Stabilization of expansive clay soil using shells based agricultural waste ash

Abstract This study investigates the effectiveness of using various agricultural waste ashes—namely eggshell ash (ESA), clamshell ash (CSA), cockle shell ash (CKSA), and oyster shell ash (OSA)—for the stabilization of expansive clay soils (ECS). Laboratory experiments assessed the impacts of these a...

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Main Authors: Sultan Almuaythir, Muhammad Syamsul Imran Zaini, Muzamir Hasan, Md. Ikramul Hoque
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94980-5
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author Sultan Almuaythir
Muhammad Syamsul Imran Zaini
Muzamir Hasan
Md. Ikramul Hoque
author_facet Sultan Almuaythir
Muhammad Syamsul Imran Zaini
Muzamir Hasan
Md. Ikramul Hoque
author_sort Sultan Almuaythir
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigates the effectiveness of using various agricultural waste ashes—namely eggshell ash (ESA), clamshell ash (CSA), cockle shell ash (CKSA), and oyster shell ash (OSA)—for the stabilization of expansive clay soils (ECS). Laboratory experiments assessed the impacts of these ashes on the soil’s consistency limits, shrink-swell behavior, compaction properties, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), shear strength, and mineralogical and microstructural characteristics. The results demonstrated that the inclusion of agricultural waste ashes significantly improved the ECS properties by reducing plasticity from 29.6 up to 7.84%, increasing shrinkage limit from 15.55 to 33.06%, reducing free sweeling index from 57 to 39.66%, and enhancing UCS and shear strength from 114.64 to 1509.95 kPa. Microstructural analysis revealed the formation of cementitious compounds that contributed to a denser and more robust soil structure. This research highlights the potential of these waste materials in sustainable soil stabilization, supporting environmental conservation and infrastructure resilience while aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
format Article
id doaj-art-ae712745c94a4e648f92fa6d2b72d66a
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-ae712745c94a4e648f92fa6d2b72d66a2025-08-20T03:40:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115112210.1038/s41598-025-94980-5Stabilization of expansive clay soil using shells based agricultural waste ashSultan Almuaythir0Muhammad Syamsul Imran Zaini1Muzamir Hasan2Md. Ikramul Hoque3Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityFaculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil YaakobFaculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil YaakobDepartment of Building Engineering and Construction Management, Khulna University of Engineering and TechnologyAbstract This study investigates the effectiveness of using various agricultural waste ashes—namely eggshell ash (ESA), clamshell ash (CSA), cockle shell ash (CKSA), and oyster shell ash (OSA)—for the stabilization of expansive clay soils (ECS). Laboratory experiments assessed the impacts of these ashes on the soil’s consistency limits, shrink-swell behavior, compaction properties, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), shear strength, and mineralogical and microstructural characteristics. The results demonstrated that the inclusion of agricultural waste ashes significantly improved the ECS properties by reducing plasticity from 29.6 up to 7.84%, increasing shrinkage limit from 15.55 to 33.06%, reducing free sweeling index from 57 to 39.66%, and enhancing UCS and shear strength from 114.64 to 1509.95 kPa. Microstructural analysis revealed the formation of cementitious compounds that contributed to a denser and more robust soil structure. This research highlights the potential of these waste materials in sustainable soil stabilization, supporting environmental conservation and infrastructure resilience while aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94980-5Agricultural waste ashSustainable soil stabilizationExpansive clay soilUnconfined compressive strengthSoil plasticity reductionEco-friendly construction materials
spellingShingle Sultan Almuaythir
Muhammad Syamsul Imran Zaini
Muzamir Hasan
Md. Ikramul Hoque
Stabilization of expansive clay soil using shells based agricultural waste ash
Scientific Reports
Agricultural waste ash
Sustainable soil stabilization
Expansive clay soil
Unconfined compressive strength
Soil plasticity reduction
Eco-friendly construction materials
title Stabilization of expansive clay soil using shells based agricultural waste ash
title_full Stabilization of expansive clay soil using shells based agricultural waste ash
title_fullStr Stabilization of expansive clay soil using shells based agricultural waste ash
title_full_unstemmed Stabilization of expansive clay soil using shells based agricultural waste ash
title_short Stabilization of expansive clay soil using shells based agricultural waste ash
title_sort stabilization of expansive clay soil using shells based agricultural waste ash
topic Agricultural waste ash
Sustainable soil stabilization
Expansive clay soil
Unconfined compressive strength
Soil plasticity reduction
Eco-friendly construction materials
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94980-5
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AT muhammadsyamsulimranzaini stabilizationofexpansiveclaysoilusingshellsbasedagriculturalwasteash
AT muzamirhasan stabilizationofexpansiveclaysoilusingshellsbasedagriculturalwasteash
AT mdikramulhoque stabilizationofexpansiveclaysoilusingshellsbasedagriculturalwasteash