Feasibility of using bagasse ash incorporating limestone calcined clay cement as ordinary Portland cement replacement for stabilisation of black cotton soils

Abstract

In this study, a green and cost-effective cement system was developed with bagasse ash (BA incorporating limestone calcined clay cement (LC³) as ordinary Portland cement (OPC) replacement from black cotton soil (BCS) stabilisation perspective. Effect of BA incorporating 20 % – 60 % range of LC³ on standard consistency (SC), setting time (ST) and compressive strength properties was investigated and optimised through comparison studies with similar properties to BA incorporating 20 % – 60 % range of OPC. Optimum content of BA incorporating LC³ was added to BCS in different mix proportion range of 0–18 %. Effect of addition of different content of BA incorporating LC³ on performance of BCS specimens was examined in terms of compaction, free swell and durability properties. The results show that utilisation of BA incorporating LC³ maintains compressive strength and improves SC as well as ST of BA incorporating LC³ paste. Compared to BA incorporating OPC, BA incorporating 40 % of LC³ content at 0.50 water-cement (w/c) ratio obtained a good comprehensive strength equivalent cement performance. From the experimental results, it was found that addition of BA incorporating LC³ at optimal content significantly improved compaction, swell potential and durability properties of treated BCS. This study demonstrates technical feasibility of BA incorporating LC³ as a cement replacement. It verifies the reuse of by-products from agriculture for application as cementitious materials. The study further promotes the utilisation of BA incorporating LC³ for addressing climate change emergency and reducing high costs for routine BCS stabilisation practice.