A LABORATORY INVESTIGATION ON THE STRENGTH BEHAVIOUR OF EXPANSIVE SOIL TREATED WITH SISAL FIBRE AND LIME

Abstract

Expansive clay soils are considerably problematic soils in civil engineering constructions. Structures built on such type of soils show movements which are often detrimental and lead to structural damage. Damage from these soils is evidenced in many costly ways and is particularly obvious in buildings and pavements. Several methods are suggested as solutions to prevent damage to buildings in expansive soil areas. Especially expansive soils are worldwide problematic soil which is associated with the large volume change behavior when it undergoes a change in the water content. Expansive soils are found in some regions of India and many other countries. These soils pose major foundation problems, causing damage to the super structure if proper precautions have not been taken. Ground improvement technique such as soil stabilization and reinforcement are employed to improve the mechanical
behavior of the soil and thereby enhancing the reliability of construction. The main objective of this study is to assess the possibility of using Sisal Fibre and Lime as stabilizing agents and to understand the effective performances of these admixture additives in controlling several properties of expansive soils under laboratory conditions. The present study deals with the strength behavior of the expansive soil that is collected from Amalapuram, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India, and the performance of sisal fibre as an admixture and lime as an additive for improving the strength characteristics and stabilizing the expansive soil.