SOIL STABILIZATION IN SKARDU REGION USING DOMESTIC WOOD ASH

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