Impact of using a blend of bagasse ash and polyester fiber in black cotton soil for improvement of mechanical and geotechnical properties of soil

Abstract

• Polyester fibre (PF) and bagasse ash (BA) used for soil stabilisation • Black Cotton Soil (BCS) was stabilised using PF and bagasse ash. • Varying proportions of bagasse ash of 0%, 4%, 8% and PF of 0%, 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.60% of the weight of the soil were mixed. • liquid limit(LL), plastic limit(PL), specific gravity(SG), grain distribution of soil, standard proctor(SP) test and CBR test were performed. • Outcomes shows that the optimum percentage of BA and PF increases the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test values of soil, i.e., strength of the soil. Black cotton soil (BCS) undergoes high enlargement and contraction due to variation in water content. Swelling and shrinkage properties of BCS can be improved by reinforcing it with different materials. We need to use stabilisation and reinforcement techniques to enhance the geotechnical properties of such soils. Stabilization of BCS is one of the major problems. We can use polyester fibre (PF) and bagasse ash (BA) for soil stabilisation for various engineering purposes. Since this waste is not environment-friendly, we have to recycle and reuse it. In the present study, BCS is stabilised using PF and bagasse ash. For stabilising the BCS, varying proportions of bagasse ash of 0%, 4%, 8% and PF of 0%, 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.60% of the weight of the soil were mixed and various tests such as liquid limit(LL), plastic limit(PL), specific gravity(SG), grain distribution of soil, Standard Proctor(SP) test, and California Bearing Ratio(CBR) test were performed. The outcomes show that the optimum % of BA and PF rises the CBR Tests, i.e., the strength of the soil.