Study on Dielectric Properties of Rice Husk Ash Stabilized Soil

Abstract

This study explored the impact of organic soil stabilizing agent on the engineering behaviors of subsoil commonly used for engineering applications in Nigeria. The soil obtained from a borrow pit and air-dried under laboratory conditions (30±5oC and 81±7% relative humidity). The dried soil sample was stabilized with rice husk ash (RHA) at the rate of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% (by mass of the soil) and cured for 14 days under natural conditions. A J-band microwave at a frequency of 7.0 GHz was used to measure the dielectric properties, while the standard proctor compaction test was used to determine the maximum dry density “MDD” and optimal moisture content “OMC” of the soil samples. Results obtained from the study depicted that the RHA had a significant effect on both the electrical properties of the soil. It was noted from the findings that, as the quantity of RHA used in stabilizing the soil increased from 0 to 10%, MDD values declined non-linearly from 1.61-1.42 g/cm3, while the OMC values inclined in a non-linear pattern from 14.8 - 17.1%. Similarly, the study results indicated that the soil dielectric constant and loss increased from 3.41 to 5.13 and 0.91 to 1.44 respectively, as the RHA incorporated into the soil raised by 10%. Present findings offer valuable insights into the fields of civil and electrical engineering, especially in the context of soil treatment for engineering applications.