Factors Influencing Strength Development in Soft Soil Clay Mixed Rice Husk Ash Based Geopolymer

Abstract

This paper studies the use of rice husk ash (RHA) to improve compressive strength in soft soil clay (SSC) using alkaline liquid (L) based geopolymer. The research is carried out in a laboratory to investigate the compressive strength development of soil when changing some factors including RHA/SSC ratios, L/(RHA+SSC) ratios and curing time. The results revealed that the compressive strength increased with the increase in an amount of rice husk ash and curing time, and with the decrease in alkaline liquid. The compressive strength was 1550 kPa when sample was cured in room temperature for 28 days, with the RHA/SSC ratio of 0.5 and the L/(RHA+SSC) ratio of 0.4. In addition, with the result of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed a potential development of the compressive strength in soft soil clay reinforced by geopolymer rice husk ash.