Influence of fiber inclusion and geogrid reinforcement on the compressive strength and stiffness of sand in triaxial compression

Abstract

Nowadays, the technique to increases the soil bearing capacity is not only limited to the soil reinforcing but the inclusion of fiber into the backfill material. However, it is found from the past sandiest that the researches focusing on the improved bearing capacity and stiffness are very limited. To this end, the present study interests in the influence on the inclusion of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber mixed with the sand backfill and reinforcing with a biaxial polyester (PET) geogrid type by performing a series of drained triaxial compression test. The sand specimens were 12x12x24 cm. prismatic in the shape. They were prepared from a clean sand mixed with PVA at 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0% by dry sand mass, and either unreinforced or reinforced with three layers of PET geogrid. The results showed that reinforcing mesh reinforcement in combination with polyvinyl alcohol increased the compressive strength. In addition, the higher the polyvinyl alcohol fiber content in the sand, the maximum shear resistance is increased compared to the unreinforced sand.