Wood pellet fly ash (WA) is a type of biomass fly ash (BFA) that has been largely understudied. WA is a combustion by-product discharged during the energy production of wood pellets. This energy source is environmentally sustainable and has a low carbon footprint. Wood pellets are manufactured in accordance with ISO standards, and their use as an alternative fuel for household and commercial heating is increasing worldwide. This international trend in the usage of wood pellets has substantially influenced the South Korean government’s energy policies, intending to address carbon emission-related issues and leading to the active renovation of the majority of existing power plants for wood pellet energy generation. However, the increasing utilization of wood pellets may result in a higher amount of WA commonly disposed of in landfills, potentially causing landfill saturation and environmental issues. Hence, there is a need to address excessive WA disposal; this study utilized WA and investigated its performance as a soil stabilizer

The application of the suggested prediction models is limited to WA and WABB-WS samples that have been modeled at minimal water content (at OMC), similar target dry densities, applied binder dosage ranges, and testing conditions used in the current study. Nevertheless, the enhancement of WA with the help of GGBS and cement demonstrates that the combined hydration mechanism was beneficial for the dynamic stiffness growth of WS. Therefore, the findings of the present study suggest the effectiveness of WABB and its prospective application to soils as BFA-blended binders with a high volume of cement replacement and its role in facilitating the early detection of soil stiffening and strengthening through wave velocity monitoring.

Major achievements, recognition and awards

·  Geotechnical Engineering Speaker (Balagosa, Jebie) on “Mechanical Properties of Compacted Gyeongju Bentonite and Soils Stabilized with Wood Pellet Fly Ash-based Binders”, 2024 University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering CEmenting the Future: GROUNDtechnical Engineering Triumphs

·   Geotechnical Engineering Specialty Division Speaker (Balagosa, Jebie) on “Development of Soil Barrier System using Natural and Stabilized Soils in South Korea”, 2022 PICESKOPE Webinar hosted by PICE-South Korea

·    Geotechnical Engineering Specialty Division Speaker (Balagosa, Jebie) on “A Study on the Mechanical Properties of Compacted Gyeongju Bentonite as a Part of Engineered Barrier Systems used for Radioactive Waste Repository”, 2021 PICE-47^th National Convention and Technical Conference

·   Outstanding Paper award, “Influence of Wood Pellet Ash on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Korean Weathered Soils” 2021 Korean Geotechnical Society Fall Conference

·   Outstanding Paper Award “Compaction Characteristics of Korean Weathered Soils Mixed with Wood Pellet Ash” Korean Recycled 2020 Construction Resources Association Fall Conference

·   Outstanding Paper Award “Literature Review on Geotechnical Properties of Soil Mixture with Wood Ash as Soil Stabilizers” Korean Recycled 2020 Construction Resources Association Summer Conference

Published Journal Papers and Conference Proceedings:

·         Balagosa, J., Navea, I. J., Lee, M. J., Choo, Y. W., Kim, H. S., & Kim, J. M. (2024). Dynamic property growth of weathered granite soils stabilized with wood pellet fly ash based binders. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 180, 108627.

·         Balagosa, J., Lee, M. J., Choo, Y. W., Kim, H. S., & Kim, J. M. (2023). “Experimental Validation of the Cementation Mechanism of Wood Pellet Fly Ash Blended Binder in Weathered Granite Soil”. Materials, 16(19), 6543.

·         Balagosa, J., Choo, Y.W. (2023), “Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Compacted Gyeongju Bentonite and Soils Stabilized with Wood Pellet Fly Ash-Based Binders,” Conference Proceedings, 10^th Asia-Pacific Young Researchers and Graduate Symposium (YRGS2023), Perth, Austraila. December 06 to 08, 2023

·         Balagosa, J., Lee, M.J., Navea, I.J., Choo, Y.W. (2023), “Study on Dynamic Modulus and Strength of Weathered Granite Soils Enhanced with Wood Pellet Fly Ash Binder,” Conference Proceedings, 2023 Korea Earthquake Engineering Society, Seoul, South Korea. March 16 to 17, 2023

·         Balagosa, J., Lee, M.J., Choi, J.H., Choo, Y.W., Kim, H.S., Kim, J.M., Se G.S., Dae, S.J. (2022), “Field and Laboratory Tests of Soil-Cement Columns with New Eco Binder,” Conference Proceedings, 10^th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG), KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea. September 19-23, 2022

·         Balagosa, J., Lee, M.J., Choo, Y.W., Kim, H.S., Kim, J.M. (2021), “Experimental Study on the Influence of Low Carbon Cementitious Binder on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Weathered Granite Soils in South Korea,” PICE-47th National Convention and Technical Conference. Novemeber 27, 2021

·         Balagosa, J., Lee, M.J., Choo, Y.W., Kim, H.S., Kim, J.M. (2021), “Influence of Wood Pellet Ash on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Korean Weathered Soils,” Conference Proceedings, Korean Geotechnical Society (KGS) Fall National Conference, Seoul, South Korea. October 1, 2021

·         Balagosa, J., Choi, J.H., & Choo, Y. W. (2020), “Compaction Characteristics of Korean Weathered Soils Mixed with Wood Pellet Ash,” Conference Proceedings, Korean Recycled 2020 Construction Resources Association Fall Conference, Jeju, South Korea. November 26-27, 2020

·         Balagosa, J., Choi, J.H., & Choo, Y. W. (2020), “Literature Review on Geotechnical Properties of Soil Mixture with Wood Ash as Soil Stabilizers,” Conference Proceedings, Korean Recycled 2020 Construction Resources Association Summer Conference, South Korea

Published Ph.D. Dissertation (2024)

·         Experimental Study on Stabilization Mechanism and Applicability of Wood Pellet Combustion Fly Ash Based Binders in Various Soil Types
    목재펠릿 연소 플라이애쉬계 바인더의 지반 개량 메커니즘에 대한 실험 연구

Published MSc. Thesis (2021)

·         Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Gyeongju Compacted Bentonite and Wood Ash Reinforced Geopolymers
   경주압축벤토나이트와 우드애쉬 지오폴리머의 역학적 성질에 대한 실험연구