Strength Parameters of Untanned Leather Ash Mixed Expansive Soil

Abstract

Black cotton soil (Expansive soil) is very weak in bearing capacity and does not have sufficient stability for any type of construction work to be done on it. So, improving its engineering properties is very essential. It swells and shrinks excessively with change of water content. So, stabilization of black cotton soil has been done using untanned leather waste ash in the present study. To know the optimum quantity of untanned leather ash to enhance the strength and decrease swelling and shrinkage property, leather waste ash was added to the black cotton soil by weight in the percentage concentration of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%. The leather waste used in this present study contains lime in good proportion though major part of the waste is directly dumped into landfills. Black cotton soil having high cation exchange properties can be stabilized using this lime content. The present study is based upon use of the lime containing leather waste ash for enhancement of the expansive soil strength.