STABILIZATION OF SOIL IN WATER LOGGED AREAS USING BAMBOO ASH

Water-logged soils are a persistent challenge in geotechnical engineering, especially in tropical regions where high rainfall and poor drainage lead to saturated ground conditions. These soils typically exhibit low shear strength, high compressibility, and poor loadbearing capacity, making them unsuitable for construction without prior treatment. In this study, bamboo ash especially bamboo leaf ash (BLA) was assessed for its ability in improving soil strength, reducing permeability, and enhancing durability. Soil samples were collected from water-logged areas and classified using standard geotechnical tests. These soils fell under the category of high-plasticity clays or silts, which are prone to swelling, shrinkage, and settlement. Bamboo leaves were collected from a local source market. The bamboo ash was mixed with soil in varying proportions 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight. The mixture was thoroughly blended and compacted using standard procedures. Test that were carried out include; Atterberg Limits test to assess changes in plasticity and consistency; Compaction; tests to determine optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD); California Bearing Ratio (CBR) to evaluate load-bearing capacity. The results showed that bamboo ash significantly increases shear strength, especially at an optimal content of around 4% to 6%, The plasticity index decreases, indicating better dimensional stability and reduced swelling/shrinkage behavior; CBR values improved, making the soil more suitable for subgrade and foundation applications.