Evaluating the Impact of Cement and Rice Husk Ash on E-Waste Soil Strength and Bearing Capacity

Abstract

Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) refers to discarded electrical and electronic materials such as refrigerators, mobile phones, computers, televisions, and other devices, which significantly deteriorate the engineering properties of soil over time. This study evaluates the effects of varying percentages of cement and rice husk ash (RHA) on the geotechnical properties of e-waste-contaminated soil, focusing on California Bearing Ratio (CBR), triaxial test results, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS). E-waste soil samples stabilized with 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% cement and RHA mixtures. The results revealed a peak CBR value of 59.05%, a maximum deviator stress (σ₃) of 615.05 kN/m², and the highest UCS value of 276.84 kPa, with optimal performance observed at 6% cement-RHA combination. The findings demonstrate that the inclusion of cement and RHA significantly enhances the strength and bearing capacity of e-waste-contaminated soil.