for cooking and heating purpose which results in a large amount of combustion
residues known as wood ash. After combustion these ashes are discarded and dumped
in dig holes and tranches, resulting in wastage of stabilizing agent and useful land.
Wood ash contain CaO due to which it behave like a pozzolanic material therefore
wood ash can be used as a stabilizer of soil. It is found that wood ash enhances the
engineering properties of natural soil including unconfined compressive strength and
California Bearing Ratio.
The present research is intended to examine the effect of wood ash on the
engineering properties of soil found in Skardu region and evaluate their potential use
for the stabilization and improvement of engineering properties of these soils. Two
types of soil were selected from Skardu region, soil type-I (CL-ML) and soil type-II
(CL). Both types of soil were mixed with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 percent wood ash. Both
types of soil are reactive with wood ash. In unconfined compressive strength test,
optimum percentage of wood ash required for stabilizing the soil is in range of 5 to 10
percent for both soil type-I and soil type-II. Similarly, CBR increases by mixing of 5
to 10 percent wood ash mixed with both types of soil and swell potential decreases
