JETI

Temitope Babalogbon

Olugbenga Oludolapo Amu

Engr. Prof. Olugbenga Oludolapo Amu is a seasoned Professor of Civil Engineering at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Nigeria, with nearly three decades of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership. He holds B.Tech, M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering, with his doctorate from Obafemi Awolowo University. A former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at FUOYE, Prof. Amu is renowned for his contributions to transportation and geotechnical engineering, particularly in the sustainable stabilization of lateritic soils using agricultural and industrial by-products. His research focuses on eco-friendly construction materials and sustainable infrastructure development, with numerous publications in reputable journals. He is also a dedicated mentor and supervisor, committed to developing future engineers through practical and research-based training.

Abstract

Lateritic soils are the most commonly used natural materials for road construction in Nigeria, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. However, these soils often exhibit poor geotechnical properties, such as high plasticity, low strength, and poor load-bearing capacity, making them unsuitable for use as subgrade or sub-base materials without stabilization. This study investigates the effectiveness of cow dung ash (CDA) as an eco-friendly, locally available stabilizing agent for improving the subgrade improvement using lateritic soils obtained from three locations in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study involved comprehensive laboratory investigations, including soil classification tests, chemical composition analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and stabilization tests using CDA in varying proportions of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight. Key geotechnical tests performed included Compaction (MDD and OMC), Atterberg Limits, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), and Triaxial Shear Strength. Statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA was employed to assess the significance of the changes in soil properties due to CDA addition. Results showed that the addition of CDA led to a significant improvement in strength and consistency characteristics of the lateritic soils. The optimum improvement in engineering properties was observed at 4% to 6% CDA, where CBR and UCS values increased substantially, and plasticity index reduced, indicating better workability and load-bearing potential. The chemical analysis revealed that CDA meets the ASTM C618 requirement for pozzolanic materials, with a combined oxide content (SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + Fe₂O₃) of 78.959%. However, while CDA significantly improved the strength characteristics of the soils, the UCS values remained below the 1710 kN/m² benchmark required for sub-base stabilization as per TRRL (1977), indicating its suitability primarily for subgrade applications. The study concludes that cow dung ash is a viable, sustainable, and low-cost alternative for improving the performance of weak lateritic soils in rural road construction. This research contributes to environmental sustainability through waste reuse and provides critical baseline data for geotechnical applications involving organic-based soil stabilizers in Nigeria.

References

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