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    Engineering Properties and Microscopic Mechanism of Expansive Soils Improved by Biochar and Bagasse Fibers

    Source: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering:;2025:;Volume ( 037 ):;issue: 005::page 04025098-1
    Author:
    Shaokun Ma
    ,
    Huan Yue
    ,
    Benfu He
    ,
    Liping Liao
    ,
    Yu Shao
    DOI: 10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-18823
    Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
    Abstract: The repeated expansion–contraction deformation significantly decreased the strength of expansive soils. The undesirable properties of expansive soils posed a safety threat to engineering construction. Biochar and bagasse fibers satisfied the requirements of expansive soil improvement as green materials. This study used biochar and bagasse fibers to improve expansive soils. The expansive soil was obtained from Chongzuo in Guangxi, China. The biochar was added to the soil at six contents of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight. The bagasse fiber was added to the soil at five contents of 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% by weight. Extensive tests were conducted on the expansion–contraction characteristics, water-retention, mechanical strength, and particle size distribution of original expansive soil, biochar-improved soil (BIS), and biochar-bagasse fiber composite-improved soil (CIS). The improvement effect of biochar and bagasse fiber on expansive soils was discussed. Scanning electron microscopy imaging was carried out to reveal the microscale mechanism of expansive soil improved by biochar and bagasse fibers under drying–wetting cycles. The results indicated that the expansion potential and plasticity index decreased by 56.5% and 34.1% as the biochar content increased from 0% to 10%. Meanwhile, the water-retention capacity has been improved. The agglomeration of biochar and the reinforcing–restraining effects of bagasse fibers significantly improved the linear shrinkage, shear strength index, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS). When the biochar content was 8% and bagasse fiber content was 0.3%, the linear shrinkage decreased from 11.1% to 3.2%, the cohesion increased by 78.1%, and the UCS increased by 64.3%. CIS exhibited high stability under drying–wetting cycles. Its strength loss was smaller than that of BIS. The study provides a new solution for expansive soil improvement in roadbed filling, slope protection, and other projects. Expansive soils are a commonly hazardous soil. Safe construction on sites underlain by expansive soils represents a significant challenge to geotechnical engineers. Traditional methods for improving such ground conditions include deep soil mixing, which involves the use of portland cement. Portland cement is effective in reducing the expansivity and improving the shear strength of problematic soils. However, it has a large carbon footprint as a building material due to its energy intensive manufacture and resulting CO2 emissions. Ecosystem sustainability would be hindered with the extensive utilization of such materials. Biochar and bagasse fiber are common biomass resources. More importantly, biochar utilization is a meaningful way to accelerate the achievement of carbon neutrality. Bagasse is one of the most productive agricultural solid wastes in the world. Bagasse fiber has excellent mechanical properties such as good toughness, high specific strength, and high specific stiffness. This study proposed a method using biochar and bagasse fibers to improve the undesirable properties of expansive soils, and good research results were obtained. It was found that biochar and bagasse fibers significantly improved the expansion–contraction behavior, water-retention, and strength of expansive soils. This improvement method simultaneously fulfilled the requirements for the effective treatment of expansive soils and reduced the pressure for waste disposal.
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      Engineering Properties and Microscopic Mechanism of Expansive Soils Improved by Biochar and Bagasse Fibers

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    http://yetl.yabesh.ir/yetl1/handle/yetl/4307604
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    contributor authorShaokun Ma
    contributor authorHuan Yue
    contributor authorBenfu He
    contributor authorLiping Liao
    contributor authorYu Shao
    date accessioned2025-08-17T22:53:33Z
    date available2025-08-17T22:53:33Z
    date copyright5/1/2025 12:00:00 AM
    date issued2025
    identifier otherJMCEE7.MTENG-18823.pdf
    identifier urihttp://yetl.yabesh.ir/yetl1/handle/yetl/4307604
    description abstractThe repeated expansion–contraction deformation significantly decreased the strength of expansive soils. The undesirable properties of expansive soils posed a safety threat to engineering construction. Biochar and bagasse fibers satisfied the requirements of expansive soil improvement as green materials. This study used biochar and bagasse fibers to improve expansive soils. The expansive soil was obtained from Chongzuo in Guangxi, China. The biochar was added to the soil at six contents of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight. The bagasse fiber was added to the soil at five contents of 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% by weight. Extensive tests were conducted on the expansion–contraction characteristics, water-retention, mechanical strength, and particle size distribution of original expansive soil, biochar-improved soil (BIS), and biochar-bagasse fiber composite-improved soil (CIS). The improvement effect of biochar and bagasse fiber on expansive soils was discussed. Scanning electron microscopy imaging was carried out to reveal the microscale mechanism of expansive soil improved by biochar and bagasse fibers under drying–wetting cycles. The results indicated that the expansion potential and plasticity index decreased by 56.5% and 34.1% as the biochar content increased from 0% to 10%. Meanwhile, the water-retention capacity has been improved. The agglomeration of biochar and the reinforcing–restraining effects of bagasse fibers significantly improved the linear shrinkage, shear strength index, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS). When the biochar content was 8% and bagasse fiber content was 0.3%, the linear shrinkage decreased from 11.1% to 3.2%, the cohesion increased by 78.1%, and the UCS increased by 64.3%. CIS exhibited high stability under drying–wetting cycles. Its strength loss was smaller than that of BIS. The study provides a new solution for expansive soil improvement in roadbed filling, slope protection, and other projects. Expansive soils are a commonly hazardous soil. Safe construction on sites underlain by expansive soils represents a significant challenge to geotechnical engineers. Traditional methods for improving such ground conditions include deep soil mixing, which involves the use of portland cement. Portland cement is effective in reducing the expansivity and improving the shear strength of problematic soils. However, it has a large carbon footprint as a building material due to its energy intensive manufacture and resulting CO2 emissions. Ecosystem sustainability would be hindered with the extensive utilization of such materials. Biochar and bagasse fiber are common biomass resources. More importantly, biochar utilization is a meaningful way to accelerate the achievement of carbon neutrality. Bagasse is one of the most productive agricultural solid wastes in the world. Bagasse fiber has excellent mechanical properties such as good toughness, high specific strength, and high specific stiffness. This study proposed a method using biochar and bagasse fibers to improve the undesirable properties of expansive soils, and good research results were obtained. It was found that biochar and bagasse fibers significantly improved the expansion–contraction behavior, water-retention, and strength of expansive soils. This improvement method simultaneously fulfilled the requirements for the effective treatment of expansive soils and reduced the pressure for waste disposal.
    publisherAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
    titleEngineering Properties and Microscopic Mechanism of Expansive Soils Improved by Biochar and Bagasse Fibers
    typeJournal Article
    journal volume37
    journal issue5
    journal titleJournal of Materials in Civil Engineering
    identifier doi10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-18823
    journal fristpage04025098-1
    journal lastpage04025098-18
    page18
    treeJournal of Materials in Civil Engineering:;2025:;Volume ( 037 ):;issue: 005
    contenttypeFulltext
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