STUDY OF REINFORCEMENT IN SOIL W.R.T. STRENGTH AND BEARING CAPACITY

Abstract

Now a days, technique for strengthening the soils involves mixing of randomly distributed discrete fibres to the soils. The Engineering behaviour of composite material is similar to the traditional reinforced soil (e.g. inclusion of strips, bars, grids, sheets or fabrics to soil). But, in preparation it resembles soil stablization by admixtures such as cement, lime etc. The strength and bearing capacity of fibre reinforced soil depends on fibre characteristics soil-fibre surface friction and stress conditions. This study presents the results of model tests, unconfined compressive strength tests and triaxial compression tests with unconsolidated undrained conditions carried out. on Kaolin soil reinforced with randomly distributed discrete polypropylene and jute fibres, to study the influence of properties of fibres (i.e. weight frdction and aspect ratio) on the strength and bearing capacity of reinforced Kaolin soil. The results indicate that the inclusion of fibres produces greater ductility and stiffness in the composite material as compared to unreinforced soil. The increase in strength-and bearing capacity was a function of fibre length, content and type of fibres. Increasing fibre content and aspect ratio, ultimate hearing capacity, unconfined compressive strength and undrained cohesion d re increased for both the fibres. This increment is more for ju-t-e fibre as compared to polypropylene fibre reinforced Kaolin. The methods of finding out bearing capacity from load settlement curves are compared. Double log method gives higher value than double tangent method. The objective of present study is to ensure the suitability of fibre reinforced clayey soil with respect to embankment, subgrade, landfill liners, final covers and in similar other problems.