Experimental Study of the Effect of Polypropylene Fiber and Nano-silica on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Silty Sand Soil

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

2 MSc, Department of Civil Engineering, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

4 Faculty of Advanced Technologies, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, I. R. Iran.

Abstract

This research investigated the effect of using polypropylene fibers and nano-silica on the mechanical properties (such as California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and shear strength) of silty sandy soil. Different laboratory samples were prepared with varying percentages of nano-silica (1%, 2%, and 3%) and polypropylene fibers of different lengths (6 mm and 12 mm). The fibers were mixed with 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% of soil weight. The microscopic characteristics of soils were examined using SEM. Results showed that addition of polypropylene fibers significantly increased the CBR value, and using 1% of fibers improved the interlocking and bonding of soil particles, creating a more unified soil texture. Increasing the length of polypropylene fibers from 6mm to 12 mm also increased the CBR. Addition of 1%, 2%, and 3% nano-silica increased the CBR value by 2.2, 3.3, and 4.2 times, respectively. The highest load-bearing and shear strength was observed with the use of 1% polypropylene fibers and 3% nano-silica. The shear strength test revealed that polypropylene fibers did not change the soil cohesion, but increased the angle of internal friction, while nano-silica improved the soil cohesion, but did not affect the internal friction angle. The combination of these two materials significantly increased the shear strength of the studied soil.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 12 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 21 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 26 November 2024

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