Bagasse Ash Research Articles

EFFECT OF SUGARCANE BAGASSE ASH ON AA7075 ALLOY-BASED COMPOSITES PREPARED THROUGH STIR CASTING ROUTE

Al7075 is employed as the matrix material and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) is a reinforcing material in this work, which is targeted at creating lightweight metal matrix composites (MMCs) at a reasonable cost. Hybridized improved composite castings have been produced and industrial as per ASTM standards with changing wt.% of 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, and 16% wt.%, correspondingly, after mechanical testing for the evaluation of their strength. It is tested for hardness, tensile, impact, and flexural strength. Composites with hybrid enhanced metal matrix have greater tensile, hardness, and flexural strengths than single-reinforced MMCs. The composite’s tensile and flexural strengths were boosted by a 12[Formula: see text]wt.% increase in bagasse ash, which resulted in maximum values of 96.42% tensile and 23.58% flexural strength, respectively. As the bagasse weight percentage grew over 12%, these values fell, although Bagasse ash AA7075’s impact and ductility improved slightly.

Mechanical and Physiochemical Characteristics of Sandcrete Blocks Produced with Sustainable Biomaterials

The quest for sustainable construction materials is rapidly increasing; due to health hazards associated the traditional construction items. This research goal is to investigate how sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA), crushed periwinkle shells (CPS) and cassava starch (CS) incursion affects the engineering performance of sandcrete blocks, and the physiochemical qualities of their leachate. SBA was incorporated at a rate of 5, 10, 15 and 20% as substitution for cement; treated CPS (TCPS) and untreated CPS (UCPS) were add at a rate of 10, 15, 20 and 25% as partial replacement for sand; while 1% CS was added as integrity enhancer. A consistent cement–sand mix ratio of 1:8 and corresponding water–cement (w/c) ratio of 0.55 were employed across all 17 experimental units; and the blocks were cured using the irrigation technique. Likewise, the blocks were subjected to leaching condition (immersion in water) to collect their leachate. Chemical compositions of the SBA, sand, cement, CS and TCPS and UCPS were examined using the x–ray fluorescent technique, while the mechanical and physiochemical parameters of the blocks were studied in harmony with the American Society for Testing and Materials standards. The results obtained revealed that the mechanical and physiochemical qualities of the blocks were dependent on the volume of the bio–materials incorporated into the sandcrete. Furthermore, the findings showed that an environmentally friendly high–strength lightweight sandcrete blocks, meeting international requirement of 3.45 N/mm2 can be produced by incorporating 10% SBA, 15% TCPS and 1% CS into the sandcrete block. The research highlights the possibility of using agricultural waste materials in achieving sustainable materials for the housing industry.

Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Geopolymer Concrete Containing Fly Ash and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash

Portland cement plays a vital role in construction and building projects. However, its manufacturing process releases detrimental pollutants and contributes to climate change. The environmental concerns linked to the manufacturing of conventional Portland cement, such as its high energy demands, raw material consumption, and significant CO2 emissions, have prompted the need to look for alternatives such as geopolymer or green concrete. In addition, indiscriminate disposal of waste might have a detrimental effect on the environment. This paper investigates the mechanical and microstructural properties of geopolymer concrete incorporating fly ash and sugarcane bagasse ash as primary constituents. Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) was employed as a partial substitute for Fly Ash (FA), with varying proportions ranging from 5% to 20% with increments of 5%. Alkaline activators utilized were NaOH (14M) and Na2SiO3, with a ratio of 1.5. Various tests, including the slump test, compressive strength test, splitting tensile strength test, and flexural strength test, were performed. The microstructural characteristics were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis (EDS), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The results revealed that adding sugarcane bagasse ash influenced the workability of geopolymer concrete while enhancing its mechanical properties. The research findings have shown that the mixture comprising 5% SCBA has the greatest compressive strength of 64 MPa. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-04-018 Full Text: PDF

A Review of Non-wood Lignocellulose Waste Material Reinforced Concrete for Light-weight Construction Applications

In recent decades, non-wood lignocellulosic materials have gained significant attention, particularly in concrete applications for construction purposes. This study delves into utilising non-wood lignocellulosic materials for reinforcing concrete in construction applications. Lignocellulosic material emerges as a promising option for formulating new fibre cement compositions, thereby enhancing the sustainability, affordability, and performance of construction materials. Moreover, this research broadens the horizons of recycling agricultural waste by facilitating rational disposal and optimal utilisation. Through a comprehensive review, the study reveals that flax fibres, coir pith, prickly pear fibres, and rice husk ash waste exhibit superior workability compared to their counterparts. Furthermore, the strength of non-wood lignocellulosic reinforced concrete, incorporating bagasse ash, rice husk ash, and nutshell ash, peaked when fine aggregate replacement reached 15%, surpassing other types of non-wood lignocellulosic reinforced concrete. Adding a small quantity of prickly pear fibre to cement enhances the thermal conductivity of concrete, consequently improving compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus. This research is relevant to international research as it advances sustainable construction materials with desirable properties, benefiting society and various industries.

Komposit Bioactive Glass Berbasis Silika Abu Ampas Tebu dan Gum Mimba Menstimulasi Proses Remineralisasi Permukaan Gigi

Dentin hypersensitivity results from exposed dentinal tubules. One of the treatments used is remineralization of dentin and cementum. Bioactive glass (BAG) is a material that can stimulate the remineralization process due to its silica content. Sugarcane bagasse contains high levels of silica and is used as a BAG material. Adding binders and emulsifiers to paste forms increases bonding and stability and makes application easier. Neem gum is a polysaccharide, has emulsifying properties, and can unite two or more ingredients with different properties, increasing the strength of the ingredients. The study aims to analyse the effect of neem gum and bioactive glass composites based on silica bagasse ash on tooth remineralisation. There were three research groups, namely control (BAG paste), treatment A (hyaluronic acid BAG paste) and treatment B (BAG paste, hyaluronic acid and neem gum). The injection paste was applied to the teeth [using cow teeth] on the mesial surface, then soaked in artificial saliva for six days and stored in an incubator at 370C. The remineralization process was observed by forming hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) on the tooth root surface using a scoring method based on the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results. CA formation in the BAG, hyaluronic acid and neem gum composite group had a significantly (p<0.05) higher HCA formation score than the group without gum. The control group experienced a washout, so no HCA was formed. BAG composite paste with silica based on bagasse ash and neem gum stimulates the remineralization process marked by the formation of HCA on the tooth root surface.

Study on the Performance of Concrete Using Waste Glass and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash

Abstract: During cement production, the emission of CO2 has significant impact on environment. Apart from this, the extraction of natural aggregates and generation of industrial, agricultural and domestic waste also leads to environment degradation. The use of these waste materials not only helps to reduce the use of natural resources also helps to mitigate the environment pollution. The basic objective of this research is to investigate the effect of Waste Glass (WG) as partial replacement of fine aggregates and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) as partial replacement of cement in concrete. This study primarily deals with the characteristics of concrete, including compressive strength, workability and thermal stability of all concrete mixes at elevated temperature. Twenty-five mixes of concrete were prepared at different replacement levels of WG (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% & 40%) with fine aggregates and SCBA(0%, 5%, 10%, 15% & 20%) with cement. The water/cement ratio in all the mixes was kept at 0.55. The workability of concrete was tested immediately after preparing the concrete whereas the compressive strength of concrete was tested after 14, 28 and 60 days of curing. Based on the test results, a combination of 10% WG and 10% SCBA is the most significant for high strength and economical concrete. This research also indicates that the contribution of WG and SCBA doesn’t change the thermal properties of concrete

Production of cleaner binders by reusing agricultural by-products: An approach towards zero cement concrete for sustainable future infrastructure

Alkali-activated binders are considered a low carbon alternative for cement. However, it is important to address the carbon dioxide emission and high cost associated with the currently used commercial activators. Hence, recent studies focus on developing sustainable, low-cost alternative activators. Although rice husk ash derived activator is a potential alternative to commercial activators, studies on rice husk ash derived activator is highly limited. Hence, the present study focuses on the performance evaluation of alkali-activated binders using rice husk ash derived activators. The effect of activators is studied for bagasse based binary and ternary alkali-activated binders. Moreover, the influence of rice husk ash derived activators is meticulously compared with commercial sodium silicate derived activators. In addition, the influence of heat and ambient curing was also investigated. Mechanical, durability and microstructural properties of bagasse ash based alkali-activated binders were assessed. Bagasse ash-fly ash based binders activated using rice husk derived activators yielded the maximum compressive strength. However, bagasse ash-slag based binders with commercial sodium silicate activators exhibited higher performance than rice husk ash derived activators. In the case of bagasse ash-slag-fly ash based ternary binders, specimens activated using the rice husk ash derived activator had better performance than specimens activated using the other conventional activators. Even though the addition of 10% bagasse ash increased the performance of fly ash based binders, the incorporation of bagasse ash reduced the performance of slag and ternary alkali-activated binders. The results also showed that the rice husk ash based activator is a feasible alternative for the activation of bagasse based precursors to generate desirable mechanical strengths and durability.

Pemanfaatan Serabut Kelapa dan Abu Ampas Tebu Sebagai Substitusi Fiberglass dan Semen Pada Pembuatan GRC Board

In a construction project, the use of partition walls can cost quite a lot due to the high cost of raw materials used in partition walls. But unfortunately in the manufacture of GRC boards still use materials that are not environmentally friendly such as fiberglass (fiber fiber). Coconut fibers were used as additives because they have high tensile strength, while bagasse ash is used as a cement substitution to reduce production costs as well as help in reducing the amount of sugar industry waste. This study aims to find out the best mixture variations, density, water absorption,bending strength, hitting firmness, and price comparison. In this study, comparing conventional GRC Board with 3 variations of coconut fiber substitution mixture of 10%, 20%, 30% and bagasse ash 2.5%, 5%, 10% with a total of 48 samples and sizes for constancy tests at 20 cm x 20 cm x 0.6 cm and for flexural strength tests with a size of 10 cm x 10 cm x 0.6 cm. Mechanical testing based on SNI-01-4449-2006. The results of the test proved that the optimal mixture is in GRC Board D (30% coconut fiber and 2.5% bagasse ash) because it can produce better flexural strength and firmness than conventional GRC Board and GRC Board with bagasse ash and coconut fiber is 18% cheaper than conventional GRC Board.

Impact of Alkaline Concentration on the Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Concrete Made up of Fly Ash and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) is a novel and environmentally friendly type of concrete that eliminates the use of cement, resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions and a more sustainable construction material. Alkaline activators are used in GPC to achieve rapid strength development. The most popular alkaline activators are sodium/potassium silicate and sodium/potassium hydroxide, which are known contributors to carbon emissions, hence limiting the advantages of GPC; therefore, reducing the amount of these alkaline activators that contribute to carbon emissions is necessary for developing a more sustainable geopolymer concrete. In this study, the influence of the variation in sodium hydroxide molarities on the performance of fly ash/sugarcane bagasse ash-based-geopolymer concrete was investigated. The different molarities used were 10 M, 12 M, 14 M, and 16 M sodium hydroxide solutions. In addition, the effect of sugarcane bagasse ash content (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) on the fresh and hardened geopolymer concrete properties were examined. The slump test, compression test, split tensile test, and flexure test were conducted on the cast samples. The results of this study showed that raising the concentration of NaOH from 10 M to 16 M while maintaining a sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio of 2.5 resulted in a 3.75–10.2% improvement in compressive strength after 28 days. It is worth noting that, even at a concentration of 10 M, the concrete still achieved high strength.

Corrosion resistance of cement-based materials with sugarcane bagasse ash-metakaolin-Portland cement binder under carbonic acid water environment

This paper investigated the corrosion process of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA)-metakaolin (MK)-Portland cement (PC) system under carbonic acid water environment. The phases of cement paste before and after corrosion and microstructure were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the addition of SCBA to mortar does not significantly enhance overall strength or reduce corrosion depth, whereas MK exhibits superior strength (up to 13.1% higher than SCBA) and lower corrosion depth (up to 69.6% lower than SCBA after 90 days of corrosion). Furthermore, SCBA is more conducive to maintaining strength over time compared with MK. When both MK and SCBA are used in mortar, particularly with a MK content exceeding 15% and an SCBA content below 5%, the optimal corrosion resistance effectiveness can be achieved. This is attributed to the synergistic pozzolanic effect of MK and the filling effect of SCBA.

Unlocking Agronutrient Resources: Sorption Strategies for sugar-energy industry waste

Vinasse and ash from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) are key byproducts in the sugar-energy industry. Vinasse is nutrient-rich but environmentally challenging, while sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) offers excellent adsorbent for treating effluents. This work aims to assess the effectiveness of SCBA in removing nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) nutrients from Vinasse. Simulated standard solutions of K2SO4 and (NH4)2HPO4 were used to mimic the nutrient concentrations in Vinasse and optimize experimental parameters such as adsorbent mass and contact time. Kinetic and isotherm models were also applied to elucidate the underlying adsorption mechanisms. Structural, morphological, and thermal analyses revealed the micro-mesoporous and heterogeneous nature of SCBA, primarily composed of SiO2 (quartz and cristobalite). The sorption assessment indicated the ideal conditions involved lower SCBA masses (2.5 g) and 6 h of contact time for the simulated standard solutions. The replicated conditions for Vinasse (at an adjusted sorption time of 24 h) demonstrated nutrient sorption and pH correction of the Vinasse, attributed to the alkaline nature of SCBA. Analysis of the sorption kinetic models for K+ and NH4+ revealed that SCBA interacts diffusively with the environment, not necessarily controlled by adsorption on active sites, indicating non-uniform characteristics. The sorption isotherms for K+ and NH4+ showed the non-linearized Freundlich model was the most suitable, indicating the adsorption sites with varying energy levels and a multilayer sorption process. In conclusion, we successfully demonstrated the sorption of nutrients from Vinasse by SCBA, enhancing the value of these residues and mitigating their environmental impact when used in agricultural applications.

Comparative Studies of the Physico-Mechanical Characterization of Ugwuoba Clay with Admixtures of Corncob and Sugarcane Bagasse Ashes

An investigation into the effects of combustible materials on the refractory properties of Ugwuoba clay, using sugarcane bagasse ash and corncob ash has been undertaken. Ugwuoba clay was sourced from Ugwuoba town in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State. Sugarcane bagasse were collected at Lokpanta, a Fulani settlement in Okigwe Community, Imo State, while corncobs were collected at New Artisan Market in Enugu Metropolis. The clay was processed using standard beneficiation and purification procedures at the Ceramics Department of Projects Development Agency (PRODA), Enugu. The sugarcane bagasse and corncobs were each and separately calcined into amorphous ash by heating in a furnace at 650oC. The refractory blends were compounded at the ratio of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40 for Ugwuoba clay (UGC) to Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SBA) and Ugwuoba Clay (UGC) to Corncob Ash (CCA) separately and respectively. These blends were subsequently molded into the standard test pieces for the various properties determination and subjected to firing at temperatures of 900oC, 1000oC, 1100oC and 1200oC. Thereafter, the fired samples were characterized for fired shrinkages, total shrinkages, apparent porosities, water absorption coefficients, apparent densities, bulk densities and moduli of rupture. The results obtained for each of the blends showed that the values were within the tolerable limits for industrial refractories with the 10%SBA and the 20%CCA blends showing the best results. Comparatively however, the 10%SBA produced the better of these properties than the 20%CCA. A conclusion is drawn to the effect that both sugarcane bagasse ash and corncob ash can serve as good organic admixtures for refractory bricks production for the lining of melting furnaces in the metals industry, hence opening new frontiers for recycling of these agricultural wastes for environmental safety and economic development in Nigeria.

Development of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash Blended Cementitious Composites Reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes and Polypropylene Fibers

Cement-based composites, as primary construction materials, have undergone significant advancements over the years, yet researchers still face challenges in terms of their durability and impact on the environment. The goal of this research is to develop environmentally friendly cementitious composites blended with sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and reinforce them with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polypropylene (PP) fibers. Because of the high cost associated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and PP fibers, as well as CO2 emission, which affect the economic and environmental aspects of this field, an agricultural waste such as SCBA was introduced in the current study that is both economically and environmentally viable. For this purpose, five mixes were designed by varying the CNTs content whilst keeping the PP fibers and SCBA contents constant at 1.5% and 15% by weight of the binder (ordinary Portland cement + SCBA), respectively. The developed blends were tested for various mechanical and durability properties, i.e., compressive strength, flexural strength, impact strength, water absorption, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. Moreover, the microstructures of the newly developed low-carbon SCBA-based composites reinforced with PP fibers and CNTs were studied through scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results showed that the developed blends incorporating 15% SCBA, 1.5% PP fibers, and 0.08% CNTs, by weight of the binder, demonstrated the compressive, flexural, and impact strengths as 15.30 MPa, 0.98 MPa, and 0.11 MPa, respectively. The investigated blends proved to be cost-effective and environmentally beneficial, rendering them suitable for utilization in general construction and maintenance works.

Promoted catalytic performance of sugarcane bagasse ash supported by γ‐alumina as efficient, stable, and ecofriendly catalyst for dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether

AbstractThe aim of this study was to use different proportions (1% to 20% by weight) of γ‐alumina to modify sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) for the production of dimethyl ether (DME) through the dehydration of methyl alcohol. A simple precipitation method was utilized to fabricate (1–20 wt.%) Al2O3/SCBA catalysts. X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and N2 sorption were used to explore the structural, spectroscopic, morphological, and textural features. The XRD pattern of Al2O3/SCBA catalysts showed a new peak that corresponded to the formation of γ‐Al2O3. In addition, the average crystallite sizes of pure SCBA and 10% and 20%Al2O3/SCBA catalysts were calculated and found to be 20.1, 21.6, and 22.6 nm, respectively. To evaluate the acidity of these catalysts, the dehydration of isopropyl alcohol and the chemisorption of basic probe molecules were employed. The acidity test results displayed that these catalysts have weak to moderate acidic sites. The 10% Al2O3/SCBA catalyst calcined at 400°C showed high efficiency for the conversion of methyl alcohol to DME, attaining 89% conversion with 100% selectivity. This observation can be attributed to the even distribution of active sites and the acid–base equilibrium on the surface. Moreover, its catalytic activity and selectivity remain unchanged over a continuous 2‐week operation without coke formation, demonstrating its extremely high stability. A strong correlation was observed between the catalytic activity and both the surface area and acidity of the catalysts.

SUGARCANE BAGASSE ASH AS A PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF CEMENT FOR PRODUCING COMPRESSED STABILIZED EARTH BLOCKS

The masonry blocks traditionally used in construction are associated with high energy consumption and significant emissions generation, placing a significant burden on the Earth's resources and alarming global warming and carbon footprint. For this reason, compressed stabilized earth blocks represent a satisfactory, lower-impact alternative to improve the physical and mechanical behavior of the soil mix. To achieve this, compressed stabilized soil blocks were developed using locally available sandy silt-type soil. This soil was stabilized using 12% GU-type cement and 3% sugarcane bagasse ash, a residue of the agro-industry with the highest production by weight in Ecuador, with a generation of 25 to 40 kg for each ton of bagasse incinerated. Blocks with dimensions of 13 cm x 6 cm x 5.5 cm were manufactured, compacted to optimum moisture content, and cured for 14 and 28 days. Finally, they were tested for compressive strength, flexural strength, and water absorption. The results obtained showed compliance with the requirements of various international standards.

Sustainable Geotechnics: Harnessing Bagasse Ash and E-Waste for Improving Soil Performance

This study addresses the prevalent issue of expanding soils in India, which exhibit a propensity to shrink and swell in response to changes in moisture content. Because of their high porosity and poor permeability, expansive soils can seriously jeopardize a structure's ability to support its weight. This study was aimed to use industrial waste like Bagasse ash and processed E-waste in a different ratio. Locally available soil from Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was considered for experimental investigation. First optimum Bagasse ash content from different ratio (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) by weight of soil is determined and then E-waste in different ratios (2.5%, 5% and 7.5%) was blended in soil. To determine enhancement in soil strength various test like California Bearing Ratio, Unconfined Compressive Strength was done. Optimum Bagasse ash content was determined as 15% and E-waste was 7.5%. Results from the experimental test indicate that the addition of E-waste combined with Bagasse ash improves soil strength in terms of CBR and UCS values. These test results will be helpful in the development and design of pavements and road construction in rural areas.

Structural behaviour of reinforced concrete beams containing recycled polyethylene terephthalate and sugarcane bagasse ash

Concrete is a widely used construction product. This product is presently concerned with the depleting nature of natural sand. Concrete is also being considered with supplementary materials to enhance its footprints. Hence, this study's goal is to examine the performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams consisting of sustainable materials. The study seeks to qualify the use of concrete made using Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) and Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (RPET) as structural elements. Proportionately, 10 % RPET is used to partially substitute sand, and 5 % SCBA is used to partially substitute cement. The innovation of this study is in the dual substitution approach and structural behaviour examination. The research probes how RPET and SCBA affect the RC beams’ flexural and shear capacities. The tests are completed ensuing 28 days of water curing. Three RC beams are made for each of the conventional concrete and SCBA-RPET concrete. A set of beams is made for the shear capacity test, while another set is made to examine flexural capacity. The beam dimensions are 160 × 200 × 1200mm3. The findings inform that the beams made with 5 % SCBA and 10 % RPET have a flexural capacity of 11 % less than the conventional beams'. However, the SCBA-RPET beams revealed a shear capacity that is 17.38 % more than the conventional beams'. The crack patterns during and after the shear and flexural strength tests are similar and comparable for the SCBA-RPET beams and the conventional beams. Thus, a sustainable concrete mix suitable for use as a structural beam is derived.

High performance selfcompacting concrete with addition of sugarcane bagasse ash

With the advancement of studies on self-compacting concrete (SCC), improvements in the strength and quality of concrete can come from products with lower costs and non-conventional, such as sugarcane bagasse ash (CBC). Therefore, the main objective of the work is to demonstrate that it is possible to develop SCC with lower cost, good resistance to axial compression, with good physical properties and sustainable, as the ash does not have an adequate destination, it is simply discarded in the environment, without aggregation of value. This ash can be used as a replacement for cement, as it has pozzolanic characteristics and is a material that reduces voids in concrete, making the concrete obtain better properties, such as those observed here in the segregation and axial compression resistance tests, in addition to to reduce the cost of concrete.

A laboratory investigation and numerical modeling on fiber reinforced lime and alkaline binder stabilized pavement subgrade soil

The differential settlement and excessive deflection in expansive subgrade soils lead to low volumetric stability upon moisture imbalance and cause severe damage to highway and airport field pavement surfaces. The present paper attempts to strengthen the stability behavior of expansive subgrade soil using an envirosafe alkaline binder (AB) with polypropylene fiber (PLF). AB was produced by combining dry aluminosilicate precursors (steel slag [SS] and sugarcane bagasse ash [SBA]) with a liquid activator (mixture of sodium hydroxide [NaOH] and sodium silicate [Na2SiO3]) in 0.4 water to binder (w/b) ratio. California bearing ratio (CBR) based resilient modulus, shear strength ratio (Sr), and consolidation tests were conducted as performance indicators of expansive subgrade soil reinforced with discrete PLF (0–0.5%) in 6% lime and 6% alkaline binder. The study also proposes the optimal sugarcane bagasse ash-steel slag-PLF dosage in the AB-stabilized subgrade layer. Moreover, mineralogical and morphological studies using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were also carried out to understand the crystalline compounds and micro surface texture of the soil-fiber mixture. It was revealed that AB-fiber-soil exhibits higher interfacial frictional bonding and interlocking density than lime-fiber-soil. Also, 2D finite element analyses were carried out to compare the behavior of subgrade under the influence of vehicular load on the surface. PLF-AB soil mixture shows 72% lower vertical deformation than unstabilized expansive soil. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations for the practical application of stabilizing expansive subgrade soils were proposed.

Experimental and numerical analysis of the mechanical behavior of bagasse ash concrete

Experimental and numerical analysis of the mechanical behavior of bagasse ash concrete