Dimensionnal stability and strength appraisal of termite hill soil stabilisation using hybrid bio-waste and cement for eco-friendly housing

Abstract

Dimensional stability and compressive strength are key factors to consider when modelling earth-based materials. It defines the volumetric performance of earth-based materials upon wet and dry environment. Meanwhile, the deformation under compression loading is accessed with the compressive strength testing. This study is aimed to use locally available materials considered as waste to model sustainable construction materials through soil stabilisation technique. The utilization of biowaste in this study is aimed to reduce the amount of waste produced in the agricultural sector in addition to the promotion of this material locally in the construction field. Cement was used as stabilizer to establish the performances of the waste-based stabilizer when mixed with conventional stabilizer or partnerless. Borassus fruit ash and cement were used both in solo, and hybrid mix (5wt%, 10wt%) to stabilize termite mound soil in the mix design. The mix design was analyzed microstructurally with scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to understand the effect of each stabilizer on the microstructural level. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) was conducted to identify the functional group present in each mix design to establish the influence of both stabilisers on the bonding mechanism. The mix design was also tested for water sensitivity, linear shrinkage, and compressive strength. From the results, samples containing 10wt% hybrid borassus fruit ash/cement exhibited higher content of Silicon, Aluminum, and Iron consequently satisfactory compressive strength. For hybrid stabilisation of earth-based materials, preference is given to 10wt% stabilisation level. The results of this study are analyzed to reduce the footprint of agricultural waste and to model locally available materials into sustainable housing materials.