Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology (SJEAT)
Volume-1 | Issue-01 | 5-19
Research Article
Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Bagasse Ash Treated Foundry Sand
G. Moses, K. J. Osinubi
Published : Jan. 31, 2016
Abstract
Laboratory investigations were conducted to assess the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of foundry sand
waste treated with up to 8% bagasse ash (a pozzolana) by dry weight of soil. Specimens were prepared at molding water
contents -2, 0 and +2 of the optimum moisture content using the four energy levels of reduced British Standard light,
British Standard light, West African Standard, and British Standard heavy. The predicted unsaturated hydraulic
conductivity of specimens were determined using the Brooks-Corey (BC) and Van Genuchten‟s (VG) models from
results of the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC). The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity decreases with increasing
matric suction for both models. While the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity decreases with increasing moulding water
content regardless of the compactive effort and bagasse ash content. The VG model gave a clearer trend as regarding the
influence of increasing bagasse ash content of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of treated and untreated specimen.
Finally, 2% and 4% bagasse ash treatment of specimens were the main treatment level of interest gave satisfactory for
use in covers for waste containment facility as the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity values generally recorded
satisfactory low values.