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Effect of Random Inclusion of Polypropylene Fibers on Strength Characteristics of Cohesive Soil

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Abstract

This paper presents the effect of random inclusion of polypropylene fibers on strength characteristics of soil. Locally available cohesive soil (CL) is used as medium and polypropylene fibers with three aspect ratios (l/d = 75, 100 and 125) are used as reinforcement. Soil is compacted with standard Proctor’s maximum density with low percentage of reinforcement (0–1% by weight of oven-dried soil). Direct shear tests, unconfined compression tests and CBR tests were conducted on un-reinforced as well as reinforced soil to investigate the strength characteristics of fiber-reinforced soil. The test results reveal that the inclusion of randomly distributed polypropylene fibers in soil increases peak and residual shear strength, unconfined compressive strength and CBR value of soil. It is noticed that the optimum fiber content for achieving maximum strength is 0.4–0.8% of the weight of oven-dried soil for fiber aspect ratio of 100.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, 768018, India

    Pradip Kumar Pradhan

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, Sarang, 759146, India

    Rabindra Kumar Kar

  3. Department of Earth Science, Sambalpur University, Jyotivihar, Burla, 768019, India

    Ashutosh Naik

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  1. Pradip Kumar Pradhan
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  2. Rabindra Kumar Kar
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  3. Ashutosh Naik
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Correspondence to Pradip Kumar Pradhan.

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Pradhan, P.K., Kar, R.K. & Naik, A. Effect of Random Inclusion of Polypropylene Fibers on Strength Characteristics of Cohesive Soil. Geotech Geol Eng 30, 15–25 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-011-9445-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-011-9445-6

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