STABILIZATION OF SOIL USING CEMENT AND BALE STRAW

Abstract

In developing countries, raw earth used as a construction material is the most cost effective, easily handled
and abundantly available ingredient for housing construction. Mud construction have a great affinity for water but it is
badly affected when intercourse with water. In order to make the earthen buildings water resistant and durable, different
stabilizers such as cement, lime, fly ash etc. are widely used. This research aimed at finding out the 28 days compressive
strength of locally available soil stabilizer with cement and reinforced with bale straw in different percentage. For this
purpose soil sample (taken from Zangali, Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa) is stabilized with 10% cement by dry weight of soil
and reinforced with bale straw. Different samples were tested varying bale straw percentage from 1% to 4% by dry
weight of soil keeping the cement content up to 10% in all samples except the controlled samples. Tests were conducted
on these samples revealing a decreased in compressive strength using 10% stabilizer and 1% straw bale while an
increase in compressive strength have been observed when more straw bale were added to the soil samples.