Soil stabilisation by waste materials has been recently employed to enhance soil engineering properties. The purpose of this study is to compare the impact of utilising sawdust in its raw form versus sawdust ash as a soil stabiliser. This is to determine if sawdust (SD) can be considered as a substitute for sawdust ash (SDA) in order to reduce incineration and air pollution. To fulfil this aim, the Atterberg limits, modified Proctor test, and Direct Shear test were performed on both stabilised and non-stabilised mixtures of clayey soil. The soil was treated with 2%, 5%, 8%, 12%, 15%, and 20% by soil dry weight of both SD and SDA. The findings show that the use of SD and SDA leads to a reduction in the plasticity index and the maximum dry unit weight of the soil while increasing its optimum moisture content. The bearing capacity of the soil was greatest at 5% for both SD and SDA, with SD exhibiting a greater enhancement (31.89%) than SDA. Therefore, it is recommended to utilise SD instead of SDA for soil stabilisation due to its superior effectiveness and less harmful environmental impact.

Blast loadings have become the subject of research in recent decades due to the threats they pose to the surrounding medium. On 4 August 2020, a huge explosion occurred in the Port of Beirut that led to massive damages in the medium surrounding it. Researchers have conducted studies in order to estimate the equivalent explosive mass as well as the damage extent left on structures; however, the studies considered the soil–structure interaction by simple methods. For that, this paper aims to understand the effect of explosion on the grain silo structure present at the port with an emphasis on the soil–structure interaction effects. The structure consists of a group of silos resting on a raft footing that is supported by group of driven piles. A soil–structure model analysis is performed in order to investigate the soil behavior, the damage extent in piles, and the soil–structure interaction due to the Beirut explosion using the CEL (Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian) approach that suits events involving large deformation. The analysis is performed using the ABAQUS/Explicit FEM software (version 6.14) taking into account the properties of soil medium, the contact algorithm at the soil–structure interface, and the boundary conditions in order to better simulate the real field conditions and ensure accurate results. The work is primarily validated through site data such as the crater size and silo damage.

Rigid and flexible polyurethane foam are recognized for their soil stabilization benefits, backed by substantial research. However, these forms encounter limitations due to expertise and costs. This prompts the investigation of semi-rigid foam, like foam balls, which serves as an efficient waste management technique. Such foams offer practical benefits by seamlessly blending with the soil, reducing time and expenses. This study aims to investigate how semi-rigid foam balls affect the soil compaction and shear characteristics of untreated and cement-treated clayey soils, addressing existing gaps in the literature. Soil samples were tested with foam alone at 5, 10, 15, and 20%, cement alone at 5, 7, 10, and 15%, and a mix of foam and cement. Their compaction and shear behavior were assessed individually and in combinations. Results showed that while cement outperformed foam alone, a 10% cement and 10% foam mix significantly enhanced soil cohesion by 10.13 times and angle of friction by 1.65 times, leading to a 4314.7% increase in bearing capacity. These findings indicate that the semi-rigid foam integrates effectively with the soil and synergistically improves cement stabilization effects. The combination of foam balls and cement presents a promising approach for soil stabilization applications. It offers a cost-effective and practical solution for addressing soil challenges in construction projects.

Reinforced concrete piles are useful structural elements to support deep excavations. A pile wall is usually supported by one or several rows of anchors, depending on the depth of the excavation and the nature of the soil retained. The purpose of this work is to investigate the efficacy of posttensioned piles in retaining a 10.0 m deep excavation without using tieback anchors. In addition to the conventional passive steel reinforcement, the piles in this system include steel strands placed eccentrically in their sections, and they are referred to as posttensioned piles. The performance of posttensioned piles is investigated using the finite element modeling software PLAXIS 2D. The results are experimentally validated on a large‐scale construction site. The horizontal displacement of posttensioned piles in a 10 m deep excavation was found to be within allowable limits with a 7.36% difference in the horizontal displacement of pile top at the final excavation level in PLAXIS 2D. In terms of cost, PTP is executed at 35% cost less than the conventional reinforced method.

Introducing a novel approach in the field of ground improvement, this study explores the reinforcement of sandy soil using a combination of natural and synthetic fibres. The research investigates the behaviour of sandy soil reinforced using polypropylene (PP) and a combination of natural-PP fibres at varying contents of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% by soil dry weight. Combined mixtures involved the partial replacement of synthetic fibre by fan palm (FP), date palm (DP), and Phragmites australis extracted and treated natural fibres. The results revealed that by increasing the fibre content, the optimum moisture content increased, while the maximum dry unit weight and brittleness of the soil reduced. The variations in compaction characteristics and brittleness were mostly affected by the fibre content rather than its type. Hybrid fibre-reinforced specimens exhibited better shear behaviour with higher shear strength parameters than pure soil and PP reinforced samples, specifically the FP-PP and DP-PP mixtures. This approach aligns with sustainability goals and promotes effective waste management practices.