DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Engineering properties of expansive soil treated with polypropylene fibers

  • Ali, Muhammad (Department of Technology, The University of Lahore) ;
  • Aziz, Mubashir (Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences) ;
  • Hamza, Muhammad (Department of Technology, The University of Lahore) ;
  • Madni, Muhammad Faizan (Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Lahore)
  • Received : 2020.03.25
  • Accepted : 2020.07.05
  • Published : 2020.08.10

Abstract

Expansive soils are renowned for their swelling-shrinkage property and these volumetric changes resultantly cause huge damage to civil infrastructures. Likewise, subgrades consisting of expansive soils instigate serviceability failures in pavements across various regions of Pakistan and worldwide. This study presents the use of polypropylene fibers to improve the engineering properties of a local swelling soil. The moisture-density relationship, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and elastic modulus (E50), California bearing ratio (CBR) and one-dimensional consolidation behavior of the soil treated with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% fibers have been investigated in this study. It is found that the maximum dry density of reinforced soil slightly decreased by 2.8% due to replacement of heavier soil particles by light-weight fibers and the optimum moisture content remained almost unaffected due to non-absorbent nature of the fibers. A significant improvement has been observed in UCS (an increase of 279%), E50 (an increase of 113.6%) and CBR value (an increase of 94.4% under unsoaked and an increase of 55.6% under soaked conditions) of the soil reinforced with 0.4% fibers, thereby providing a better quality subgrade for the construction of pavements on such soils. Free swell and swell pressure of the soil also significantly reduced (94.4% and 87.9%, respectively) with the addition of 0.8% fibers and eventually converting the medium swelling soil to a low swelling class. Similarly, the compression and rebound indices also reduced by 69.9% and 88%, respectively with fiber inclusion of 0.8%. From the experimental evaluations, it emerges that polypropylene fiber has great potential as a low cost and sustainable stabilizing material for widespread swelling soils.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the Department of Technology, The University of Lahore (UOL), Pakistan for providing the laboratory facilities. We also gratefully acknowledge the Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM) Department, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore, Pakistan for conducting XRD and SEM tests.

References

  1. Ahmad, F., Bateni, F. and Azmi, M. (2010), "Performance evaluation of silty sand reinforced with fibres", Geotext. Geomembranes, 28(1), 93-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2009.09.017
  2. Al-Wahab, R.M. and El-Kedrah, M.A. (1995), "Using fibers to reduce tension cracks and shrink/Swell in compacted clays", Proceedings of the Geoenvironment 2000, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A., February.
  3. ASTM D1557-12e1 (2012), Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/$ft^3$ (2,700 kN-m/$m^3$)), ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  4. ASTM D1883-16 (2016), Standard Test Method for California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of Laboratory Compacted Soils, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  5. ASTM D2166/D2166M-16 (2016), Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  6. ASTM D2435/D2435M-11 (2011), Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  7. ASTM D2487-11 (2011), Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System), ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  8. ASTM D4318-17e1 (2017), Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  9. Ayyar, T.S.R., Krishnaswamy, N.R. and Viswanadham, B.V.S. (1989), "Geosynthetics for foundations on a swelling clay", Proceedings of the International Workshop on Geotextiles, Bangalore, India, November.
  10. Aziz, M., Saleem, M. and Irfan, M. (2015), "Engineering behavior of expansive soils treated with rice husk ash", Geomech. Eng., 8(2), 173-186. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2015.8.2.173.
  11. Cai, Y., Shi, B., Ng, C.W.W. and Tang, C.S. (2006), "Effect of polypropylene fibre and lime admixture on engineering properties of clayey soil", Eng. Geol., 87(3-4), 230-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2006.07.007.
  12. Changizi, F. and Haddad, A. (2015), "Strength properties of soft clay treated with mixture of nano-SiO2 and recycled polyester fiber", J. Rock Mech. Geotech. Eng., 7(4), 367-378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2015.03.013.
  13. Chegenizadeh, A. and Nikraz, H (2011), "CBR test on reinforced clay", Proceedings of the 14th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (PCSMGE), the 64th Canadian Geotechnical Conference (CGC), Toronto, Ontario, Canada, October.
  14. Chen, F.H. (1975), Foundations on Expansive Soils, Elsevier Scientific Publication Company.
  15. Consoli, N.C., Casagrande, M.D. and Coop, M.R. (2005), "Effect of fiber reinforcement on the isotropic compression behavior of a sand", J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 131(11), 1434-1436. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2005)131:11(1434).
  16. Cutright, T., Michael, M., Keith, F. and Anil, P. (2013), "Carbon footprint assessment of polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete floors", Int. J. Construct. Environ., 3(1), 73-84. https://doi.org/10.18848/2154-8587/CGP/v03i01/37372.
  17. Das, B.M. and Sobhan, K. (2013), Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Cengage Learning.
  18. Estabragh, A.R., Bordbar, A.T. and Javadi, A.A. (2011), "Mechanical behavior of a clay soil reinforced with nylon fibers", Geotech. Geol. Eng., 29(5), 899-908. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-011-9427-8.
  19. Fatahi, B., Le, T.M., Fatahi, B. and Khabbaz, H. (2013), "Shrinkage properties of soft clay treated with cement and geofibers", Geotech. Geol. Eng., 31, 1421-1435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-013-9666-y.
  20. Garg, A., Bordoloi, S., Mondal, S., Ni, J.J. and Sreedeep, S. (2020), "Investigation of mechanical factor of soil reinforced with four types of fibers: An integrated experimental and extreme learning machine approach", J. Nat. Fibers, 17(5), 650-664. https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2018.1521763.
  21. Guney, Y., Sari, D., Cetin, M. and Tuncan, M. (2007), "Impact of cyclic wetting-drying on swelling behavior of lime-stabilized soil", Build. Environ., 42(2), 681-688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.10.035.
  22. Hejazi, S.M., Sheikhzadeh, M., Abtahi, S.M. and Zadhoush, A. (2012), "A simple review of soil reinforcement by using natural and synthetic fibers", Constr. Build. Mater., 30, 100-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.11.045.
  23. Holtz, W.G. (1983), "The influence of vegetation on the swelling and shrinking of clays in the United States of America", Geotechnique, 33(2), 159-163. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1983.33.2.159.
  24. Holtz, W.G. and Gibbs H.J. (1956), "Engineering properties of expansive clays", T. ASCE, 121, 641-663.
  25. Houston, S.L., Dye, H.B., Zapata, C.E., Walsh, K.D. and Houston, W.N. (2011), "Study of expansive soils and residential foundations on expansive soils in Arizona", J. Perform. Constr. Fac., 25(1), 31-44. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000077.
  26. Jiang, H., Cai, Y. and Liu, J. (2010), "Engineering properties of soils reinforced by short discrete polypropylene fiber", J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 22(12), 1315-1322. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000129.
  27. Kaufmann, J., Winnefeld, F. and Hesselbarth, D. (2004), "Effect of the addition of ultrafine cement and short fiber reinforcement on shrinkage, rheological and mechanical properties of Portland cement pastes", Cement Concrete Compos., 26(5), 541-549. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0958-9465(03)00070-2.
  28. Khan, M.I., Irfan, M., Aziz, M. and Khan, A.H. (2017), "Geotechnical characteristics of effluent contaminated cohesive soils", J. Environ. Eng. Landscape Manage., 25(1), 75-82. https://doi.org/10.3846/16486897.2016.1210155.
  29. Li, C. (2005), "Mechanical response of fiber-reinforced soil", Ph.D. Thesis, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
  30. Loehr, J.E., Axtell, P.J. and Bowders, J.J. (2000), "Reduction of soil swell potential with fiber reinforcement", Proceedings of the ISRM International Symposium, Melbourne, Australia, November.
  31. Maher, M. and Ho, Y. (1994), "Mechanical properties of kaolinite/fibre soil composite", J. Geotech. Eng., 120(8), 1381-1393. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1994)120:8(1381).
  32. Malekzadeh, M. and Bilsel, H. (2012a), "Effect of polypropylene fiber on mechanical behavior of expansive soils", Electron. J. Geotech. Eng., 17, 55-63.
  33. Malekzadeh, M. and Bilsel, H. (2012b), "Swell and compressibility of fiber reinforced expansive soils", Int. J. Adv. Technol. Civ. Eng., 1(2), 42-45.
  34. Mandal, J.N. and Murthi, M.V.R. (1989), "Potential use of natural fibres in geotechnical engineering", Proceedings of the International Workshops on Geo-Textiles, Bangalore, India, November.
  35. Mishra, A.K., Dhawan, S. and Rao, S.M. (2008), "Analysis of swelling and shrinkage behavior of compacted clays", Geotech. Geol. Eng., 26(3), 289-298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-007-9165-0
  36. Moghal, A.A.B., Bhaskar, C.S., Chittoori, B., Basha, M. and Al-Mahbashi, A.M. (2017), "Effect of polypropylene fibre reinforcement on the consolidation, swell and shrinkage behaviour of lime-blended expansive soil", Int. J. Geotech. Eng., 12(5), 1297002. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2017.1297002.
  37. Mohanty, S.K., Pradhan, P.K. and Mohanty, C.R. (2017), "Stabilization of expansive soil using industrial wastes", Geomech. Eng., 12(1), 111-125. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2017.12.1.111.
  38. Nataraj, M.S. and McManis, K.L. (1997), "Strength and deformation properties of soils reinforced with fibrillated fibers", Geosynth. Int., 4(1), 65-79. https://doi.org/10.1680/gein.4.0089.
  39. Obrzud, R.F. (2010), "On the use of the hardening soil small strain model in geotechnical practice", Numerics Geotech. Struct.
  40. Olgun, M. (2013), "Effects of polypropylene fiber inclusion on the strength and volume change characteristics of cement-fly ash stabilized clay soil', Geosynth. Int., 20(4), 263-275. https://doi.org/10.1680/gein.13.00016.
  41. Park, S.S. (2011), "Unconfined compressive strength and ductility of fiber-reinforced cemented sand", Constr. Build. Mater., 25(2), 1134-1138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.07.017.
  42. Pradhan, P.K., Kar, R.K. and Naik, A. (2012), "Effect of random inclusion of polypropylene fibers on strength characteristics of cohesive soil", Geotech. Geol. Eng., 30(1), 15-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-011-9445-6.
  43. Ramasamy, S. and Arumairaj, P.D. (2013), "The effect of polypropylene fiber on index properties and compaction characteristics of clay soil", Turkish J. Eng. Sci. Technol., 2, 35-38.
  44. Rashid, I. (2015), "Characterization and mapping of expansive soils of Punjab", M.Sc. Thesis, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.
  45. Rivera-Gomez, C., Galan-Marin, C. and Bradley, F. (2014), "Analysis of the influence of the fiber type in polymer matrix/fiber bond using natural organic polymer stabilizer", Polymers, 6(4), 977-994. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym6040977.
  46. Shariati, M., Azar, S.M., Arjomand, M.A., Tehrani, H.S., Daei, M. and Safa, M. (2019), "Comparison of dynamic behavior of shallow foundations based on pile and geosynthetic materials in fine-grained clayey soils", Geomech. Eng., 19(6), 473-484. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2020.19.6.473.
  47. Sharma, A.K. and Sivapullaiah, P.V. (2016), "Ground granulated blast furnace slag amended fly ash as an expansive soil stabilizer", Soils Found., 56(2), 205-212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.02.004
  48. Shen, R.X. (1995), Fibre Reinforced Concrete, in Concrete Practical Manual, 881-927.
  49. Shukla S.K. (2017), Fundamentals of Fibre-Reinforced Soil Engineering, Springer.
  50. Soganci, A.S. (2015), "The effect of polypropylene fiber in the stabilization of expansive soils", Int. J. Environ. Chem. Ecol. Geol. Geophys. Eng., 9(8), 994-997.
  51. Sravya, G.S. and Suresh, K. (2016), "Swell and strength characteristics of expansive soil reinforced with synthetic fibers", I-Manager J. Civ. Eng., 6(4), 21-30.
  52. Surjandari, N.S. and Dananjaya, R.H. (2018), "The effect of egg shell powder on the compression strength of fine-grained soil", Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Rehabilitation and Maintenance in Civil Engineering, Solo, Indonesia, July.
  53. Taha, M.R., Alsharef, J.M.A., Khan, T.A., Aziz, M. and Gaber, M. (2018), "Compressive and tensile strength enhancement of soft soils using nanocarbons", Geomech. Eng., 16(5), 559-567. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2018.16.5.559.
  54. Tang, C.S., Shi, B., Gao, W., Chen, F. and Cai, Y.J. (2007), "Strength and mechanical behavior of short polypropylene fiber reinforced and cement stabilized clayey soil", Geotext. Geomembranes, 25(3), 194-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2006.11.002.
  55. Tang, C.S., Shi, B., Cui, Y.J., Liu, C. and Gu, K. (2012), "Desiccation cracking behavior of polypropylene fiber-reinforced clayey soil", Can. Geotech. J., 49(9), 1088-1101. https://doi.org/10.1139/t2012-067.
  56. Tang, C.S., Wang, D.Y., Cui, Y.J. and Shi, B. (2016), "Tensile strength of fiber reinforced soil", J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 28(7). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001546.
  57. The Fiber Year (2009), https://www.ptj.com.pk/Web-2010/08-10/Features-Global-fiber.htm.
  58. Thomas, G. and Rangaswamy, K. (2020), "Strengthening of cement blended soft clay with nano-silica particles", Geomech. Eng., 20(6), 505-516. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2020.20.6.505.
  59. USBR United States Bureau of Reclamation (1998), Earth Manual.
  60. Vessely, M.J. and Wu, J.T.H. (2002), "Feasibility of geosynthetic inclusion for reducing swelling of expansive soils", Transport. Res. Rec., 1787(1), 42-52. http://doi.org/10.3141/1787-05.
  61. Viswanadham, B.V.S., Phanikumar, B.R. and Mukherjee, R.V. (2009), "Swelling behaviour of a geofiber-reinforced expansive soil", Geotext. Geomembranes, 27(1), 73-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2008.06.002.
  62. Wang, Y. (2006), Utilization of Recycled Carpet Waste Fibers for Reinforcement of Concrete and Soil - Recycling in Textiles, Woodhead Publishing.
  63. Wang, Y.X., Guo, P.P., Ren, W.X. and Yuan, B.X. (2017), "Laboratory investigation on strength characteristics of expansive soil treated with jute fiber reinforcement", Int. J. Geomech., 17(11), 04017101. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000998.
  64. Xu, G.L., Liu, F.S. and Tang, H.M. (2004), Modern Technology Theory and Engineering Practice Concerning Reinforced-Soil, China University of Geosciences Press, Wuhan, China, 2-15.

Cited by

  1. Compression behavior of cement-treated marine dredged clay in Dalian Bay vol.26, pp.4, 2021, https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2021.26.4.345
  2. Experimental Study on Endurance Performance of Lime and Cement-Treated Cohesive Soil vol.25, pp.9, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-021-2154-7