California Bearing Ratio of Palm Oil Contaminated Subgrade under Soaked Condition.

Abstract

The effects of palm oil contaminant on the soaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of subgrade was investigated. The following objectives were set out in accordance with BS 1377: 1-8 (1990) and BS 1924 (1990); Particle Size Distribution, Atterberg Limits, Compaction and California Bearing Ratio for oil-palm contaminated and uncontaminated subgrade. Palm oil and four soil samples are used in this research work. The air-dried samples were contaminated with oil-palm at 0, 2.4, 6, 8 & 10% of the dry weight of the samples for 7 days thereafter air-dried for another 7 days. Laboratory experiments on the control (0%) and palm oil-contaminated subgrade samples were conducted after 24 hours of soaking the samples in accordance with BS 1924 (1990). It was found that the soaked CBR for the contaminated soil showed a lower values (17.45%, 24.80%, 49.50% and 21.50%) than the control CBR values (48.20%, 138.40%, 160.00 and 132.10%) for sample A, B, C and D respectively. It is therefore concluded that palm oil has a negative effect on the geotechnical properties and the mechanical strength of the soil hence it is not suitable in any Civil Engineering work.