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Engineering Properties of Loess-Fly Ash Mixtures for Roadbase Construction

Southwest Indiana has large deposits of wind-blown loess. Similar deposits are found in other states, including Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska. These soils consist of uniform silt with a plasticity index ranging from 0 to 10. This material is suitable for road construction if it is compacted dry of optimum. However, the material is difficult to work after it becomes wet, which commonly results in construction delays. Indiana also has large stockpiles of Class C fly ash from coal-burning power plants. The ash has cementitious properties after hydration (because of the high calcium content) and can be mixed with native soil to produce a weakly cemented soil. Significant interest exists at the Indiana Department of Transportation about the possibility of using Class C fly ash to improve the engineering properties of Indiana loess soils. The results of a laboratory testing program on the properties of loess–fly ash mixtures are presented. Various percentages of fly ash were mixed with loess soil and specimens were permitted to cure for 3 h to 28 days. Pure loess also was tested for comparison. Changes in Atterberg limits, moisture-density relationships, swell potential, and unconfined compression strength are presented. Based on this testing program, a simple method was developed to determine the optimum fly ash content for construction of a workable loess roadbed to avoid delays in construction due to wet conditions. The data presented will be useful for evaluating the stabilization of loess soils with Class C fly ash in Indiana and other states with significant loess soil deposits.