Effect of Sugarcane Molasses and Bamboo Fiber on Geotechnical Properties of Expansive Clay Soil

  • Manjunath Malavalli SKSVMACET Lakshmeshwara
  • Dr. Mahesh Kumar C L Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru
  • Mahamadjuber H SKSVMACET Lakshmeshwara
  • Mr. Siddappa B Ullegaddi SKSVMACET Lakshmeshwara
  • Mahammedumar Kanavalli SKSVMACET Lakshmeshwara
Keywords: Expansive soil, soil stabilization, sugarcane molasses, bamboo fiber, CBR, UCS

Abstract

Expansive clay soils are characterized by high plasticity, large swelling potential, and low strength, which often create serious problems for foundations and pavement structures. Stabilization using eco friendly materials has recently become an important alternative to conventional stabilizers such as lime and cement. This study examines the influence of sugarcane molasses and bamboo fiber on the engineering behavior of expansive clay soil. Different proportions of molasses (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) and bamboo fiber (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) were incorporated in to the soil based on dry weight. Laboratory investigations including, Standard Proctor compaction, Atterberg limits, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were conducted. The experimental results revealed that the addition of molasses and bamboo fiber decreased the plasticity index, improved the maximum dry density, and enhanced the strength characteristics of the soil. The highest performance was achieved using a mixture containing 6% molasses and 1% bamboo fiber, which produced significant increases in UCS and CBR compared with untreated soil. The findings indicate that agricultural by-products such as molasses and bamboo fiber can serve as effective and sustainable materials for the improvement of expansive clay soils

References

[1] S. Ahmad, T. Peng, H. Ayaz, and Y. Wu, “Improving geotechnical properties of expansive subgrade using sugarcane molasses and cement,” Applied Sciences, vol. 14, no. 20, 2024.
[2] B. Taye, “Stabilization of expansive clay soil with sugarcane molasses and cement,” M.S. thesis, Addis Ababa Univ., Ethiopia, 2015.
[3] A. Chakraborty, A. Borah, and D. Sharmah, “Stabilization of expansive soil using sugarcane straw ash,” ADBU Journal of Engineering Technology, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1–6, 2016.
[4] J. Kaima, I. Preechawuttipong, and R. Peyroux, “Experimental investigation of bamboo fiber bundles tensil estrength,” 2023.
[5] E. E. Agate, N. Timothy, and A. O. Nathaniel, “Performance of expansive soil stabilized incorporated with bamboo charcoal, quarry dust and lime for road subgrade,” 2024.
Published
2026-04-19
How to Cite
Malavalli, M., Kumar C L, D. M., H, M., Ullegaddi, M. S. B., & Kanavalli, M. (2026). Effect of Sugarcane Molasses and Bamboo Fiber on Geotechnical Properties of Expansive Clay Soil. Asian Journal For Convergence In Technology (AJCT) ISSN -2350-1146, 12(1), 257-260. Retrieved from https://www.asianssr.org/index.php/ajct/article/view/1561

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