Effect of polypropylene fibres on the shear strength of fine-grained soil

This paper presents the results of shear strength tests of fine-grained soil reinforced by randomly oriented fibres. The tests were carried out in a direct shear apparatus on samples with a diameter of 100 mm and a height of 20 mm. The samples were formed directly in the apparatus box at a natural moisture content and two values of the degree of compaction (IS = 0.79 and 0.90). The studies were carried out for samples of natural moisture content and for soaked ones. The two types of polypropylene fibres were used: monofilament and fibrillated (of traded names Fiber mesh 300-e3 and SikaCem Fiber-12, respectively). The fibre content was 0.25; 0.50 and 1.00% by the weight of the dry soil. The results showed that the presence of fibre within the soil increased its the shear strength. The improvement of the shear strength was related to the type of reinforcement, its content and the soil parameters. The maximum increase in shear strength was 47% compared to the shear strength of the unreinforced soil. The increase in shear strength values were related mainly to the increase in the angle of internal friction of the soil. It was found that as the degree of compaction of the soil increases, the higher enhance of the shear strength of reinforced soil occurs. It was also found that the improvement of shear strength of reinforced soaked samples was more significant than for un-soaked ones.