An experimental study on engineering behaviour of lime and bagasse fibre reinforced expansive soils

© 2017 19th ICSMGE Secretariat. All rights reserved. This investigation exhibits a series of laboratory tests conducted to evaluate the influences of bagasse fibre and hydrated lime addition on the engineering properties and swelling behaviour of stabilised expansive soils. Bagasse fibre is industrial waste byproduct left after crushing of sugar-cane for juice extraction, used in this study as a reinforcing component for expansive soil stabilisation. The expansive soils used in this investigation were collected from Queensland, Australia. Varying proportions of randomly distributed bagasse fibre of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% were added to expansive soil and lime-treated expansive soil to investigate the influences of bagasse fibre on the engineering characteristics of stabilised soil. Results of California bearing capacity (CBR), swell potential and one-dimensional consolidation tests after various curing time are presented and discussed in detail. The findings of this experimental investigation indicate that expansive soil reinforcement, blended with bagasse fibre and lime leads to a significant increase in the compressive strength and the bearing capacity of expansive soil. Meanwhile, the swell potential and compressibility of stabilised expansive soils decreased with increasing lime and bagasse fibre contents