Examination of the mechanical properties and failure pattern of soilcrete mixtures modified with rice husk ash

Abstract

This paper evaluates the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), stability (bleeding), modulus of elasticity and failure patterns of cement-based grout mixtures that were prepared by placing of rice husk ash (RHA) with cement at various water to binder (w/b) ratios. In order to investigate these parameters, UCS and bleeding tests were conducted on the soilcrete samples that prepared at 5, 10, 20 and 30% replacement level of RHA with cement for .75, 1.00 and 1.25 w/b ratios. Test results showed that the UCS values of the samples for 28 day curing are higher than 1 MPa and E/q _u ratios obtained from soilcrete mixtures were less than the corresponding value from slurry clay–cement mixes given in the literature. In addition, all bleeding test results are lower than the level of .5%. Finally, most of the mixtures prepared for this study failed along foliations.

Keywords:

• Rice husk ash
• soilcrete
• jet grouting bleeding
• elastic modulus
• unconfined compressive strength