IMPROVEMENT OF GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF ROAD PAVEMENT SUBGRADES USING COIR FIBRE
Abstract
This paper presents a laboratory study conducted to determine the effect of coir fibre (CF) on stabilization of soil for road pavement subgrade application. Two soil samples were used for the experiments and varied proportions of the coir fibre was added. Series of tests were carried out on the soil samples which includes the particle size distribution analysis, Atterberg limit test, compaction test using British Standard Light (BSL) methodology, and the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test. Based on the test carried out on the two soil samples, the samples were found to belong to the A-2-6 subgroup of A-2 group of the AASHTO soil classification and the SC (clayey sand) group of the USCS classification system. Based on the compaction test, the Maximum Dry Unit weight (MDUW) of the two soil samples were 18.8 kN/m3 and 18.3 kN/m3 , but on addition of coconut coir fibre of 0.5% - 8% by weight of the soil, the MDUW’s of the two soil samples increased to 20 kN/m3 and 22 kN/m3 respectively. From the California bearing ratio test (48 hours soaked) carried out on the soil samples, the CBR values were found out to be 4% and 15%, respectively, but on addition of coconut coir fibre of 0.5% - 8%, the CBR values were increased to 16% and 22% respectively. This shows a significant impact on the compaction properties and the CBR of the two soil samples with the addition of CF. It was therefore concluded that coir fibre can be used to stabilize weak subgrades at an optimum content of 5% of the weight of the soil.
Keywords: California Bearing Ratio, Coir fiber, compaction, subgrade, pavement
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