ISSN XXXX XXXX © 2017 IJESC

Research Article Volume 7 Issue No.5

Soil Stabilization using Lime and Polypropylene Fiber Material

Ravi s balagoudra1, Vamshi krishna2, Hemappa s yaligar3, Jayasurya.T4, Shwetha.G.C5
Student1, 2, 3, 4, Assistant Professor5
Department of Civil Engineering
Stjit Ranebennur, Karnataka, India

Abstract:
Expansive soils are found in many parts of the world such kind of soil generally consists of active clay minerals. Geotechnical
engineers face various problems while designing foundation because of clayey soil due to poor bearing capacity and excessive
settlement. To overcome those problems researches concentrated on soil improvement techniques by adding fibers, lime etc. to the
soil. The usability and effectiveness of fiber reinforcement as a replacement for deep foundation or raft foundation, as a cost effective
approach. The various tests were conducted on Black cotton soil with increment of 0.25% polypropylene fiber (PPF) upto 1% and
constant 4% lime by weight of soil. Finally the maximum strength is obtained at 0.75% PPF and by maintaining 4% lime.

Keyword: Soil Stabilization, fibers, lime, raft foundation.

1. INTRODUCTION SHAILENDRA SINGH, et al. (2013): They explained the

For any land-based structure the foundation is very important
and has to be strong to support the entire structure. In order for
the foundation to be strong the soil around its plays a very
important role. So to work with soils we need to have proper
knowledge about their properties and factors which affect their
behavior. In order to satisfy the soil properties the soil
stabilization is very important so that the addition of lime and
polypropylene fiber makes soil stabilization by arresting the
cracks so that it improves strength. The addition of lime and
polypropylene fiber decreases the optimum water content, and
increases strength and maximum dry density and reduced the
swelling potential, liquid limit, plasticity index. But further
addition can increases swelling in soils with high sulphate
contents, decrease in plasticity of soils and excessive lime
treatment contribute to brittle failure characteristics of soils that
lead to rapid and great loss in strength when failure occurs. Here
in this project soil stabilization has been done with the help of
lime and randomly distributed polypropylene fibers, obtained
from waste materials.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
SATYAM TIWARI et al. (2016): They explained the “Soil
Stabilization Using Waste Fiber Materials”, and investigated the
use of waste fiber materials in geotechnical applications and to
evaluate the effects of waste polypropylene fibers on shear
strength of unsaturated soil by carrying out direct shear tests and
unconfined compression tests on two different soil samples. The
percentages of fiber reinforcement added are 0, 0.05, 0.15, and
0.25.Based on Specific gravity of a soil-With mixing of 0.05%
fibers (PPF) specific gravity of the soil increases by 0.3%.
Strength of the soil is directly proportional to specific gravity,
more is the specific gravity more will be the strength of soil.
Based on liquid limit of a .Soil without reinforcement and with
reinforcement have liquid limit difference of 18.18%.
“Stabilization of Black Cotton Soil using Lime”. The
stabilization of black cotton soil with lime has been done in three
different ratios of lime i.e. 0%, 4%, 6%. After that, the soil with
lime in above percentage the various tests have been performed.
They concluded that the addition of lime at 4% and 6%
decreases the liquid limit by 12.1% and 17.7%. MDD is found to
decrease by 2.4% and 5.6% at 4% and 6% lime content. The
swelling pressure at 4% and 6% decreased by 40% and 80%
respectively. ANKIT JAIN, et al. (2016): They explained the
“Effect of lime on the index properties of black cotton soil”. A
Serious of laboratory tests conducted on black cotton soil mixed
with different proportion of lime i.e. 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and
10% by weight of dry soil. Based on their investigation they
concluded that, liquid limit of soil decreases from 67.49% to
52.01% with increase in lime content upto 8% after that there is
no significant change with increase in lime content. Plasticity
index of soil decreases from 37.16% to 10.43% with increase in
lime content upto 8%. Differential free swelling of soil decreases
from 60% to 14% with increasing lime content. Above results
shows that the swelling characteristics of soil is reduced and
optimum dosage of lime is found at 8%.
3. OBJECTIVES
 To evaluate the index properties of Black cotton soil.
 To increase the strength characteristic of soil by adding
polypropylene fiber and lime.
 To make comparison of strength properties between Black
cotton soil with fiber and without fiber.
 To identify the increasing in strength of soil by replacing
fiber at various percentages.
 To increase the soil bearing capacity by adding
polypropylene fibre and lime in varies percentages.
 To identify the Effect of lime on CBR value of the soil and
Effect of lime on Compressive strength of soil.
 To identify the optimum % of poly propylene fiber by
conducting varies strength test to various % of fibre.

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4. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

4.1 Scope of work

The experimental work consists of the following steps:
1. Determine the specific gravity of the soil.
2. Determination of soil index properties(Atterberg limits)
i. Liquid limit by Casagrande’s apparatus.
ii. Plastic limit.
3. Particle size distribution by sieve analysis.
4. Determination of the maximum dry density (MDD) and the
corresponding optimum moisture content (OMC) of the soil
by compaction test.
5. Determination of strength by;
i. Unconfined compression test (UCS).
ii. Direct shear test (DST).
iii. California bearing ratio test (CBR). Figure.2. Polypropylene fiber

4.2 Materials
4.2.1 Black cotton soil: Black cotton soil (BC soil) is a highly
clayey soil. They are of variable thickness, underlain by black
sticky material known as “Black soil”. Black cotton soil when
comes in contact with water it either swells or shrinks and
resulting in moments to the structure which are generally not
related to direct effect of loading. On account of its high
volumetric changes it is not suitable for construction. It swells
and shrinks excessively due to present of fine clay particles.
Hence black cotton soil must be treated by using suitable
admixtures to stabilize it.
4.2.3 Lime: Calcium oxide is a white crystalline solid with a
melting point of 25720c. It is manufactured by heating limestone,
coral, seashells, or chalk, which are mainly CaCO3 to drive off
carbon dioxide. By using lime in the method of soil stabilization
it mainly increases strength and reduces the swells or shrinks
property. But further additions may decreases the plasticity of
soil and excessive lime treatment contribute to brittle failure
characteristic of soils that lead to rapid and great loss in strength
when failure occurs.

Figure.1. Black cotton soil

4.2.2 Polypropylene fiber:

Table-1: Physical and chemical properties of fibre

Serial Physical and Values

number chemical properties Figure.3. Lime

1 Fibre type Single fibre 4.3 Preparation of samples

2 Unit weight
3 Average diameter
4 Average length
Breaking tensile
5 350 M Pa
strength
6 Modulus of elasticity
7 Fusion point
8 Burning point
9 Acid and alkali
10 resistance
Dispersibility
0.91 g/cm3 The following steps are carried out while mixing the fiber to the
soil,
0.034 mm
1. All the soil samples are compacted at their respective
maximum dry density (MDD) and optimum moisture content
12 mm
(OMC) corresponding to the standard proctor compaction test.
2. Content of fiber in the soil is depends on the weight of soil we
have taken for conducting tests.
3. The different values adopted in the present study for the
3500 M Pa percentage of fiber reinforcement are 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%,
and 1% and lime is added constant about 4% for different
165 °C percentages of fiber.
4. In the preparation of samples, if fiber and lime is not used
590 °C then, the air dried soil is mixed with an amount of water that
depends on the OMC of the soil.
Very good 5. If fiber and lime was used, the adopted content of fibers and
Excellent lime was first mixed into the air dried soil in small increments b
hand, making sure that all the fibers and lime were mixed

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thoroughly, so that a fairly homogenous mixture is obtained, and applied from one side until the soil fails. The shear stress is
then the required water was added. calculated by dividing this force with the area of the soil mass.
This test can be performed in undrained, drained, and
4.4 Brief steps involved in the experiments consolidated undrained conditions.
4.4.1 Specific gravity of the soil: The specific gravity of the soil
is ratio between weight of the solids and weight of equal volume 4.4.8 California bearing ratio test: California bearing ratio
of water. It is measured by the help of a volumetric flask in a (CBR) is defined as the ratio expressed in percentage of force
very simple experimental setup where the volume of the soil is per unit area required penetrating a soil mass with a circular
found out and its weight is divided by the weight of equal plunger of 50mm diameter at the rate of 1.25 mm/min to that
volume of water. The specific gravity is denoted by “G”. required for corresponding penetration in a standard material.
Tests are performed out on natural or compacted soils in water
4.4.2 Liquid limit by Casagrande’s apparatus: It is the water soaked or unsoaked conditions and the results so obtained are
content of the soil between liquid state and plastic state of the compared with the curves of standard tests.
soil. It can be defined as the minimum water content at which
the soil, though in liquid state, shows small shearing against 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
flowing. The Casagrande’s tool cuts a groove of size 2mm wide
at the bottom and 11mm wide at the top and 8mm high. The The index properties of black cotton soil tests results are
number of blows used for the soil sample to come in contact is summarized in Table-2. The variation in the Optimum moisture
noted down. Graph is plotted taking number of blows on a contents, Maximum dry density, Unconfined compressive
logarithmic scale on the abscissa and water content on the strength, Direct shear test and California bearing ratio test results
ordinate. Liquid limit corresponds to 25 blows from the graph. It are shown in Figures 4 to 8.
is denoted by WL.
Table.2. Summary of results
4.4.3 Plastic limit: The limit lies between the plastic and semi-
solid state of the soil. It is determined by rolling out a thread of Specific gravity of the soil (G) 2.287
the soil on a flat surface which is non-porous. It is the minimum
water content at which the soil just begins to crumble while
rolling into a thread of approximately 3mm diameter. Plastic Liquid limit of soil (WL) 32%
limit is denoted by WP.
Plastic limit of soil (WP) 22.65
4.4.4 Particle size distribution by sieve analysis: The
distribution of particles of different sizes determines many
physical properties such as its strength, permeability, density etc. Plasticity index (Ip) 9.35
Particle size distribution is done by sieve analysis which is done
only for coarse grained soils. It is followed by plotting the results Maximum dry density of soil
on a semi log graph. The percentage finer N as the ordinate and 1.486 g/cc
(MDD)
particle diameter i.e. sieve size as the abscissa on a logarithmic
scale. Optimum moisture content of soil
25%
(OMC)
4.4.5 Proctor compaction test: The compaction process helps
in increasing the bulk density by driving out the air from the
voids. The dry density depends upon the moisture content in the
soil. The maximum dry density (MDD) is achieved when the soil
Optimum moisture content
is compacted at relatively high moisture content and almost all
the air is driven out, this moisture content is called optimum 30%
moisture content. After plotting the data from the experiment 0
OMC values in %

with water content as the abscissa and dry density as the 25%
ordinate, we can obtain the MDD and OMC. 0.25
20%
4.4.6 Unconfined compression test: The experiment is used to 0.5
15%
determine the unconfined compressive strength of the soil 25%
sample which in turn is used to calculate the unconsolidated, 22.22%
10% 17.60% 0.75
undrained shear strength of unconfined soil. The unconfined 13.60% 14.28%
compressive strength is the compressive stress at which the 5%
1
unconfined cylindrical soil sample fails under simple
compressive test. The compressive stress for each step was 0%
calculated by dividing the load with the corrected area. 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1

4.4.7 Direct shear test: This is the most common test used to Poly propylene used in %
determine the shear strength of the soil. In this experiment the
soil is put inside a shear box closed from all sides and force is Figure.4. Optimum moisture content

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 Maximum dry density California Bearing Ratio
2 5
1.8 0
MDD values in g/cc

CBR values in %
1.6 0
1.4 0.25
1.2 3
0.25
1 4.64 0.5
1.81 1.708 2
0.8 1.486 1.5349 1.6156 0.5 3.74 3.69
0.6 2.91 0.75
1 1.72
0.4
0.75 1
0.2
0
0
1 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1

Poly propylene used in % Poly propylene used in %

Figure.8. California Bearing Ratio

Figure.5. Maximum dry density IV. CONCLUSION:

[1]. The results obtained for different percentages of

Unconfined Compression polypropylene fiber and constant lime (4%) as shown in figure 4.
Strength The decrement in the Optimum moisture content (OMC) as
1.8 shown in figure with different percentages of addition of
0
1.6
polypropylene fiber and constant lime (4%). The OMC
decreases up to 0.75% after that OMC gradually increases with
UCS values in kg/cm2

1.4 further addition of polypropylene fiber. So optimum dosage is

0.25
1.2 found at 0.75% of polypropylene fiber.
1 0.5
[2]. The results obtained for different percentages of
0.8 1.61
1.39 polypropylene fiber and constant lime (4%) as shown in figure 5.
0.6 1.29
0.75 The increment in the Maximum dry density (MDD) as shown in
0.4 0.91 figure with different percentages of addition of polypropylene
0.2 fiber and constant lime (4%). As MDD increases strength of soil
0.229 1
also increases .The MDD increases up to 0.75% after that MDD
0
gradually decreases with further addition of polypropylene fiber.
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 So optimum dosage is found at 0.75% of polypropylene fiber.
Poly propylene used in %
[3]. The results obtained for different percentages of
Figure.6. Unconfined Compression Strength
polypropylene fiber and constant lime (4%) as shown in figure 6.
The increment in the compression strength as shown in figure
with different percentages of addition of polypropylene fiber and
Direct Shear constant lime (4%). The compression strength increases up to
0.75% after that compression strength decreases with further
0.6
addition of polypropylene fiber. So optimum dosage is found at
DST values in kg/cm2

0.75% of polypropylene fiber.

0.5

0.4 0 [4]. The increment in the shear strength or cohesion as shown in

figure 7 with different percentages of addition of polypropylene
0.25 fiber and constant lime (4%). The shear strength increases up to
0.3
0.5 0.5 0.75% after that shear strength slightly decreases with further
0.45 0.49
0.2 addition of polypropylene fiber. So optimum dosage is found at
0.32 0.36 0.75 0.75% of polypropylene fiber.
0.1
1 [5]. The results obtained for different percentages of
0 polypropylene fiber and constant lime (4%) as shown in figure 8.
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 The increment in the CBR value as shown in figure with
different percentages of addition of polypropylene fiber and
Poly propylene used in %
constant lime (4%). The CBR value increases up to 0.75% after
Figure.7. Direct Shear that CBR value greatly decreases with further addition of

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polypropylene fiber. So optimum dosage is found at 0.75% of
polypropylene fiber.

[6]. Hence we obtained the optimum percentage of lime and

polypropylene fiber as 4% and 0.75% for soil stabilization.

V. REFERENCES:

[1]. ASTM D 854 “Standard test methods for specific gravity of

soil solids by water pycnometer”.

[2]. S.A. Naeini and S.M Sadiadi (2008), “Effect of waste

polymer materials on shear strength of unsaturated clays”, EJGE
journal, vol 13, bund k, (1-12).

[3]. MR. Naranagowda M J, et al (2016), “Effect of

polypropylene fiber on stability of expansive soil”, IJER journal,
vol 05, No. 8, (651-653).

[4]. Y Shashidar reddy, et al (2014), “Use of waste fiber

materials in geotechnical applications”, IJOER journal, vol 02,
No. 6, (2321-7758).

[5]. Satyam Tiwari, (2016), “Soil stabilization using waste fiber

materials”, IJITR journal, vol 04, No. 3, (2927-2930).

[6]. Yetimoglu, T., Inanir, M, Inanir, O.E., (2005), “A study on

bearing capacity of randomly distributed fiber-reinforced sand
fills overlying soft clay”, vol 23, No. 2, (174-183).

[7]. Chaosheng Tang, Bin Shi, Wei Gao, Fengium chen, Yi Cai,
(2006), “ Strength and mechanical behavior of short
polypropylene fiber reinforced and cement stabilized clayey soil.
Geotextiles and geo-membranes 25(2007) 194-202.

[8]. Mahmood R. Abdi, Ali parsapajouh and Mohammad A.

Arjomand (2008), “Effect of random fiber inclusion on
consolidation, Hydraulic conductivity, swelling, shrinkage limit
and desiccation cracking of clays”, International journal of civil
engineering, vol 6, No.4, (284-292).

[9]. Consoli, N.C, Prieto, P.D.M. and Ulbrich L.A. (1999). “The
behaviour of a fiber reinforced cement soil.” Ground
improvement, London, 3(1), 21.

[10]. J.E.Loehr, P.J.Axtell and J.J.Bowders, “Reduction of soil

swell potential with fiber reinforcement”, GeoEng (2000).

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