Application of cement-cassava peel ash mix for the stabilisation of marine clay soil : a review

Abstract

This review investigated the application of cement and Cassava Peel Ash (CPA) for stabilising Marine Clay Soil (MCS). This material exhibits unusually high plasticity and compressibility and low shear strength, creating challenging conditions for stabilisation. In recent decades, lime and cement have been utilised to enhance the resilience of MCSs. However, the environmental and economic sustainability of this practice has come into question due to the substantial carbon dioxide emissions produced during cement manufacturing. Cement-free stabilisation using the scientifically innovative agricultural by-product CPA has been developed as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative, leveraging its improved pozzolanic activity to enhance the structural characteristics of MCS, such as strength, stiffness, and permeability. Although the combination of cement and CPA could significantly benefit the structural engineering of MCS, understanding the detailed mechanisms of cement-free stabilisation remains complex, limiting its widespread application. This review indicates that the CPA-cement mix can enhance key aspects of MCS, including permeability, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS).