Impact of Sodium Silicate Activator on Compressive Strength of Cement- RHA Based Stabilized Lateritic Soil. A Case Study of Kwali, Abuja FCT, Nigeria

Abstract

The strength of a fine-grained lateritic soil from three (3) different locations on Abuja – Lokoja road where road failure occur was treated with sodium silicate activator (SSA), cement and rice husk ash (RSA) with varying percentage scrutinized by means of Atterberg, compaction and triaxial shear tests. The result reveals that cement additive improved the lateritic soil from Liquid limit values of 41.25 at 0% to 44.36 at 8%, but reduces at 10% to 35.67, while RHA increases at increased percentages. The MDD improved with increase in the quantities of all the additive (SSA, cement and RHA) content, while OMC for both cement and RHA reduces from 18.65% at 0% to 11.71 and 18.05 respectively. It reveals cohesion of the soil at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% to be 19, 39, 49, 55, 58 and 65 KN/m2 respectively, with highest angle of 650 and lowest of 370. This implies that the cohesion of the improved sample was satisfied since the improved angle of internal friction is above the angle that makes soil very plastic which is 280. Keywords: Geopolymer. Sodium silicate, rice hush ash, Triaxial, Abuja.