1

The Effect of Saba Banana (Musa acuminata x balbisiana) Peel Ash and
Lime on the Stability of Expansive Soil

An Experimental Research Project

presented to Engr. Hanzel N. Mejia of the
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
College of Engineering
Visayas State University
Baybay City, Leyte

in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the course
UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR (CEng 199)

KIMBERLY JOY NAVARCE TULIN

May 2018
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ABSTRACT

Civil engineering structures such as buildings, bridges, roads, tunnels, dams,

towers, etc. are established below or on the surface of the earth. For their stability, suitable

foundation soil is required. Geotechnical properties of soils influence the stability of civil

engineering structures (Roy et al., 2017). Construction of building and other civil

engineering structures on weak soil is highly risky because such soil is susceptible to

differential settlements, poor shear strength, and high compressibility. This paper focuses

on investigating the effects in the stability and strength characteristics of expansive soil by

adding 4.5%, 7.5%, and 13.5% of Saba banana (Musa acuminata x balbisiana) peel ash by

dry weight of the soil and commercially-hydrated lime contents of 1.5%, 2.5%, and 4.5%.

Recent trends on soil stabilization have evolved innovative techniques of utilizing local

available environmental and industrial waste material for the modification and stabilization

of deficient soil while minimizing cost of project spent on lime or cement. The addition of

waste products and fibers together with chemical agents can improve the stiffness and

strength properties of soft soils (Fatahi et al., 2013, and Fatahi and Khabbaz, 2012). Banana

fiber ash can be used to produce concrete and mortar which can be classified to have

cementitious properties (Rodrigo C.K et al., 2014). The geotechnical properties of soil

including particle size distribution, atterberg’s limits, water cntent, and unit weight will be

determined in accordance with the ASTM Standards. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) of soil will be determined using ASTM

D1883 – 16 and ASTM D2166 – 16, where Testing machines are required, respectively.
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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Nature and Background of the Study

Civil engineering structures such as buildings, bridges, roads, tunnels, dams,

towers, etc. are established below or on the surface of the earth. For their stability, suitable

foundation soil is required. The occurrence and distribution of soils in nature varies from

different locations. Geotechnical properties of soils influence the stability of civil

engineering structures (Roy et al., 2017). As the availability of suitable construction sites

decreases, there is an increasing need to utilize poor soils for foundation support and

earthwork construction (Mitchell, 1981). Construction of building and other civil

engineering structures on weak soil is highly risky because such soil is susceptible to

differential settlements, poor shear strength, and high compressibility.

According to Morales et al., 2012, potentially expansive soils find wide distribution

in the Philippines. These expansive soils are soils that expand when water is added, and

shrink when they dry out. This continuous change in soil volume can caused structures

built on this soil to move unevenly and result to crack. Soils with a high content of

expansive minerals can form deep cracks in drier seasons or years; such soils are called

Vertisols. According to the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Vertisols can be found

in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Bataan, Cagayan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, La Union,

and Tarlac. The 1994 Soil Taxonomy Map of the Philippines approximates Vertisols at

733,117 ha and represents about 2.4% of the country’s total area. This phenomenon must
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be recognized as a real problem by the researchers. The quality of soil has a very large

impact on type of structure and its design. Thus, effective use of expansive soils by

imparting additional strength using stabilization enables reduction in building construction

and improves the performance of road networks and other civil engineering structures.

Soil stabilization is the treatment done to increase the strength characteristics of a

soil and to control the shrink-swell properties of a soil, thus improving the load bearing

capacity of a sub-grade to support pavements and foundations. This process is

accomplished using a wide variety of additives, including lime, fly-ash, and Portland

cement.

A good additives should provide calcium ions (Ca2+) in sufficient amount so that

the monovalent cations, especially Na+, adsorbed on the cleavage surfaces of clay particles

are exchanged resulting in a more workable soil with reduced plasticity. In a high pH

environment, the solubility of silica and alumina is greatly enhanced, which promotes

pozzolanic reaction to form calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) and calcium-aluminate-

hydrate (C-A-H). With portland cement, however, C-S-H and C-A-H are formed

immediately upon hydration, and a flocculation process similar to that observed for lime-

stabilized soil takes place to produce a soil with improved engineering properties

(Bhattacharja et al., 2003)

There were several studies that show the capability of using banana natural fiber

ash as partial substitute for cement. According to Rodrigo, C.K et al., 2014, banana fiber

ash has its cementitious properties and can be concluded that it can be classified as a

pozzolanic material in civil engineering construction with several benefits such as lower
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cost and reduction of environmental impact. Currently, there is no evidence in the current

literature of its use in soil stabilization especially for organic soil.

Consequently, it could be something beneficial to develop alternative additives that

are environmental friendly and contribute towards sustainable management.

The purpose of this research study is to utilize the Saba banana peel ash as a

pozzolanic material to reduce the lime content for limiting soil movement and improve the

compressive strength of compacted expansive soil, while avoiding the adverse health and

environmental problems that can be induced due to the disposal of this material. In the

process of soil stabilization and modification, emphasis is given for maximum utilization

of local material so that cost of construction may be minimized to the minimum extent.

1.2 Objectives

The general objective of the study is to investigate the possibility of replacing Type

I Portland Cement with Saba banana peel ash to develop an economical additive to be

added with lime for soil stabilization. Specifically, the study aims the following:

1. To evaluate the effects in different engineering properties of soil with the

addition of various percentages of Saba banana peel ash and lime to the

treatment;

2. To determine the optimum dosage of Saba banana peel ash and lime that can

effectively controls the shrink-swell property and increases the strength

characteristics of the soil as compared to cement-lime treatment; and

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3. To evaluate the effects in strength characteristics of treated and untreated soil

specimens by California Bearing Ratio test (CBR) and Unconfined

Compressive Strength test (UCS) for 0, 3,7, and 28 days with varied dosages of

Saba banana peel ash.

1.3 Scope and Limitations

The scope of the study focuses on investigating the effects in the stability and

strength characteristics of expansive soil by adding Saba banana (Musa acuminata x

balbisiana) peel ash and commercially-hydrated lime. The contents of the additives will be

defined by the ratio of the weight of additive to the dry weight of the soil, expressed as a

percentage. The varying percentages of the additives are 4.5%, 7.5%, 13.5% of Saba

Banana peel ash and the corresponding commercially hydrated lime contents will be 1.5%,

2.5%, and 4.5%.

The soil used in the study will be obtained from a road subgrade construction site

in Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Lupao, Nueva Ecija. The soil particles should pass through no. 8

sieve (<2.36mm) of ASTM D6913 – 17. The geotechnical properties of soil including

particle size distribution, atterberg limits, water content, and unit weight will be determined

in accordance with the ASTM Standards. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and

Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) of soil will be determined using ASTM D1883

– 16 and ASTM D2166 – 16, where Testing machines are required, respectively.
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The Saba Banana Peel Ash will be collected from the stalls selling banana products

at the Visayas State University (VSU) market. It will be grind and should be pass through

no. 40 sieve (<425 μm).

1.4 Significance of the Study

 Since the raw materials that will be used are production wastes, the study will give

a possible approach in lessening the environmental impacts of agricultural waste

and cement production.

 The study will give additional knowledge about chemical admixtures of soil

specifically on controlling shrink-swell property and improving strength

characteristics of soil.

 It will also be beneficial to the Construction industry since there is an innovative

and sustainable admixture that will enhances the properties of soft soils for

foundation support and earthwork construction.

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 Saba Banana Peel Ash as an Agricultural Waste

The Philippines is the second largest exporter of bananas after Ecuador, with some

2.6 metric tonnes exported in 2012 (FruiTrop, 2013). That year, the exports from the

Philippines (essentially Cavendish cultivars) made up 98% of the Asian banana trade. Two

thirds of the exported volumes were shipped to Japan, China and South Korea. According

to the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA), the volume of production of Banana went up

by 3.1 percent from 2.33 million metric tons for the period October to December 2016 to

2.41 million metric tons last year.

Among the many banana cultivars grown throughout the country, saba (Musa

acuminata x balbisiana) is considered as one of the leaders in terms of production and

trade. Processed products derived from saba are gaining wide acceptance both in the

domestic and international market (Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office,

2014) Many farms have adapted different ways in disposing the wastes that comes with

banana cultivation, but the peels from the fruits are mostly dispersed throughout different

places in the country. Hence, there is no proper management of disposal of banana peels.

Since it is a by-product of the banana industry in the Philippines, the quantity of production

of it is in line with the banana produce. Thus, these wastes could be considered as a critical

problem in the protection of the ecosystem if not properly disposed.

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2.2 Natural Fiber Ash and Lime treatment for Soil Stabilization

Recent trends on soil stabilization have evolved innovative techniques of utilizing

local available environmental and industrial waste material for the modification and

stabilization of deficient soil while minimizing cost of project spent on lime or cement. The

addition of waste products and fibers together with chemical agents can improve the

stiffness and strength properties of soft soils (Fatahi et al., 2013, and Fatahi and Khabbaz,

2012). Some studies reported that, different additives such as rice husk ash and sugarcane

bagasse ash have been used for chemical stabilization of soft soils. As per chemical analysis

of sugarcane bagasse ash, it exhibits certain pozzolanic properties as it is rich in oxides of

silica and aluminum (Bachchhas et al., 2017). Rice husk ash also is a very good pozzolan

as it contains good amount of amorphous silica which can be used as stabilizer (Bachchhas

et al., 2017).

The benefit from applying baggage ash for soil stabilizations with lime is related to

chemical reaction between calcium hydroxide produced by lime with pozzolan that is

supplied from bagasse ash (Hasan et al., 2016). Similar to cement reaction with soil, this

chemical reaction can be explained by two individual processes: (1) short term reaction,

consisting of cation exchange and flocculation as a result of the reaction between clay,

bagasse ash and lime; and (2) long-term reaction, involving time and temperature

dependent pozzolanic activity, in which new cementations compounds-calcium silicate

hydrates (CSH) and calcium aluminate hydrates (CAH) responsible for long-term strength

in soils are produced (Nguyen et al., 2014).

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According to the previous study of Hasan et al., 2016, to activate and improve the

effectiveness of bagasse ash, hydrated lime was used and mixed with black soil samples,

collected from Queensland Australia. Samples were prepared using different contents of

bagasse ash and hydrated lime (0%, 6%, 10%, 18% and 25% by the dry mass of soil), at a

ratio of 1:3, respectively. The results of free swell ratio (FSR) test, unconfined compression

strength (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests are presented for untreated and

treated samples after various curing time periods of 3, 7 and 28 days. The outcomes of

these tests clearly demonstrate that stabilization of expansive soils using bagasse ash and

hydrated lime not only improves the strength, but also facilitates to cope with

environmental concerns through reduction of sugar industry waste material.

2.3 Banana Fiber Ash Properties

Banana fiber ash can be used to produce concrete and mortar which can be

classified to have cementitious properties (Rodrigo C.K et al., 2014). The study used

banana leaf as part of the component material. Based on the result of the chemical analysis

conducted by Rodrigo C.K et al., 2014, the chemical compositions that can be found inside

a banana fiber ash are Silicon Dioxide (Si02), Iron Oxide (Fe203), Aluminium Oxide

(Al203 ), Sodium Oxide (Na2O), and also Loss of Ignition (LOI). The highest chemical

composition that can be found is SiO 2 which has 48.7% composition. The Silicon Dioxide

(SiO 2) is very important chemical composition that must have in every pozzolanic material

because it will react with calcium hydroxide at an ordinary temperature to form compound
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that has cementitious properties. This reaction will produce calcium silicate hydrate gel

and it is used to fill the void inside the soil as well as increase the strength of the soil.

Therefore, Banana fiber ash can be classified as pozzolanic material in civil

engineering construction. The banana leaf ash has been proved to increase the strength of

concrete and demonstrated pozzolanic activity by replacing 10% of banana leaf ash into

the concrete (Rodrigo C.K et al., 2014).

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CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Experimental Set-up

• Saba Banana Peel Ash

• Commercially-hydrated Lime
• Expansive Soil
• Type 1 Portland Cement
INPUT

• Production of Saba Banana Peel Ash

• Fabrication of test specimens
• Geotechnical Testings
• Casting and Curing
• California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Testing
PROCESS • Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) Testing

• California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test results

• Compression test reults
• Analysis of data using ANOVA and Tukey's HSD
Comparison
OUTPUT
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3.1 Production of Saba Banana Peel Ash

In order to produce Saba banana peel ash to be mixed with lime, banana peels will

be collected on a daily basis from the stalls selling banana products at the Visayas State

University (VSU) market. The saba banana peel ash will be cleaned, cut, dried and burned

to ashes through an industrial furnace. From the furnace, it will be grind through a corn

mill available in the university. After grinding, it will be passed through a set of sieves and

openings in order to remove any debris and for it to be mixed thoroughly with lime. Those

that passed through sieve no. 100 (150-μm) will be utilized for the experiment. These will

be added together with the lime to the soil by weight on different percentages.

3.2 Preparation of Undisturbed Expansive Soil

It is important to select an appropriate sub-surface exploration or sampling

approach for accurate characterization of site conditions. Soil samples can be lifted from

deeper depths by drilling bore holes either manually or mechanically. Bucket auger is one

type of auger boring and this can be used for shallower depths generally confined to depths

of about 5 m or so. In cohesive and other soft soils above water table, this auger may be

used. The purpose of soil sampling is to get detailed information about the order of

occurrences and extent of soil and rock strata, the nature and engineering properties of the

soil and rock formation and location of ground water and its variation. A soil analysis can

only be as good as the sample sent to the laboratory. It’s important to realize that only a

tiny portion of a field is actually analyzed in the laboratory.

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The method that will be used in the study is the auger boring method with bucket

auger as the head since this is the only equipment available in the Department of Civil

Engineering. Bucket augers may be used to advance boreholes and collect soil samples in

the surface and shallow subsurface intervals. Typically, 4-inch stainless steel auger buckets

with cutting heads will be used. The bucket is advanced by simultaneously pushing and

turning using an attached handle with extensions (if needed). Bucket auger is made of a

cylinder or a barrel to hold the soil, which is forced into the barrel by cutting the lips.

During soil sampling, the boring will performed by pressing the bucket auger into the

ground and rotating it to a depth of 10-15 cm with the handle attached at the top. After the

auger will be filled with soil, it will then be taken out carefully from the blades. The sample

will be stored and secured in accordance with the practices for Group C samples in

Practices D 4220 – Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil Samples.

3.3 Geotechnical Properties Testing

The occurrence and distribution of soils in nature varies from location to location.

The type of soil depends on the rock type, its mineral constituents and the climatic regime

of the area. Civil engineering structures are constructed below or on the surface of the earth.

For their stability, suitable foundation soil is required. To check the suitability of soil to be

used as foundation or as construction materials, its properties are required to be assessed.

In this study, physical tests for determining the plastic limit, liquid limit, water content and

unit weight will be performed in accordance with the ASTM standards.

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3.3.1 Determination of Atterberg’s Limits

The Plastic limit (PL) and liquid limit (LL) of the soil specimen will be measured

in accordance with ASTM D 4318, “Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit,

and Plasticity Index of Soils”. These test methods are used as an integral part of several

engineering classification systems to characterize the fine grained fractions of soils (see

Practices D 2487 and D 3282) and to specify the fine-grained fraction of construction

materials (see Specification D 1241). The liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of

soils are also used extensively, either individually or together, with other soil properties to

correlate with engineering behavior such as compressibility, hydraulic conductivity

(permeability), compactibility, shrink-swell, and shear strength. The liquid and plastic

limits of a soil and its water content can be used to express its relative consistency or

liquidity index. In addition, the plasticity index and the percentage finer than 2-μm particle

size can be used to determine its activity number.

3.3.1.1 Determination of Liquid Limit

The specimens that will be used are those samples retained on a 425-µm (No. 40)

sieve after sieving. The specimen will be divided into five parts and will place each part on

a mixing pan. The varying percentages (0%, 4.5%, 7.5%, and 13.5%) of Saba Banana peel

ash and the corresponding percentages of commercially hydrated lime contents (0%, 1.5%,

2.5%, and 4.5%) will be added to each of the specimens. Type 1 Portland cement and

hydrated lime content will be separately added to the remaining specimen. In each

treatment, the specimen (soil) will be thoroughly remixed in its mixing cup, and, if

necessary, its water content will be adjusted until the constancy requires about 25 to 35
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blows of the liquid limit device to close the groove. Using a spatula, a portion of the

prepared soil will be placed in the cup of the liquid limit device at the point where the cup

rests on the base. The soil will be spread into the cup to a depth of about 10 mm at its

deepest point. A groove will be formed in the soil pat by drawing the tool, beveled edge

forward, through the soil on a line joining the highest point to the lowest point on the rim

of the cup. When cutting the groove, the grooving tool will be held against the surface of

the cup and draw in an arc, maintaining the tool perpendicular to the surface of the cup

throughout its movement. Then, the cup will be lifted and dropped by turning the crank at

a rate of 1.9 to 2.1 drops per second until the two halves of the soil pat come in contact at

the bottom of the groove along a distance of 13 mm (1⁄2 in.). The number of drops, N,

required to close the groove will be recorded. The soil remaining in the cup will be returned

to the dish and will remix the entire specimen. Then, the soil will be added with distilled

water to increase the water content of the soil and decrease the number of blows required

to close the groove. The water content of the soil specimen from each trial will be

determined in accordance with Test Method D 2216 – Standard Test Methods for

Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass. The

liquid limit for each water content specimen will be calculated using the equation below.

The procedure will be repeated for the next trials of each treatment.

𝑁 0.121
𝐿𝐿 = 𝑊 × ( )
25

where, LL – Liquid Limit

W – water content

N – number of blows
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3.3.1.2 Determination of Plastic Limit

A 20-g or more portion of soil from the material prepared for the liquid limit test

will be selected in the set-up; either, after the second mixing before the test, or from the

soil remaining after completion of the liquid limit test. The water content of the soil will

be reduced to a consistency at which it can be rolled without sticking to the hands by

spreading or mixing continuously on the glass plate or in the mixing/storage dish. From

this plastic-limit specimen, a 1.5 to 2.0 g portion will be selected. The selected portion will

be formed into an ellipsoidal mass and will be rolled between the palm or fingers and the

ground-glass plate with just sufficient pressure to roll the mass into a thread of uniform

diameter throughout its length. The thread shall be further deformed on each stroke so that

its diameter reaches 3.2 mm (1⁄8 in.), taking no more than 2 min. When the diameter of the

thread becomes 3.2 mm, the thread should break into several pieces and will be re-rolled

until the thread crumbles under the pressure required for rolling and the soil can no longer

be rolled into a 3.2-mm diameter thread. The portions of the crumbled thread will be

gathered together and will place in a container of known mass. The water content of the

soil contained in the containers will be determined in accordance with Test Method D 2216

– Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of

Soil and Rock by Mass. The average of the two water contents (trial plastic limits) will be

calculated and rounded to the nearest whole number. This value is the plastic limit, PL.

The Plasticity Index can now be calculated by obtaining its difference.

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3.3.2 Standard Proctor Test

Soil placed as engineering fill (embankments, foundation pads, road bases) is

compacted to a dense state to obtain satisfactory engineering properties such as, shear

strength, compressibility, or permeability. In addition, foundation soils are often

compacted to improve their engineering properties. Laboratory compaction tests provide

the basis for determining the percent compaction and molding water content needed to

achieve the required engineering properties, and for controlling construction to assure that

the required compaction and water contents are achieved.

A representative oven-dried sample will be taken approximately 5 kg in the given

pan and will be divided into five parts. The varying percentages (0%, 4.5%, 7.5%, and

13.5%) of Saba Banana peel ash and the corresponding percentages of commercially

hydrated lime contents (0%, 1.5%, 2.5%, and 4.5%) will be added to each of the samples.

Then, Type 1 Portland Cement and hydrated lime content will be separately added to the

remaining sample. In each treatment, the sample will be mixed with sufficient water to

dampen it with approximate water content of 4-6 %. The proctor mold will be weighed

without base plate and collar. Then, the soil will be placed in the Proctor mold and will be

compacted in 3 layers giving 25 blows per layer with the 2.5 kg rammer falling through.

The blows shall be distributed uniformly over the surface of each layer. Compacted soil

will be trimmed even at the top of mold using a straight edge and will be weighed. The

sample will be removed from the mold and will be sliced vertically. A small sample will

be obtained for water content. To increase the moisture content of the soil sample by one

or two percentage points, a water in sufficient amounts will be added. The procedure will
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be repeated for each increment of water added. Continue this series of determination until

there is either a decrease or no change in the wet unit weight of the compacted soil. The

molding water content, moist density, dry density, and dry unit weight of each compacted

specimen will be calculated in accordance with Test Method D 2216 and the standard

formulas. The dry unit weight and molding water content values will be plotted in a

graphing paper and the compaction curve will be drawn as a smooth curve through the

points. From the compaction curve, the compaction results will be determined such as its

optimum water content and its maximum dry unit weight. The procedure will be repeated

for each treatment.

3.4 California Bearing Ratio

The test method for California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of laboratory-compacted soils

is used to evaluate the potential strength of subgrade, subbase, and base course material,

including recycled materials for use in road and airfield pavements. The CBR value

obtained in this test forms an integral part of several flexible pavement design methods

used in the study.

For tests performed on materials compacted to one water content, three specimens

will be prepared. The specimens will be compacted using three different compactive efforts

to obtain unit weights both above and below the desired unit weight. After allowing

specimens to take on water by soaking, or other specified treatment such as curing, each

specimen will be subjected to penetration by a cylindrical rod. Results of stress (load)

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versus penetration depth will be plotted to determine the CBR for each specimen. The CBR

at the specified density will be determined from a graph of CBR versus dry unit weight.

For tests in which the result is to be determined for a water content range, a series

of specimens at each of three compactive efforts will be prepared over the range of water

content of interest. The compactive efforts will be chosen to produce unit weights above

and below the desired unit weight. After allowing the specimens to take on water by

soaking, or other specified treatment such as curing, each specimen will be penetrated.

Results will be plotted to obtain the CBR for each specimen. A plot of CBR versus unit

weight for each water content will be made to determine the minimum CBR for the water

content range of interest.

3.5 Unconfined Compressive Strength

The primary purpose of the unconfined compression test is to quickly obtain the

approximate compressive strength of soils that possess sufficient cohesion to permit testing

in the unconfined state.

The specimen shall be placed in the loading device so that it is centered on the

bottom platen. The loading device will be adjusted carefully so that the upper platen just

makes contact with the specimen. The deformation indicator should be set to zero. The

load will be applied so as to produce an axial strain at a rate of 1⁄2 to 2 %/min. The load,

deformation, and time values at sufficient intervals will be recorded to define the shape of

the stress-strain curve (usually 10 to 15 points are sufficient). The rate of strain should be

chosen so that the time to failure does not exceed about 15 min. The loading will be
 21

continued until the load values decrease with increasing strain, or until 15 % strain will be

reached. The rate of strain used for testing sealed specimens may be decreased if deemed

desirable for better test results. The rate of strain shall be indicated in the report of the test

data. The water content of the test specimen will be determined using the representative

trimmings. The axial strain will be calculated e1, to the nearest 0.1 %, for a given applied

load by dividing the length change of specimen as read from deformation indicator, mm

(in.) by initial length of test specimen, mm (in). Also the average cross-sectional area and

compressive stress will be calculated. If desired, a graph showing the relationship between

compressive stress (ordinate) and axial strain (abscissa) may be plotted. The maximum

value of compressive stress will be selected or the compressive stress at 15 % axial strain,

whichever is secured first, and report as the unconfined compressive strength, qu.