Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Buildings, cilt.15, sa.14, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
In recent years, the use of waste materials for soil improvement has gained increasing importance due to sustainability concerns and the need for effective waste disposal. Almond husk ash (AHA), though considered a major environmental pollutant, is classified as a non-hazardous and noninert waste. One of the primary challenges associated with such industrial wastes is their storage; therefore, environmentally safe disposal methods are essential. This study aimed to investigate the potential of AHA in improving expansive soil (ES). The findings revealed that ES can be effectively stabilized using AHA and geogrids, both individually and in combination. The optimal conditions for soil improvement were identified as follows: 25% AHA content, a zone depth of 1.5 units, and three layers of geogrids. The bearing capacity ratios showed significant improvement under various conditions: a 2.56-fold increase with AHA alone, a 2.87-fold increase with geogrids alone, and a 5.60-fold increase when both AHA and geogrids were used together. The greatest enhancement was achieved through the combined application of AHA and geogrids. AHA was thus demonstrated to be an effective, economical, and environmentally sustainable additive for the stabilization of expansive soils. Furthermore, microstructural analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) supported the improvements observed in the experimental results.