Model for analysis of fiber-reinforced clayey soil

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced soils have many applications in improving the response of clayey soils. In this paper, an analytical model for the analysis of fiber-reinforced soil in the framework of modified cam clay model is presented. The analytical model is verified using experimental results from the standard undrained triaxial tests with pore water pressure measurements. Tests have been conducted on clayey soil specimens reinforced with randomly oriented discrete coir fibers with different percentages of fiber contents. Numerical simulations of triaxial compression tests on fiber-reinforced clay specimens were also performed. Results are presented in the form of stress vs. strain curves for plain soil as well as fiber-reinforced soil for various fiber contents based on the model developed. The results demonstrate the applicability of proposed analytical model in predicting the stress strain response of fiber-reinforced soils.

Keywords:

• clay
• coir fiber
• random reinforced soil
• yield surface
• cam clay model

Acknowledgments

The work presented in this paper is a part of the research project on the “use of coir as drainage medium for soft ground improvement and as random reinforcing material” supported by Coir Board, Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries, Government of India. The authors thank the Board for the financial support. The authors thank Dr A.K. Vasudevan and Dr Sumanta Haldar for helpful discussions in the early stages of the work. The authors thank the reviewers for constructive criticism and comments which were helpful in presenting the results in the paper.