Desiccation characteristics and direct tension attributes of thin clayey soil containing discrete natural fibers

The use of thin clayey soil as a liner plays an important role in many geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering applications, such as open channel and reservoir sealant, contaminant barrier etc. Their functional performance and sustainability depend primarily on the desiccation characteristics of these liners and barriers. A number of studies have been undertaken to quantify the degree of improvement achieved by using natural and synthetic fiber reinforcement. However, there is a lack of studies to understand the desiccation behavior of reinforced clay. This study aimed to explore the desiccation and cracking behavior of clayey soil reinforced with two natural fibers (coir and jute fiber) in addition to the degree of improvement in tensile strength. A series of direct tension and desiccation cracking tests have been conducted in the laboratory on clay-coir and clay-jute fiber mixes. The results demonstrate that when coir and jute fibers are used, the tensile strength of fiber-reinforced soil rises by up to 475 percent and 215 percent, respectively, when compared with the tensile strength of unreinforced soil at the same moisture content. Desiccation test results also show that blending of fibers reduces the breadth and depth of cracks significantly. The characteristics of unreinforced and fiber-reinforced clayey soil under desiccation and direct tension are briefly discussed in this paper. Findings of the present study will be important for professionals dealing with clay liners and trying to reduce cracking problems associated with drying soil.