Effects of sugarcane bagasse fibers on the properties of compressed and stabilized earth blocks

This paper investigates the effects of sugarcane bagasse fibers (SCBFs) on the mechanical strength and durability properties of compressed and stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs). CSEBs were fabricated using natural soil and SCBFs, collected from Lakeland, LA, with a manually operated compression machine. Nine different soil mix compositions containing different amounts of SCBFs (0%, 0.5%, and 1.0% by weight) and Type II Portland cement (0%, 6%, and 12% by weight) were considered. The flexural, dry compressive, and wet compressive strengths of the different CSEBs were evaluated experimentally. Durability was also examined by measuring mass loss, dry density, water absorption, and wet compressive strength after 12 wetting/drying cycles. The morphology and chemical composition of the CSEBs were investigated via scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, whereas the mineralogical characteristics were evaluated using X-ray crystallography. The results show that including 0.5% to 1.0% by weight of SCBFs in CSEBs stabilized with 12% by weight of cement can significantly improve the CSEB mechanical properties without compromising their durability properties.