Effect of Bamboo Fiber and C&D Waste on Moisture Content and Compressive Strength Relationship for Cement Stabilized Rammed Earth

Abstract

Cement stabilized rammed earth (CSRE) can be seen today as a load-bearing wall but the strength and stability of these walls can be increased by adding stabilizer such as cement, lime, and other binder. To stabilize earthen material and to achieve required strength, soil is generally reconstituted using sand, but it can also be replaced with construction and demolished waste (C&D) having gradation similar to sand. It can be further reinforced with natural fiber such as bamboo, which is renewable, natural, and very long growing structures in longitude direction. Bamboo fiber is added at a rate of 1%, 3% by weight to the mixture, and the strength of CSRE prisms were examined under compression. The compressive strength of CSRE increases with increases in dry density, and dry density is sensitive to moisture content. Prisms under compression were studied with and without bamboo fiber and construction and demolished (C&D) waste under dry condition and fully saturated condition, which shows increase and decreases in strength. Result shows that the addition of bamboo fiber in CSRE increases the durability, strength, and sustainability.