Expansive soil improvement using industrial bagasse and low-alkali ecological cement

Cement is the primary material used for mitigating expansive soil hazards due to its easy availability and relatively low cost. However, the most commonly used ordinary Portland cement renders the soil strongly alkaline after treatment, and the development of cracks in the soil is not effectively controlled under the influence of wet-dry cycles following cement stabilization. These two drawbacks significantly impact both the ecological environment and the strength of the cement-stabilized expansive soil. This study innovatively proposes an improvement to the method of cement stabilization of expansive soil by incorporating low-alkali ecological cement and industrial sugarcane bagasse (a byproduct of sugar production). After assessing the basic physical properties of the expansive soil, it was improved by mixing with industrial bagasse and low-alkali ecological cement. Through experiments on dry-wet cycles, soil-water characteristic curve tests, direct shear tests, and electron microscopy scans, we explored the enhancement of the expansive soil. Our focus was on the development of cracks, soil moisture migration patterns, changes in shear strength, and microstructural alterations. The following conclusions were drawn from the experiments: i. Compared to the method of ordinary Portland cement stabilization, the pH of expansive soil improved by low-alkali ecological cement combined with industrial sugarcane bagasse is more suitable for plant growth. ii. The unique tubular structure of industrial sugarcane bagasse provides elastic space for soil deformation, inhibiting the development of soil cracks. iii. The water retention capacity of expansive soil significantly increases after improvement with low-alkali ecological cement and industrial sugarcane bagasse. Within the range of matrix suction for plant growth, soil moisture changes more slowly, providing a more stable water supply for plants. iv. The combination of 1.2% industrial sugarcane bagasse and 7% low-alkali ecological cement exhibits the highest shear resistance, maintaining strength exceeding that of untreated expansive soil after five wet-dry cycles. v. SEM analysis confirms the effectiveness of industrial sugarcane bagasse and low-alkali ecological cement in improving expansive soil. This study improved the widely used cement stabilization method for expansive soil in practical engineering applications. Additionally, it introduced an additional utilization pathway for industrial bagasse residue waste. This research provides a new direction and reference for the combination of waste utilization and natural disaster management in the treatment of expansive soil hazards.