Energy Absorption Properties of Fly Ash–Cement Treated Soil Reinforced with Bagasse and Glass Fibre Wastes Based on UU Triaxial Tests

Abstract

Energy absorption of soil–fly ash and soil–cement mixes have been widely studied. However, the study on the effect of waste materials such as sugarcane bagasse fibre and glass fibre on the energy absorption of soil–fly ash–cement–bagasse fibre (SACB) and soil–fly ash–cement–glass fibre (SACG) mixes is limited. A series of unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests were conducted for different combinations of materials. The fly ash content was kept as 30% by weight of dry soil while the cement content was varied from 0.5 to 2%. The percentages of both bagasse and glass fibres were varied from 0.25 to 1%. The increase in fibre content had an increasing effect on the energy absorption ability of SACB and SACG specimens. Glass fibre inclusions gave higher energy absorption than that of the bagasse fibre. Effect of curing on deviatoric stress and energy absorption over a period of 28 days was studied. Curing had a significant influence on the energy absorption of different specimens. This paper presents the comparative results of the effect of bagasse and glass fibres on the energy absorption properties of different specimens. It was observed that in addition to soil stabilization using fly ash and cement, the fibre reinforcement resulted in higher energy absorption by the specimens.