Effects of Corn Starch and Corn Silk Binary Blends on the Strength Properties of A Soft Clay: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effects of corn silk (CS) and corn starch (S) on the compaction properties, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and flexural strength (FS) of a soft clay. The morphology changes of the treated clay were assessed through microstructural investigations. The findings revealed that the combination of CS and S improved the UCS and FS of the soft clay through hydrogen bonding and fiber–soil interaction that enhanced the adhesion forces between soil particles as reflected in the appearance of a denser soil structure in VPSEM images. The optimum percentage of additives was found to be 0.5% CS and 4% S that recorded the highest UCS and FS. Contrarily, it was observed that the UCS and FS decreased with increasing percentages of additives due to the dominant fiber-fiber and polymer–polymer interaction that reduced the contact between soil particles. The statistical analysis suggests that the treatment methods and curing durations portray significantly different effects on the UCS and FS development of the soft clay. In general, the findings from this study demonstrate that CS and S can be utilized as effective stabilizers for weak soils in soil stabilization projects.