Abstract: This study presents an overview of soil types, their physical and chemical properties, behavior, and significance in construction works. It also reviews commonly used materials for stabilizing expansive clay soils and provides a brief background on sugarcane bagasse ash.
The primary objective of this research was to assess the feasibility of utilizing bagasse ash as a stabilizing agent for expansive clay soils. A series of laboratory tests were conducted, including sieve analysis, Atterberg limits (liquid and plastic limits), compaction tests, and unconfined compressive strength tests. Experimental investigations were carried out on expansive clay soil samples collected from the Kafouri and Khartoum east areas. Bagasse ash was added to the soil at replacement levels of 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight. The results indicated a noticeable reduction in the liquid limit and plasticity index with increasing bagasse ash content, reflecting an improvement in soil workability. Additionally, the maximum dry density showed a slight decrease, while the optimum moisture content increased with higher percentages of bagasse ash. The unconfined compressive strength of the stabilized soil exhibited a significant improvement, with the optimum performance observed at a specific bagasse ash content. These findings demonstrate that sugarcane bagasse ash can be effectively utilized as a sustainable and economically stabilizing material for expansive clay soils.
Keywords: soil types, physical and chemical properties, compressive strength, stabilized soil, stabilizing material.
Title: Experimental Study on Stabilizing Expansive Clay Soils Using Bagasse Ash
Author: Bashir H. Osman, Elsafi Mohamed Adam Elbashiry, Abdelrahman Abuserriya, Abu-Bakre A. Elamin
International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Research
ISSN 2348-7607 (Online)
Vol. 13, Issue 2, October 2025 - March 2026
Page No: 10-23
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 07-February-2026
