Amelioration of Highly Sensitive Clay Using Natural Fiber and Chemical Admixture

Abstract

This study was undertaken to research the effects of coir fiber content, in conjunction with chemical stabilization. Water content and dry density of reinforced and unreinforced soil on the strength influence mechanism by implementing a series of laboratory tests and analysis. The meaning of this study is to evaluate the effect of these fibers and cacl2 in stabilizing of expansive soils by improving its unconfined compressive strength behaviour. The effect of length (15mm), amount of coir fiber (1.5,2.0 and 2.5% dosage by dry weight of soil) and cacl2(0.25,0.50 and 1.0% dosage by dry weight of soil) were used. The efficient results is obtained in favourable combination of 2.5% coir fiber + 0.5 Cacl2 into expansive soil specimen prepared at maximum dry density and optimum moisture content. Test specimens were tested with compaction tests, free swell, unconfined compression strength test (UCS). Specimens were curing for 1, 7 and 14 days with portable water, after which they were tested for unconfined compression tests. Based on the favorable results obtained, it can be concluded that the expansive soil can be successfully stabilized by the coir fiber and cacl2.