Using fly ash-plastic mesh bags wastes mixture as a recoverable resource for soil stabilization

Abstract

ABSTRACT Soil stabilization by waste materials such as fly ash and plastic waste is a sustainable approach that has shown promising improvements. However, research has primarily focused on their individual effects and on the use of conventional plastic materials possessing smooth surface, leaving a gap in understanding the individual and combined influence of plastic mesh textile bags (WPTB), known for their rough texture. The current study aims to assess the soil compaction and shear behaviors treated with fly ash (10-30%) and WPTB at varying lengths and concentrations (0.5-1.5%). Subsequently, a combination of the optimal 25% fly ash with WPTB was evaluated. The results when compared with the untreated soil, indicated significant improvements by 8.93% for dry unit weight, 80.26% for cohesion and 148.4% for angle of friction when combining 25% fly ash with 0.5% plastic strips of 5 cm length. Overall, these materials hold potential for enhancing construction and mitigating environmental hazards.