Effect of Brick Kiln-Derived Unimproved Rice Husk Ash-Based Geopolymer for Stabilization of Very Soft Peaty Clay

Abstract

Construction on very soft peaty clay remains a major geotechnical challenge due to its high compressibility and low-bearing capacity. The deep mixing method (DMM) is widely adopted for in situ stabilization using cement; however, environmental concerns associated with cement production have driven the search for sustainable alternatives such as geopolymers using low-carbon materials. Existing studies predominantly rely on dried peat, processed precursors such as fly ash or calcined ground rice husk ash (RHA), and high concentrations of alkali activators such as sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which increase both environmental and economic burdens. This study develops a novel waste-based geopolymer incorporating untreated brick kiln-derived RHA, activated solely with low-concentration NaOH, while completely eliminating Na2SiO3. The avoidance of precursor pre-treatment and Na2SiO3 significantly reduces processing energy, cost, and associated environmental emissions. A systematic investigation was conducted to determine the optimum mixing time for maximizing strength under field-relevant conditions. Mechanical performance was evaluated using unconfined compressive strength tests considering variations in binder content, curing duration (7, 28 days), alkali concentration (6, 3 M), and alkali-to-binder ratio (0.3, 0.5, 0.7). Failure characteristics were examined, and an integrated framework combining cost analysis, life cycle assessment, and grey relation analysis was employed to optimize mix design. The optimized geopolymer achieved 2.2 times higher strength than cement-treated soil, with 25% cost reduction and more than 85% reduction in environmental impact. These findings demonstrate a scalable and sustainable solution for stabilizing highly organic soils, while promoting the valorization of supplementary cementitious materials without energy-intensive preprocessing.