Shear behavior of fiber-reinforced sand composite

During history, soil was always considered as the cheapest materials, but natural soil exist in site that may not be suitable for construction, and weakness is one of the main faults of soil mechanical characteristics against tension. With purpose of increasing strength and stability of soil particles, nowadays, soils reinforcement method is studying by several researchers. The main purpose of this research is study of effect of using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber on Babolsar sand behavior. Twelve consolidated drained triaxial (CD) test were conducted on samples with four confining pressures 50, 100, 300, and 500kPa and three fiber contents (0, 0.5, and 1%). The experimental results indicate that fiber reinforcement improves the mechanical properties of sand. Adding PVA fiber to sand increases maximum shear strength, axial strain at failure point and decrease of strength loss after peak strength. Failure strain and strength increases by increasing confining pressure.