An evaluation of the compressive and shear strength of an alternative material : stabilized fine-grained fly ash

Abstract

Paper presented at the 33rd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 7-10 July 2014 "Leading Transport into the Future", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.

The potential use of alternative materials is sometimes limited by the lack of performance data. Appropriate laboratory studies can provide information on their performance. Two grades of fine grained fly ash samples without course fractions are being investigated for potential and appropriate application as road construction material. In the current phase of the study, the samples are treated with the minimum required amounts of lime and cement as well as an enzyme-based liquid stabilizer. The bulk mechanical properties are quantified using the unconfined compressive strength and static triaxial tests. The results show that moderate to high compressive and shear strength values are achievable with the minimum required amounts of cement and lime to stabilise the unclassified fine grained fly ash. The stabilisation with the enzyme-based liquid stabiliser has potential for application.