Dynamic characteristics of sand partially replaced with bagasse

Utilizing waste materials as soil replacements offers a sustainable path for geotechnical engineering. This study explores sugarcane bagasse, an abundant agricultural waste as a partial soil replacement, focusing on its dynamic characteristics. While previous studies examined static behavior with small reinforcement percentages, dynamic characterization with partial sand replacement remains unexplored. This research fills that gap using straincontrolled cyclic triaxial and bender element tests on six mixes, with bagasse content from 0% to 50% by volume (BS0 to BS50). The effects of confining pressure, relative density, and strain amplitude (0.3%–3%) were studied, focusing on maximum shear modulus, shear modulus, and damping ratio. Bagasse-sand mixes restricted cyclic loads via interparticle networks. Increased bagasse content reduced shear modulus but enhanced the damping ratio. Stressstrain curves showed stiffness degradation, with BS0 displaying larger hysteresis loops. Excess pore pressure and strain contributed to this reduction. Shear wave velocity and maximum shear modulus declined with more bagasse, BS0 had the highest (98.7 MPa), BS50 the lowest (7.25 MPa). Mixes up to 30% bagasse retained a relatively sanddominated response, while higher contents showed bagasse dominated behavior. Overall, these mixes offer ecofriendly, vibration-reducing solutions and promote sustainable waste management, when optimally mixed.