Geotech Geol Eng
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0544-5
ORIGINAL PAPER
Effect of Fly Ash and Rice Husk Ash on Index
and Engineering Properties of Expansive Clays
B. R. Phanikumar . T. V. Nagaraju
Received: 5 October 2017 / Accepted: 3 April 2018
Ó Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract Many innovative ameliorating techniques
including chemical stabilization have been in practice
for improving the behaviour of problematic, highly
expansive clays. This paper presents a comparative
study on the effect of fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash
(RHA) on index and engineering properties of an
expansive clay. Liquid limit (LL), plastic limit,
plasticity index (PI) and free swell index (FSI), and
coefficient of permeability (k), unconfined compres-
sive strength and swelling pressure were determined at
varying quantities of FA and RHA. Coefficient of
permeability, swelling pressure and unconfined com-
pressive strength of the FA-clay and the RHA-clay
blends were determined at their respective OMC and
MDD obtained from Proctor compaction tests. LL, PI
and FSI decreased significantly with increasing FA
and RHA contents. Coefficient of permeability, how-
ever, increased with additive content. Further, swel-
ling pressure of the blends decreased with increasing
additive content.
Keywords Expansive soil  Free swell index (FSI) 
Swelling pressure  Chemical stabilization  Fly ash 
Rice husk ash
B. R. Phanikumar (&)  T. V. Nagaraju
Department of Civil Engineering, SRKR Engineering
College, Bhimavaram 534204, India
e-mail: phanikumar_29@yahoo.com
T. V. Nagaraju
e-mail: varshith.varma@gmail.com
1 Introduction
Expansive soils are highly problematic by virtue of
their inherent tendency to undergo detrimental volu-
metric changes corresponding to changes in moisture
content (McKeen 1988; Walsh et al. 1993; Nevels
2001; Lu and Lykos 2004). They swell or increase in
their volume in monsoon seasons absorbing water, and
shrink or reduce in their volume when water evapo-
rates from them in dry seasons (Chen 1988; Fredlund
and Rahardjo 1993; Briaud and Zhang 2003; Aubeny
and Lytton 2004). Further, upon wetting in monsoons,
an expansive soil can swell or exhibit collapse
compression depending upon its stress and suction
history (Alonso et al. 1987; Gens and Alonso 1992;
Sharma 1998; Sharma and Wheeler 2000; Wheeler
et al. 2003; Gallipoli et al. 2003). Because of this
alternate swelling and shrinkage, many lightly loaded
civil engineering structures such as residential build-
ings, pavements, canal beds, and linings founded in
these soils undergo severe distress (Chen 1988).
Gourley et al. (1993) estimated the annual cost of
damage done to civil engineering structures founded
in expansive soils at $1000 million in the USA, £150
million in the UK, and many billions of pounds
worldwide.
Many innovative techniques have been suggested
for mitigating the problems posed by expansive soils.
These include sand cushion, drilled and belled piers
and undereamed piles. Stabilization of expansive soils
with chemical additives and industrial by-products has
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also been found to be a successful technique (Hunter
1988; Petry and Little 1992; Rollings et al. 1999;
Acosta et al. 2003; Hoyos et al. 2004; Phanikumar and
Sharma 2004). Of the various additives used for
stabilizing expansive soils, lime, fly ash (Chen 1988;
Rao 1984; Sankar 1989; Cokca 2001) and calcium
chloride (Desai and Oza 1997) have shown promise as
they reduced the amount of heave and improved the
strength characteristics. Lime exits in two forms such
as quick lime (CaO) and hydrated lime (CaOH2). It is
quite effective in producing reactions such as floccu-
lation and cementation upon being added to clays.
Fly ash is extracted from the flue gases of a furnace
fired with coal. The composition of fly ash varies with
the nature of the coal (Rollings and Rollings 1996).
Fly ash can be used for controlling expansion of
swelling soils because it is a pozzolanic material (Lee
et al. 2000; Shon et al. 2004). Because fly ash is a
pozzolanic material, it enhances the strength of
expansive clays (Joshi and Lohtia1997). Edil et al.
(1987) found that fly ash could also be a potential
waste liner. An effective stabilizing agent, fly ash can
also be used as a base course material, a back fill
material and an embankment material (Phanikumar
2000). Further, the use of fly ash in bulk quantities in
civil engineering infrastructure can ward off its
hazardous effects on environment (Malhotra and
Mehta 1996; Dobrowolski 1998).
Rice-husk ash (RHA) is obtained from the burning
of rice husk, which is the by-product of rice milling. It
was estimated that 1000 kg of rice grain produced
200 kg of rice husk. On burning rice husk, about 20%
or 40 kg would become RHA (Mehta 1986). RHA
contains a high amount of SiO2 in amorphous form
(Mehta 1986; Gambhir 1995), which makes it poz-
zolanic according to ASTM C 168 (ASTM 1997).
Hence, RHA can be used in lime-pozzolana mixes and
Portland cement replacement (Paya et al. 2001).
Pozzolana is a siliceous or siliceous and aluminous
material by composition according to ASTM C 168
(ASTM 1997) and has no cementing property by itself.
However, when pozzolana has high fineness, it can
react with CaOH2 in the presence of water to provide
cementing property. Further, research showed that
RHA can be mixed with CaOH2 to produce a
cementing material. RHA can effectively stabilize
expansive soils either solely or mixed with lime
(Basha et al. 2003).
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Geotech Geol Eng
This paper presents, by comparison, the effect of fly
ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA) on some of the
index and engineering properties of a remoulded
expansive clay. Liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL),
plasticity index (PI) and free swell index (FSI) were
the index properties studied at varying FA and RHA
contents. And among the engineering properties,
compaction characteristics, hydraulic conductivity
(k) and unconfined compressive strength (kPa) were
determined at varying FA and RHA contents.
2 Experimental Investigation
2.1 Test Materials
2.1.1 Soil
The expansive soil used in this investigation had an
FSI of 125%. Therefore, its degree of expansion may
be classified as ‘High’. Based on its plasticity char-
acteristics, the soil can be classified as CH according
to USCS. Table 1 shows some of the index and
engineering properties of the soil; Table 2 shows the
chemical composition of the soil.
2.1.2 Fly Ash (FA)
The fly ash used in the experimental programme was
collected from the National Thermal Power Corpora-
tion, Visakhapatnam, India. Table 1 shows some of
the index and engineering properties of the fly ash, and
Table 2 shows its chemical composition. The OMC
and MDD of the fly ash were 21% and 12.8 kN/m3
respectively.
2.1.3 Rice Husk Ash (RHA)
RHA used in this investigation was passed through
425 lm for convenient mixing with clay and com-
paction. As RHA particles have a high external surface
area, particles finer than 425 lm could result in non-
uniform mixing. Hence, the RHA particle size was
limited to 425 lm in the blends. Some of the index and
engineering properties of RHA are shown in Table 1.
Table 2 shows the chemical composition of RHA.
Geotech Geol Eng

Table 1 Index and engineering properties of soil, fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA)
Property Soil Fly ash Rice husk ash Standard designation

Specific gravity, G 2.69 2.1 1.83 ASTM D854-02

Gravel size (%) 0 0 0 ASTM 98 D422-63
Sand size (%) 12 28 84 ASTM 98 D422-63
Silt size (%) 30 72 16 ASTM 98 D422-63
Clay size (%) 58 0 0 ASTM 98 D422-63
Liquid limit, LL (%) 84 NP NP ASTM D4318-00
Plastic limit, PL (%) 29 NP NP ASTM D4318-00
Plasticity index, PI (%) 55 – – ASTM D4318-00
Free swell index, FSI (%) 125 Non-swelling Non-swelling ASTM D5890-02
USCS classification CH Non-plastic Non-plastic ASTM D2487-00
Optimum moisture content, OMC (%) 25 21 38 ASTM D698
Maximum dry density, MDD (kN/m3) 15.5 12.8 7 ASTM D698
California bearing ratio, CBR (%) 1 3 8 ASTM D1883

Table 2 Chemical Component Soil Quantity (%)

composition of fly ash (FA)
and RHA Fly ash (FA) Rice husk ash (RHA)

Silica (SiO2) 56 59.83 97.69

Alumina (Al2O3) 19 30.48 0
Ferric oxide (Fe2O3) 7.8 0 0.22
Calcium (CaO) 3.28 1.74 0.29
Magnesium (MgO) 2.63 0.86 0
Sodium (Na2O) 5.2 0 0.41
Titanium (TiO2) 0.21 6.91 0
Vanadium oxide (V2O5) 0 0.09 0
Zinc oxide (ZnO) 0 0.09 0
Loss of ignition 0.23 0.2–0.85 _

2.2 Variables Studied performance of unconfined compression tests were

Fly ash content and RHA content were varied as
0–30% in increments of 5% for the determination of
LL, PL and PI. Standard Proctor compaction tests
were performed on FA-clay blends and RHA-clay
blends at the additive contents of 0, 10, 20 and 30%.
Hydraulic conductivity and swelling pressure of the
above blends were determined at the respective OMC
and MDD of the blends determined from Proctor
compaction tests. In a similar fashion, the unconfined
compressive strength of the blends was also deter-
mined at their respective OMC and MDD. Further, the
cylindrical blend samples prepared for the
cured for 0, 7 and 28-days.
2.3 Tests Performed
2.3.1 Plasticity
LL and PL of the unblended expansive clay were
determined on air-dried soil fraction passing 425 lm
sieve. In the case of the blend samples, the expansive
clay was replaced by the pre-fixed amount of fly ash or
RHA, as the case may be, by dry weight of the soil, and
then the tests on LL and PL were performed on the
blends according to ASTM D4318-00.

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2.3.2 Free Swell Index (FSI)
Free swell index (FSI) was determined according to
ASTM D5890-02. Oven-dried expansive clay passing
through 425 lm sieve was used for performing the FSI
tests. The reference liquid used in the tests was
kerosene. Ten grams of oven-dried expansive clay
passing 425 lm sieve were poured into two 100 ml
cylindrical jars containing kerosene and deionized
water. The jars were made to stand for 24 h and then
the volumes of the soil in the jars containing kerosene
(Vk) and deionized water (Vw) were noted. Free swell
index (FSI) is defined as the ratio of difference in
volumes of soil in water and kerosene to the volume of
soil in kerosene expressed as a percentage (Holtz and
Gibbs 1956). It is written as.
Vw  Vk
FSI ¼  100 ð1Þ
Vk
In the case of FSI tests on expansive clay blended
with fly ash and RHA, the oven-dry expansive clay
powder was replaced by the required amounts of fly
ash and RHA based on their dosages mentioned above,
and FSI tests were performed on the blends as
explained above.
2.3.3 Proctor Compaction
Proctor compaction tests were performed according to
ASTM 2000, D698a. The FA-clay blends and RHA-
clay blends for the compaction tests were prepared
based on the dosages of RHA and fly ash mentioned
above using air-dried soil passing 4.75 mm sieve and
replacing the soil with the respective dosages of the
additives by dry weight of the soil.
2.3.4 Hydraulic Conductivity (k)
The hydraulic conductivity (k) of the unblended soil
and the soil blended with fly ash and RHA as per their
dosages was determined at their respective OMC and
MDD according to the variable head permeameter
method conforming to ASTM D2434.
2.3.5 Unconfined Compression Test
Undrained shear strength (ASTM 2000, D2166) of the
unblended soil and the soil blended with fly ash and
RHA based on their dosages was determined at their
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Geotech Geol Eng
respective OMC and MDD using cylindrical samples
(38 mm in diameter and 76 mm in length) by
conducting unconfined compression tests. The effect
of curing period was also studied by curing the
samples for 0, 7 and 28-days.
2.3.6 Swelling Pressure (ps)
The swelling pressure (ps) of the unblended soil and
the soil blended with fly ash and RHA as per their
dosages was determined in a cylindrical mould at their
respective OMC and MDD. The soil sample (or the
blend sample as the case may be) compacted in a
cylindrical mould which was soaked in water after
compaction underwent swell, and as it swelled, the
vertical swelling pressure was measured with the help
of a proving ring. The soil used in the swelling
pressure tests was also passed through 4.75 mm sieve.
3 Discussion of Test Results
3.1 General Observations
A lot of research has been done and is being done on
chemically modified expansive clays with a view to
studying the physical and engineering properties of the
clay-chemical blends at both laboratory and field
scales. There are various chemicals the effect of which
on clays in general emphasizing strength characteris-
tics and on expansive clays in particular focusing on
volume changes has been explored. So, a comparison
drawing the attention of the scientific community to
the depth and range of influence of different chemicals
on the above aspects is inevitable in such studies. By
way of comparison, this research sheds light on the
effect of fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA) on some
of the index and engineering properties of a remoulded
expansive clay. Both FA and RHA, as additives, have
a few striking similarities, a factor that necessitates an
attempt to compare the way they can influence some of
the significant index and engineering properties of
expansive clays. They both are very light materials
with a low specific gravity; and both are highly
siliceous materials, the amount of silica being higher
in RHA compared to FA. With a considerable
potential for producing effects such as flocculation
on clays, both FA and RHA, based on their dosages,
can result in reduced liquid limit (LL), plasticity index
Geotech Geol Eng
(PI) and free swell index (FSI), which are extremely
important index properties of expansive clays. They
can also effectively influence compaction character-
istics, hydraulic conductivity (k) and unconfined
compressive strength (kPa) among the engineering
properties of expansive clays. Hence, this comparative
study on the effect of FA and RHA—two very light,
siliceous materials—on the behavior of expansive
clays throws new light on and adds to what has been
done so far.
3.2 Effect of Fly Ash (FA) and Rice Husk Ash
(RHA) on Index Properties
Figure 1 shows the variation of liquid limit (LL),
plastic limit (PL) and plasticity index (PI) with fly ash
content. LL decreased significantly with increase in fly
ash content. For example, LL decreased from 84 to
44% when FA content increased from 0% to 30%,
showing a reduction of 48%. When expansive clay
particles are replaced by silt-sized fly ash particles, the
water content required for rendering the blend fluidy
(having liquid consistency) decreases. Hence, LL
decreases. Further, fly ash, being pozzolanic, induces
flocculation because of which the size of the blend
particles increases, which is also a reason for water
content required for rendering the blend fluidy
decreasing. The figure also shows that PL increased
slightly, which could also be attributed to flocculation.
Fig. 1 Effect of fly ash on 100
LL, PL and PI
90
80
70
Water content (%)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 5
PL increased by 16% when FA content increased from
0 to 30%. Plasticity index (PI), which is a numerical
difference between LL and PL, also significantly
decreased when FA content increased. PI decreased
from 55 to 10.5% when FA content increased from 0 to
30%, indicating negligible plasticity.
Figure 2 shows the variation of LL, PL and PI with
RHA content. LL decreased from 84 to 28% when
RHA content increased from 0 to 30%, indicating a
reduction of 64%. The reduction in LL by a huge
amount can be attributed more to the replacement of
expansive clay by RHA particles than to RHA causing
flocculation, though it is pozzolanic. As RHA is of a
very low specific gravity (G = 0.7), more number of
RHA particles replace the original expansive soil for a
given dosage. For the same reason, at 30% additive
content, LL decreased more in the case of RHA than
FA. Flocculation caused by RHA increased PL by
21% when RHA increased from 0 to 30%. PI
decreased from 55% to an extent that it was non-
plastic (NP).
Free swell index (FSI) is an important parameter in
the case of expansive soils. Phanikumar (1997) and
Phanikumar (2006) suggested that FSI could be used
as an index property of expansive soils because (1)
swelling characteristics could be predicted by FSI (2)
FSI is also determined on soil fraction passing 425 lm
sieve, and (3) FSI directly indicates the potential
expansiveness of a clay. Figure 3 shows, by compar-
Liquid limit (LL)
Plastic limit (PL)
Plasticity index (PI)
10 15 20 25 30 35
Fly ash content (%)
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 Geotech Geol Eng

Fig. 2 Effect of rice husk 90

ash on LL, PL and PI
80 Liquid limit (LL)

Plastic limit (PL)

70

Plasticity index (PI)

60

Water content (%)

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Rice husk ash content (%)

Fig. 3 Effect of fly ash and 140

RHA on FSI

120 Fly ash

100 Rice husk ash

80
FSI (%)

60

40

20

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Additive content (%)

ison, the variation of FSI with FA content and RHA
content. FSI decreased from 125 to 35% when FA
content increased from 0 to 30% indicating a reduction
of 72%; and FSI decreased from 125 to 20% when
RHA content increased from 0 to 30% indicating a
reduction of 84%. The reduction in FSI with increase
in FA content and RHA content can be attributed to
both replacement of expansive clay particles by FA
and RHA and also to flocculation they caused. Table 3
summarises the values of FSI, LL, PL and PI
corresponding to varying quantities of fly ash and rice
husk ash.

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Geotech Geol Eng

Table 3 Effect of fly ash Liquid limit, LL (%) Plastic limit, PL (%) Plasticity index, PI (%) FSI (%)
(FA) and rice husk ash
(RHA) on index properties Fly ash content (%)
0 84 29 55 125
5 79 30.5 49.5 118
10 74 31 43 100
15 68 31.5 36.5 85
20 62 32.5 29.5 70
25 54 33 21 50
30 44 33.5 10.5 35
Rice husk ash content (%)
0 84 29 55 125
5 80 30 50 108
10 73 31 42 92
15 66 32 34 75
20 52 34 18 60
25 40 35 5 45
30 28 NP NP 20

Fig. 4 Influence of fly ash 16

content on compaction
characteristics 0% Fly ash

10% Fly ash

15
Dry density (kN/m3)

20% Fly ash

30% Fly ash

14

13

12
10 15 20 25 30 35
Water content (%)

3.3 Effect of Fly Ash (FA) and Rice Husk Ash
(RHA) on Engineering Properties
3.3.1 Compaction Characteristics
Figure 4 shows the Proctor compaction curves for the
unblended soil and the soil blended with varying fly
ash contents (10, 20 and 30%). The data indicate that
the Proctor compaction curves shifted downwards and
towards left with increasing FA content. This means
that the maximum dry density (MDD) and the
optimum moisture content (OMC) decreased with
increase in fly ash content. As fly ash, a light weight
material, replaced the expansive clay in the blends, the
weight of the compacted cakes of FA-clay blends in
the Proctor mould decreased. Hence, the MDDs
decreased. Further, the amount of water required to
result in MDD (which is nothing but OMC) would be

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less in FA-clay blends of higher FA contents because
more number of clay particles (requiring larger
amount of water for MDDs) would be replaced by
fly ash. Hence, OMCs also decreased with increasing
FA content. For example, the MDD was 15.5, 15.1,
14.5 and 13.9 kN/m3 for the FA contents of 0, 10, 20
and 30% respectively. Similarly, the OMC was 25,
24.2, 23.6 and 23% respectively for the FA contents of
0, 10, 20 and 30%.
Figure 5 shows the Proctor compaction curves for
the unblended soil and the soil blended with varying
RHA contents (10, 20 and 30%). Proctor compaction
curves shifted downwards and towards right with
increasing RHA content, which means that the MDD
decreased but the OMC increased with increasing
RHA content. As RHA, a very light material, replaced
the expansive clay in the blends, the weights of the
compacted cakes of RHA-clay blends in the Proctor
mould decreased. Hence, the MDDs decreased. More-
over, RHA absorbs water and increases the water-
voids ratio in the RHA-clay blends. This phenomenon
becomes more predominant at higher RHA contents.
Hence, the OMCs increased with increasing RHA
content. For example, the MDD was 15.5, 14.7, 14 and
13.2 kN/m3 for the RHA contents of 0, 10, 20 and 30%
respectively. Similarly, the OMC was 25, 26.2, 27.8
and 29.4% respectively for the RHA contents of 0, 10,
20 and 30%.
Fig. 5 Influence of RHA 16
content on compaction
characteristics
15
Dry density (kN/m3)
14
13
12
11
10
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Geotech Geol Eng
3.3.2 Hydraulic Conductivity (k)
As already mentioned, hydraulic conductivity (k) of
FA-clay blends and RHA-clay blends was determined
at the respective OMC and MDD of the blends.
Figure 6 shows, by comparison, the variation of
hydraulic conductivity with FA content and RHA
content. The hydraulic conductivity of both FA-clay
blends and RHA-clay blends increased with increase
in additive content. However, for a given additive
content, the hydraulic conductivity of RHA-clay
blends was higher than that of FA-clay blends. The
hydraulic conductivity of FA-clay blends increased
with increase in FA content because the MDD of the
blends decreased with increased FA content (see
Fig. 4). As MDD decreased with FA content, the void
ratio (e) or void space of the compacted blends
increased. Hence, the hydraulic conductivity
increased with FA content. The hydraulic conductivity
of RHA-clay blends also increased with increase in
RHA content because of the reasons mentioned above
(see Fig. 5). However, the higher hydraulic conduc-
tivity of RHA-clay blends compared to that of FA-clay
blends for a given additive content can be attributed to
their MDDs being lower than the MDDs of FA-clay
blends (see Figs. 4 and 5) and also to the higher water
void ratios at higher RHA contents as indicated by
increasing OMCs (see Fig. 5). For example, the
hydraulic conductivity of FA-clay blends increased
from 4.6 9 10-7 to 1.8 9 10-6 cm/s and that of
0% RHA
10% RHA
20% RHA
30% RHA
15 20 25 30 35 40
Water content (%)
Geotech Geol Eng

Fig. 6 Variation of 6.00E-06

hydraulic conductivity with
additive content
5.00E-06 Fly ash

RHA
4.00E-06

k (cm/sec)
3.00E-06

2.00E-06

1.00E-06

0.00E+00
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Additive content (%)

RHA-clay blends increased from 4.6 9 10-7 to
5.5 9 10-6 cm/s when the additive content increased
from 0 to 30%.
3.3.3 Unconfined Compressive Strength
Figures 7 and 8 respectively show the variation of
UCS with fly ash content and RHA content for the
curing periods of 0, 7 and 28-days. At 0-days curing,
UCS decreased slightly with increasing FA content
and RHA content. This can be attributed to the
reduction in MDD with increasing FA content and
RHA content (see Figs. 4 and 5). However, UCS
increased with increase in FA content when the curing
period increased to 7 and 28-days. Further, for a given
additive content, the UCS for 28-days was higher than
that for 7-days. This can be attributed to increased
pozzolanic reaction with increasing additive content
and curing period. It may, however, be observed that,
for a given additive content, the UCS for FA-clay
blends was higher than that for RHA-clay blends.

Fig. 7 Effect of fly ash 600

content and curing period on
unconfined compresssive 0-days
strength 500
Unconfined compressive

7-days
400
strength (kPa)

28-days

300

200

100

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Fly ash content (%)

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Fig. 8 Effect of RHA 400

content and curing period on
unconfined compressive 350
strength 0-days

Unconfined compressive
300
7-days

strength (kPa)
250
28-days
200

150

100

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Rice husk ash content (%)

Fig. 9 Influence of fly ash 140

and RHA on swelling
pressure
120

Fly ash
100
Swelling pressure (kPa)

80
RHA

60

40

20

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Additive (%)

3.3.4 Swelling Pressure
Figure 9 shows, by comparison, the variation of
swelling pressure (kPa) with FA content and RHA
content. The swelling pressure of both FA-clay blends
and RHA-clay blends decreased significantly with FA
and RHA contents. For example, the swelling pressure
decreased from 120 to 20 kPa and 120 to 30 kPa
respectively for FA-clay blends and RHA-clay blends
when the FA and RHA contents increased from 0 to
30%. This can be attributed to reduced MDDs of both
the types of blends with increasing additive content.
Table 4 summarises the values of OMC, MDD,
swelling pressure (ps), hydraulic conductivity (k) un-
confined compressing strength (for different curing
periods) corresponding to varying quantities of fly ash
and rice husk ash. Table 4 summarises the engineering
properties of the expansive clay corresponding to
varying quantities of fly ash and rice husk ash.

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Table 4 Effect of fly ash (FA) and RHA on engineering properties

OMC (%) M DD (kN/m3) Swelling Hydraulic Unconfined compressive strength (kPa) for
pressure (kPa) conductivity, curing periods of
k (cm/s)
0 days 7 days 28 days

Fly ash content (%)

0 25 15.5 120 4.6 9 10-7 120 200 200
10 24.2 15.1 105 6.0 9 10-7 116 280 320
20 23.6 14.5 60 8.5 9 10-7 112 340 450
30 23 13.9 20 1.8 9 10-6 107 440 530
RHA content (%)
0 25 15.5 120 4.6 9 10-7 120 200 200
10 26.2 14.7 98 8.9 9 10-7 114 230 270
20 27.8 14 65 2.4 9 10-6 108 250 300
30 29.4 13.2 35 5.5 9 10-6 102 280 340

4 Conclusions decreased by 83 and 75% respectively at an FA

With a view to studying and comparing the effect of
two highly siliceous additives of low specific gravity
on the physical and engineering properties of highly
swelling expansive clays, a series of experiments has
been conducted on a remoulded expansive clay
blended with fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA).
Liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), plasticity index
(PI) and free swell index (FSI), and coefficient of
permeability (k), unconfined compressive strength and
swelling pressure were determined at varying quanti-
ties of FA and RHA. The study thus adds new aspects
to what has been done so far in this research area and
helps draw quite interesting and original conclusions.
The following conclusions can be drawn from the
experimental study:
1. Liquid limit (LL) and plasticity index (PI)
decreased significantly with increasing fly ash
content and RHA content. However, LL and PI
decreased more in the case of RHA than fly ash. At
30% RHA, the blend became non-plastic.
2. Free swell index (FSI) also decreased significantly
with increasing fly ash content and RHA content.
FSI of blends decreased by 72 and 84% respec-
tively at an FA content of 30% and at an RHA
content of 30%. Swelling pressure (ps) of the
blends also decreased notably with increasing FA
content and RHA content. Swelling pressure
content of 30% and at an RHA content of 30%.
3. While MDD decreased with increasing FA con-
tent and RHA content, OMC of FA-clay blends
decreased with FA content. However, OMC of
RHA-clay blends increased with RHA content.
Hence, hydraulic conductivity of both FA-clay
blends and RHA-clay blends increased with
increasing additive content.
4. Unconfined compressive strength (kPa) of the FA-
clay blends and the RHA-clay blends decreased
with increasing additive content when determined
without curing. However, the unconfined com-
pressive strength of the FA-clay blends and the
RHA-clay blends increased with increasing addi-
tive content when the samples were cured for 7
and 28-days. For a given additive content and
curing period, the unconfined compressive
strength of the FA-clay blends was higher than
that of the RHA-clay blends.
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