Enhancement of Soil Properties by Using Polypropelene Fiber: A Review

Abstract

Increasing population, rapid urbanization are forcing the Geotechnical engineers to utilize more and more lands in construction works such as construction of new roads, buildings etc. But limited availability of suitable soil for construction, become a hurdle in this improvement which leads to the use of lands having CI soils. When it comes the turn of Expansive soil, the problems related due to its poor strength properties roam in our mind, first. In this condition, the need of soil treatment is required badly. In practice, soil treatment is carried out using lime, fly ash, coir fibers etc. frequently while using of polypropylene fiber is very less. Yes, polypropylene fiber is now used in a progressive quantity with concrete, but its uses with soil are limited or very low.

So the main intent of this paper is to study the usefulness of fiber also to observe the out-turn of polypropylene fiber on the geotechnical properties of CI soil. Hence, go through a cycle of laboratory tests with and without the adding of polypropylene fiber to the soil. Tests such as Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests have been observed with the soil sample mixed with assorted ratio of polypropylene fiber. The results revealed from the tests show satisfactory improvement in strength of soil treated with polyester fiber.

Keywords: CI soil, polypropelene fiber, UCS, CBR