PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF LATERITIC SOIL WITH CEMENT AND COW DUNG ASH

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the performance of lateritic soil stabilized with cement and cow dung at additive percentages of 0%, 10%, 12%, 14%, and 16%, with the aim of improving its suitability for highway construction. Laboratory evaluation include Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, permeability, moisture content, and particle size distribution.The Atterberg limits of the natural soil (0% additive) were LL = 24.3%, PL = 16.8%, and PI = 7.5%. Increasing the additive percentages slightly altered the liquid and plastic limits and generally reduced the plasticity index, indicating a decrease in soil plasticity. The compaction results showed that the maximum dry density (MDD) increased from 1.42 g/cm³ at 0% additive to 3.20 g/cm³ at 10%. 4.91 × 10⁻⁸ m/s at 0% to 1.06 × 10⁻⁸ m/s at 16%, indicating improved resistance to water flow. The average natural moisture content was observed to be 17.7%, providing a baseline for assessing compaction and stabilization behaviour. Sieve analysis revealed that the soil is well-graded, with particle sizes ranging from coarse gravel to fine sand, confirming its suitability for subgrade applications.Overall, the results indicate that the combination of cement and cow dung effectively enhances the engineering properties of lateritic soil, by reducing plasticity, improving compaction, and lowering permeability. This demonstrate that the stabilizing blend provides an economical approach to soil improvement for road construction and other civil engineering application.