Experimental Analysis of Banana Fiber and Phosphogypsum in Soil Stabilization

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of banana fiber as a natural reinforcement material for soil stabilization, specifically in conjunction with phosphogypsum. With construction often reliant on soils with inadequate bearing capacity and shear strength, enhancing soil properties is crucial. The research employs banana fibers extracted from the pseudo stems of banana plants, assessing their effects on soil characteristics at various reinforcement percentages (0%, 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5%). Key parameters evaluated include Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS), Maximum Dry Density (MDD), and Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) through standardized laboratory tests. The findings reveal that the inclusion of banana fibers significantly raises the OMC of the soil, indicating improved moisture retention capabilities. Notably, the OMC values for the reinforced samples increased with higher fiber content, peaking at 12.3% for Sample 1 and 13.5% for Sample 2 at 0.5% fiber. Additionally, the UCS tests demonstrated enhanced compressive strength, with the highest value recorded at 1.70 MPa for Sample 1 at 0.5% fiber content. These results suggest that banana fibers effectively improve the mechanical properties of soil, making it more suitable for construction applications. This research highlights the potential of utilizing agricultural waste, such as banana fibers, for sustainable soil stabilization practices, offering an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic materials.