Strength Characteristics of Sand Reinforced with Coir Fibres and Coir Geotextiles

 

G. Venkatappa Rao

Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India gvrao@civil.iitd.ernet.in

R. K. Dutta

Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India rkd@recham.ernet.in

Ujwala D.

Former Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India u_damarashetty@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Laboratory triaxial compression tests were carried out in order to determine the strength characteristics of sand reinforced with coir fibres and coir geotxtiles. The mechanical behaviour of the composite material was investigated through varying four confining pressures (24.5 kPa to 196 kPa) 2 types of coir fibres in a random arrangement as well as in a layered arrangement with percentage varying from 0.5 % to 1 %. For oriented reinforcement, two types of woven coir geotextiles of different mass per unit area and aperture size and one non-woven coir geotextile were used. Tests were performed on 100 mm diameter and 200 mm high specimens. The results indicated that inclusion of coir fibres and coir geotextiles improves the performance of sand specimens. The admixtures can be used in rural roads and for ground improvement

Keywords: Sand, Coir fibres, Coir Geotextiles, Ground improvement, Behaviour

Get the entire paper    Go back to the TOC