01 Soil Stabilization

“Soil Stabilization by plastic waste fibre”
A
SEMINAR REPORT
ON
“SOIL STABILIZATION BY PLASTIC WASTE FIBRE”
A project report submitted in partial fulfilment of the term work requirement for
the final Year Chemical Engineering of Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Submitted By:
Mr SHELKE DIGAMBAR B. (SEAT NO. -01)
Under the Guidance of
Prof. Dr. B. L. PANGARKAR
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Pravara Rural Education Society’s

SIR VISVESVARAYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,
NASIK – 422102, INDIA
[2018 - 2019]
Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 1

Sir Vishveshvaraya Institute of Technology, Nashik

(Savitribai Phule Pune University)
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that, Master SHELKE DIGAMBAR BALASAHEB (Roll no-01) has
been successfully completedseminar report on “SOIL STABILIZATION BY PLASTIC
WASTE FIBRE’ ’for partial fulfilment of requirements of Bachelors of Chemical
Engineering from Sir Vishveshvaraya Institute of Technology, Nashik during academic year
2018-2019
Prof. Dr. B.L. Pangarkar Prof. Dr. B.L. Pangarkar

(Report Guide) (Head of department)
Date-

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It gives me an immense pleasure to submit this Project report on ‘SOIL

STABILIZATION BY PLASTIC WASTE FIBRE’. I tried my level best to
present this topic into compact and to the point framework.
I wish to express my sincere thanks with profound gratitude to my guide Dr. B. L.
PANGARKAR sir for his valuable guidance and constant encouragement without
which it would have been impossible for me to present and complete this Report
successfully.
I would like to extend my sincere and true thanks to my class teacher Dr. D. K.
CHANDRE sir for the facilities provided to me.
I thank all the staff members of the department for the cooperation extended to me
I am extremely grateful to Principal.
It is my pleasant privilege to express my sincere gratitude to my beloved parents,
without their blessings I would not be here at this stage of my life.
Above all, I thank Almighty for everything I have received in my life
I am Apologies to those whose help is not acknowledged.
SHELKE DIGAMBAR BALASAHEB

BE CHEMICAL
ROLL NO.: - 01
SVIT NASHIK

INDEX
CONTENTS Page Number
Abstract x
Chapter – 01 6-8
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Plastic Waste
1.2. Effect of plastic waste on environment
1.3. Soil stabilization
1.4. Plastic waste used in soil stabilization
1.5. Objectives of seminar
Chapter – 02
LITERATURE REVIEW 10
2.1 Past publications
Chapter – 03 11-16
PROPERTIES OF SOIL
3.1. Various properties of soil
3.1.1. Atterberg limit
3.1.2. Plastic size distribution
3.1.3. Specific Gravity
3.1.4. Shear strength
3.2. Need of soil stabilization
Chapter - 04
METHODE OF SOIL STABILIZATION
4.1. Mechanical method of soil stabilization
4.2. Additive method of soil stabilization
4.2.1. Oriented fiber reinforcement
4.2.2. Random fiber reinforcement
Chapter – 05 19-21
EXPERIMENTAL STEPS OF SOIL STABILIZATION
5.1. Specific Gravity of Soil
5.2. Liquid Limit
5.3. Plastic Limit
5.4. Particle Size Distribution
5.5. Direct Shear Test
5.6. Unconfined Compression Strength Test
5.7. Materials of soil stabilization

Chapter –06 22-25

ADVANTAGES
APPLICATIONS
Chapter –07
CONCLUSION
REFERENCE
Figure No. Name of the figure Page No.

1.1 Solid plastic waste 02
3.1 Soil Stabilization 10
4.1 Mechanical method of soil stabilization 12
4.2 Mixing depth 13
5.1 Polypropylene Fibre 15
6.1 Foundation support system 18
6.2 Property Improvement 18
Table no. Name of the table Page No.

3.1 Types of soil with specific gravity 9
5.1 Waste plastic and its sources 16

ABSTRACT
Soil is the key element of this nature and all the basic needs of life such as food, house
and cloths are fulfilled by the soil. Black Cotton soils with high potential for swelling and
shrinking as a result of change in moisture content are one of the major soil deposits of India.
Soil stabilization is the process which improves the physical properties of soil, such as shear
strength, bearing capacity which can be done by use of controlled compaction or addition of
suitable admixtures like cement, lime, sand, fly ash or by providing geo textiles, geo synthetics
etc. The new technique of soil stabilization can be effectively used to meet the challenges of
society, to reduce the quantities of waste, producing useful material from non-useful waste
materials. Since the use of plastic in diversified forms such as chairs, bottles, polythene bags,
etc., has been advancing speedily and its disposal has been a problem all the time regarding the
environmental concern, using plastic as soil stabilizer would reduce the problem of disposing the
plastic as well as increases the density and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of soil in an
economical way.
The present study is focused to overcome the problems experienced in Amravati, the
capital of newly formed Andhra Pradesh State. In the present study, an experimental program
was conducted for stabilization of Black Cotton Soils in the Capital Region i.e., Amravati of
newly formed Andhra Pradesh, with the utilization of Plastic waste as soil stabilizer. Different
contents of plastic strips (% by weight varying from 0% to 8%) are added to the Black Cotton
Soil and the optimum percentage of plastic strips in soil was found out by conducting California
Bearing Ratio Test
Soil stabilization is a process which improves the physical properties of soil, such as
increasing shear strength, bearing capacity etc. which can be done by use of controlled
compaction or addition of suitable admixtures like cement, lime and waste materials like fly ash,
phosphor gypsum etc. This new technique of soil stabilization can be effectively used to meet the
challenges of society, to reduce the quantities of waste, producing useful material from non-
useful waste materials. Plastic such as shopping bags is used to as a reinforcement to perform the
CBR studies while mixing with soil for improving engineering performance of sub grade soil.
Plastic strips obtained from waste plastic were mixed randomly with the soil. A series of
California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were carried out on randomly reinforced soil by varying
percentage of plastic strips with different lengths and proportions. Results of CBR tests
demonstrated that inclusion of waste plastic strips in soil with appropriate amounts improved
strength and deformation behaviour of sub grade soils substantially.
The main objective of this study is to investigate the use of waste fiber materials in
geotechnical applications and to evaluate the effects of waste polypropylene fibers on shear
strength of unsaturated soil by carrying out direct shear tests and unconfined compression tests
on two different soil samples. The results obtained are compared for the two samples and
inferences are drawn towards the usability and effectiveness of fiber reinforcement as a
replacement for deep foundation or raft foundation, as a cost effective approach.

Chapter - 01
INTRODUCTION
1.1Plastic Waste
What is plastic waste? Plastics currently play a massive role in our daily lives. Plastics
are utilized in virtually all areas of manufacturing. Tons and tons of plastic products are moulded
on a daily basis, even as the waste continues to build up. From water bottles, to credit cards, to
the dashboard of a car, plastic is often a primary component. Due to the fact that most plastics
are not biodegradable, an enormous sum of plastic waste continues to build up worldwide, with
industrialized nations contributing the largest amount of plastic waste. [1]
More specifically, the majority of plastic waste comes from packaging and containers
(e.g. shipping materials, shampoo bottles, beverage bottles etc.). Once we’ve consumed whatever
was contained in that plastic, it becomes “waste.” As we continue to utilize plastic products, we
continue to generate more plastic waste. Our increasing dependence on petroleum products
creates a vicious cycle of waste creation, and environmental degradation. In addition to
containers, more plastic waste is generated from durable products, such as furniture, and
nondurable products, such as plastic bags. Obviously, the goal is to lower the overall amount of
generated plastic waste. In a perfect world, 100% of the plastic generated would simply be
reused, degraded, or reincarnated into another product. We must find a way to reduce the amount
of plastic waste generated by initially using less, or finding more efficient ways of recycling and
reusing plastic products. The big question is, what are we doing with all of this generated plastic
waste? [2]
Plastics are an important material in our economy, and modern daily life is unthinkable
without them. At the same time however, they can have serious downsides on the environment
and health. Action on plastics was identified as a priority in the Circular Economy Action Plan,
to help European businesses and consumers to use resources in a more sustainable way.
Figure: 1.1 - Solid plastic waste

1.2. Effect of Plastic Waste on Environment

Following Effects can be occurs due tom the plastic wastes: -
 The pollution in the ocean is mostly from plastic, and it has a terrible impact on marine
species. As a result, it can hurt the economy and food supply for communities that rely on
fishing.
 Plastic can hurt tiny organisms like plankton, which larger animals rely on for food. If
small organisms are poisoned from ingesting plastic, the animals that eat them will also
consume toxins. The toxins work their way up the food chain and can even be present in
the fish people eat.
 Not only does plastic cause damage to the ocean, but it can also damage groundwater
sources. Many regions are already facing issues with , but water sources everywhere are
in danger because of plastic pollution. Plastic toxins in dumps and from litter can seep
into the groundwater, which people drink every day.
 On land, wind can carry plastic waste or litter throughout the environment. It can get
stuck in trees, fences, traffic lights, or other structures. When animals come into contact
with this plastic waste, they risk consuming the toxins or becoming entangled in the
plastic and suffocating. If an animal consumes a piece of plastic, the plastic can clog its
stomach while also poisoning it with toxins. Almost 200 different species of animals are
known to ingest plastic debris.
 Air pollution is another issue for humans and animals. When plastic is burned in the open
air, it releases large amounts of toxins, which pollutes the air. If the toxins are inhaled for
a long period of time, it can lead to respiratory problems.
 As the world’s population increases, land becomes more valuable, and it will soon
become difficult to find places to put garbage. Over time, landfills and dumps will take
up more land, invading animals’ habitats and coming even closer to groundwater sources.
 In addition to harming plants, animals, and people, it costs millions of dollars every year
for cleanup of areas exposed to plastic toxins. Many regions have seen a decrease in
tourism because of the amount of pollution in their environment, which can have a
serious impact on local economies.

1.3. Soil Stabilization
For any land-based structure, the foundation is very important and has to be strong to
support the entire structure. In order for the foundation to be strong, the soil around it plays a
very critical role. So, to work with soils, we need to have proper knowledge about their
properties and factors which affect their behaviour. The process of soil stabilization helps to
achieve the required properties in a soil needed for the construction work. [1] [2]
Soil deposits in nature exist in an extremely erratic manner producing thereby an infinite
variety of possible combination which will affect the strength of the soil and the procedures to
make it purposeful. Major soil deposits in the capital Region of newly formed Andhra Pradesh
are Black Cotton Soils which are very fertile and suitable for agriculture but not good for
construction of Civil Engineering Structures because of its low Bearing Capacity and intensive
shrink-swell process which results in development of cracks. With the formation of new capital,
rapid Industrialization, bursting population and decrease of available land, more and more
number of buildings and other civil engineering constructions has to be carried out on available
Black Cotton soils which are having poor shear strength. Hence, a great diversity of ground
improvement techniques such as soil stabilization and reinforcement are needed to be employed
to improve behavior of soil, thereby enhancing the reliability of construction.
From the beginning of construction work, the necessity of enhancing soil properties has
come to the light. Ancient civilizations of the Chinese, Romans and Incas utilized various
methods to improve soil strength etc., some of these methods were so effective that their
buildings and roads still exist.
In India, the modern era of soil stabilization began in early 1970’s, with a general
shortage of petroleum and aggregates, it became necessary for the engineers to look at means to
improve soil other than replacing the poor soil at the building site. Soil stabilization was used but
due to the use of obsolete methods and also due to the absence of proper technique, soil
stabilization lost favour. In recent times, with the increase in the demand for infrastructure, raw
materials and fuel, soil stabilization has started to take a new shape. With the availability of
better research, materials and equipment, it is emerging as a popular and cost-effective method
for soil improvement.
Various materials and methods may be used for stabilizing soils and are presented below.
Soil stabilization means the improvement of stability or bearing power of the soil by the use of
controlled compaction, proportioning and/or the addition of suitable admixture or stabilizers. The
basic principles of soil stabilization are: [4]
1. Evaluating the properties of given soil.

2. Deciding the lacking property of soil and choose effective and economical method of soil
stabilization.
3. Designing the stabilized soil mix for intended stability and durability values.
Methods of Soil Stabilization There are different materials in utilization for the stabilization
of black cotton soils. Depending on the internal factor which describes the bonding between the
soil and the stabilizer utilized, the methods are broadly classified into two types. They are
1. Mechanical Stabilization: It is based on the principle of friction i.e., when the admixtures
are added to soil and compacted the strength is enhanced due to the friction between the

soil and the material added. Examples for the materials which increase the strength by
this principle are sand, plastic, geo textiles etc.
2. Chemical Stabilization: It is based on the chemical reaction between the material added
and the minerals in soil. Examples for this type of stabilizers are lime, fly ash, bituminous
materials, cement etc.
3. Plastics are considered as one of the important invention which has remarkably assisted
in different aspects of life whether it might be in scientific field or others.
4. The use of plastic has been enormously increasing these days. But now, plastic has
become the significant pollutant of Environment because of the Use and Throw
mechanism and everyone should think about this in the present scenario.
Here, in this seminar, soil stabilization has been done with the help of randomly distributed
polypropylene fibers obtained from waste materials. The improvement in the shear strength
parameters has been stressed upon and comparative studies have been carried out using different
methods of shear resistance measurement.
1.4. Plastic Waste Used in Soil Stabilization
Plastics are considered as one of the important invention which has remarkably assisted
in different aspects of life whether it might be in scientific field or others. The use of plastic has
been enormously increasing these days. But now, plastic has become the significant pollutant of
Environment because of the Use and Throw mechanism and everyone should think about this in
the present scenario. The use of plastic has to be limited by now otherwise there would be
harshly circumstance that human and environment has to face in near future. Since Plastic is a
non-decomposable material, the necessity for recycling or reusing it, is also increasing thereby
reducing its wastage. Utilizing this Plastic waste for a positive purpose assists in reducing its
effect on environment also. Stabilization was coined as to make anything in a stable condition
which itself is a challenging task. Various researches are going on for incorporating the waste to
the soil and stabilizing it so that it can be utilized for different purposes. Thus, using plastic as
stabilizer will help in two ways, in addressing the problem of disposing the plastic waste and also
using the most available black cotton soils wherever possible. [5]
The present study deals with the stabilization of Black cotton soils by utilizing plastic
strips produced from used plastic chairs. The proper proportion in soil helps in controlling the
compaction factor and also makes it very useful. This study indicates that Plastic wastes can be
utilized for stabilization of soil which is concluded from different tests performed on soil in
various percentages of plastic content.

1.5. Objective of Seminar

1. To increase the density and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of soil using plastic as an
admixture.
2. To provide an alternative solution for the disposal of plastic waste.
3. To provide an economical solution for soil stabilization using plastic waste.
4. To determine the optimum plastic content to be used.
5. To increase the strength characteristic of soil by using plastic waste fiber and lime.
6. Soil properties vary a great deal and construction of structures depends a lot on the
bearing capacity of the soil, hence, we need to stabilize the soil which makes it easier to
predict the load bearing capacity of the soil and even improve the load bearing capacity.
7. The gradation of the soil is also a very important property to keep in mind while working
with soils. The soils may be well-graded which is desirable as it has less number of voids
or uniformly graded which though sounds stable but has more voids. Thus, it is better to
mix different types of soils together to improve the soil strength properties.
8. It is very expensive to replace the inferior soil entirely soil and hence, soil stabilization is
the thing to look for in these cases.

Chapter - 02
LITRATURE REVIEW
2.1. Past Publications: -
SATYAM TIWARI et al. (2016): They explained the “Soil Stabilization Using Waste Fiber
Materials”, and investigated the use of waste fiber materials in geotechnical applications and to
evaluate the effects of waste polypropylene fibers on shear strength of unsaturated soil by
carrying out direct shear tests and unconfined compression tests on two different soil samples.
The percentages of fiber reinforcement added are 0, 0.05, 0.15, and 0.25.Based on Specific
gravity of a soil-With mixing of 0.05% fibers (PPF) specific gravity of the soil increases by
0.3%. Strength of the soil is directly proportional to specific gravity, more is the specific gravity
more will be the strength of soil. Based on liquid limit of a .Soil without reinforcement and with
reinforcement have liquid limit difference of 18.18%.
SHAILENDRA SINGH, et al. (2013): They explained the “Stabilization of Black Cotton Soil
using Lime”. The stabilization of black cotton soil with lime has been done in three different
ratios of lime i.e. 0%, 4%, 6%. After that, the soil with lime in above percentage the various tests
has been performed. They concluded that the addition of lime at 4% and 6% decreases the liquid
limit by 12.1% and 17.7%. MDD is found to decrease by 2.4% and 5.6% at 4% and 6% lime
content.
ANKIT JAIN, et al. (2016): They explained the “Effect of lime on the index properties of black
cotton soil”. A Serious of laboratory tests conducted on black cotton soil mixed with different
proportion of lime i.e. 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight of dry soil. Based on their
investigation they concluded that, liquid limit of soil decreases from 67.49% to 52.01% with
increase in lime content up to 8% after that there is no significant change with increase in lime
content. Plasticity index of soil decreases from 37.16% to 10.43% with increase in lime content
up to 8%. Differential free swelling of soil decreases from 60% to 14% with increasing lime
content. Above results shows that the swelling characteristics of soil is reduced and optimum
dosage of lime is found at 8%.
Pragyan Mishra#1, P Suresh Chandra Babu *2 Volume 48 Number 7 June 2017 explained
thatRed soil covers a large portion of land in India. These soils are found in areas with low
rainfall and they are not capable of retaining moisture. Due to high iron content these soils are
red in colour. Red soil poses lower strength compared to other soils due to its porous and friable
structure. To improve the engineering and strength properties of these soils, soil stabilization can
be carried out by adding some additives to these soils. Use of plastic products such as polythene
bags, bottles, chairs, toys etc. increasing day by day creates much environmental problems. So
the use of waste plastics as a soil stabilizer is an economical utilization since there is scarcity of
good soil for different engineering application. This project aims to evaluate the effect of
addition of various percentages of waste plastic bag strips in order to enhance the properties of
red soil.

Dr. Babitharani.H, Ashwini D G, Pavansiva kumar.Ch, Dimple Bahri, Koushik.B, Sindhu

Shankar Department of Civil Engineering, SET, Jain University, India. Explained the soil
stabilization is a process which improves the physical properties of the soil, such as increasing in
shear strength, bearing capacity etc. Which can be done by the use of controlled compaction or
addition of suitable mixtures like cement, lime, and waste materials like fly ash, phosphogypsum
etc. The cost of introducing these additives has also increased in recent years which opened the
door widely for the other kinds of soil additives such as plastic, bamboo etc. This new technique
of soil stabilization can be effectively used to meet the challenges of the society to reduce the
quantities of waste, producing useful stabilization from plastic waste. Use of plastic products
such as polythene bags, bottles etc. is increasing day by day leading to various environmental
concerns. Therefore, the disposal of plastic wastes without causing any ecological hazards has
become a real challenge. Thus, using plastic as soil stabilizer is an ecological utilization since
there is scarcity of good soil for construction. This project involves the study on the possible use
of waste plastic.
AKSHAT MALHOTRA & HADI GHASEMAIN in 2014 studied the effect of HDPE plastic
waste on the UCS of soil. In a proportion of 1.5%, 3%, 4.5% and 6% of the weight of dry soil,
HDPE plastic waste was added. They concluded that the UCS of black cotton soil increased on
addition of plastic waste.

Chapter - 03
PROPERTIES OF SOIL
3.1. Various properties of soil

3.1.1. Atterberg limit
a) Shrinkage Limit:
This limit is achieved when further loss of water from the soil does not reduce the volume
of the soil. It can be more accurately defined as the lowest water content at which the soil can
still be completely saturated. It is denoted by wS. [6]
b) Plastic Limit:
This limit lies between the plastic and semi-solid state of the soil. It is determined by
rolling out a thread of the soil on a flat surface which is non-porous. It is the minimum water
content at which the soil just begins to crumble while rolling into a thread of approximately 3mm
diameter. Plastic limit is denoted by wP.
c) Liquid Limit:
It is the water content of the soil between the liquid state and plastic state of the soil. It can
be defined as the minimum water content at which the soil, though in liquid state, shows small
shearing strength against flowing. It is measured by the Casagrande’s apparatus and is denoted
by wL.
3.1.2. Plastic size distribution

Soil at any place is composed of particles of a variety of sizes and shapes, sizes ranging
from a few microns to a few centi-meters are present sometimes in the same soil sample. The
distribution of particles of different sizes determines many physical properties of the soil such as
its strength, permeability, density etc. Particle size distribution is found out by two methods, first
is sieve analysis which is done for coarse grained soils only and the other method is
sedimentation analysis used for fine grained soil sample.
3.1.3. Specific Gravity

Specific gravity of a substance denotes the number of times that substance is heavier than
water. In simpler words we can define it as the ratio between the mass of any substance of a
definite volume divided by mass of equal volume of water. In case of soils, specific gravity is the
number of times the soil solids are heavier than equal volume of water. Different types of soil
have different specific gravities, general range for specific gravity of soils:
Table 3.1: - Types of soil with specific gravity

Sand 2.63-2.67
Silt 2.65-2.7
Clay and Silty clay 2.67-2.9
Organic soil <2.0

3.1.4. Shear strength

Shearing stresses are induced in a loaded soil and when these stresses reach their limiting
value, deformation starts in the soil which leads to failure of the soil mass. The shear strength of
a soil is its resistance to the deformation caused by the shear stresses acting on the loaded soil.
The shear strength of a soil is one of the most important characteristics. There are several
experiments which are used to determine shear strength such as DST or UCS etc. The shear
resistance offered is made up of three parts:
i) The structural resistance to the soil displacement caused due to the soil particles
getting interlocked,
ii) ii) The frictional resistance at the contact point of various particles, and
iii) Cohesion or adhesion between the surfaces of the particles.
In case of cohesion less soils, the shear strength is entirely dependent upon the
frictional resistance, while in others it comes from the internal friction as well as the
cohesion.
Figure 3.1: - Soil Stabilization

3.2. Need of soil stabilization
1. To improve the strength of sub-bases, bases and sometimes surface courses, in case of
low cost roads.
2. To bring about economy in the cost of road.
3. To make use of interior quality of locally available soils/materials. (every time it is
not possible to find required or specified strength in locally available material at that
time we can go for soil stabilization method)
4. To improve certain undesirable properties of soil, such as excessive swelling or
shrinkage, high plasticity, difficulty in compacting etc.
5. To facilitate compensation and load bearing capacity.
6. To reduce compressibility and thereby settlement and to improve the permeability
characteristics.

Chapter - 04
METHODE OF SOIL STABILIZATION
4.1. Mechanical method of soil stabilization
In this procedure, soils of different gradations are mixed together to obtain the desired
property in the soil. This may be done at the site or at some other place from where it can be
transported easily. The final mixture is then compacted by the usual methods to get the required
density. In this method changing the gradation of virgin soil stabilizes the soil. To do this two or
more types of soils are mixed to attain a desired property to suit a particular construction.
For mechanical stabilization, the soils are grouped into two categories. They comprise
aggregates and binders. Aggregates are sands and gravels and binders are silts and clays. When
mixed together in a definite proportion, a soil possessing required internal friction and cohesion
is obtained. When properly placed and compacted, the material becomes mechanically stable.
The various factors, which affect the mechanical stability of a mixed soil, comprise strength of
aggregate, mineral composition, gradation, and plasticity characteristics. [2] [7] [8]
Mechanical stabilization is generally used to improve the sub-grade of low bearing
capacity. It is extensively used in the construction of bases, sub-bases and surfacing of the roads.
Figure 4.1: - Mechanical method of soil stabilization

4.2. Additive method of soil stabilization

Quantities enhance the quality of the soil. Materials such as cement, lime, bitumen, fly ash
etc. are used as chemical additives. Sometimes different fibers are also used as reinforcement in
refers to the addition of manufactured products into the soil, which in proper he soil. The
addition of these fibers takes place by two methods;
4.2.1. Oriented fiber reinforcement
The fibers are arranged in some order and all the fibers are placed in the same orientation.
The fibers are laid layer by layer in this type of orientation. Continuous fibers in the form of
sheets, strips or bars etc. are used systematically in this type of arrangement.
4.2.2. Random fiber reinforcement
This arrangement has discrete fibers distributed randomly in the soil mass. The mixing is
done until the soil and the reinforcement form a more or less homogeneous mixture. Materials
used in this type of reinforcements. Generally derived from paper, nylon, metals or other
materials having varied physical properties
Figure 4.2: - Mixing depth

Chapter – 05
EXPERIMENTAL STEPS OF SOIL STABILIZATION
5.1. Specific Gravity of Soil

The specific gravity of soil is the ratio between the weight of the soil solids and weight of
equal volume of water. It is measured by the help of a volumetric flask in a very simple
experimental setup where the volume of the soil is found out and its weight is divided by the
weight of equal volume of water. [9]
Specific
Specific Gravity G = w 2- w1 / (w4 -w1) - (w3 -w2)
W1- Weight of bottle in gms

W2- Weight of bottle + Dry soil in gms
W3- Weight of bottle + Soil + Water
W4- Weight of bottle + Water
5.2. Liquid Limit

The Casagrande’s tool cuts a groove of size 2mm wide at the bottom and 11 mm wide at the
top and 8 mm high. The number of blows used for the soil samples to come in contact is noted
down. Graph is plotted taking number of blows on a logarithmic scale on the abscissa and water
content on the ordinate
5.3. Plastic Limit

This is determined by rolling out soil till its diameter reaches approximately and
measuring water content for the soil which crumbles on reaching this diameter. Plasticity index
(Ip) was also calculated with the help of liquid limit and plastic limit;
Ip = WL-Wp
Where;- Wl=liquid limit.
Wp = plastic limit.
5.4. Particle Size Distribution

The results from sieve analysis of the soil when plotted on a semi-log graph with particle
diameter or the sieve size as the abscissa with logarithmic axis and the percentage passing as the
ordinate gives a clear idea about the particle size distribution. From the help of this curve, D10
and D60 are determined. This D10 is the diameter of the soil below which 10% of the soil
particles lie. The ratio of, D10 and D60 gives the uniformity coefficient (Cu) which in turn is a
measure of the particle size range.
5.5. Direct Shear Test

This test is used to find out the cohesion (c) and the angle of internal friction (φ) of the
soil, these are the soil shear strength parameters. The shear strength is one of the most important

soil properties and it is required whenever any structure depends on the soil shearing resistance.
The test is conducted by putting the soil at OMC and MDD inside the shear box which is made
up of two independent parts.
A constant normal load (ς) is applied to obtain one value of c and φ. Horizontal load
(shearing load) is increased at a constant rate and is applied till the failure point is reached. This
load when divided with the area gives the shear strength ‘τ’ for that particular normal load.
The equation goes as follows:
τ = c + σ*tan (φ)
After repeating the experiment for different normal loads (ς) we obtain a plot which is a
straight line with slope equal to angle of internal friction (φ) and intercept equal to the cohesion
(c). Direct shear test is the easiest and the quickest way to determine the shear strength
parameters of a soil sample. The preparation of the sample is also very easy in this experiment.
5.6. Unconfined Compression Strength Test

This experiment is used to determine the unconfined compressive strength of the soil
sample which in turn is used to calculate the unconsolidated, undrained shear strength of
unconfined soil. The unconfined compressive strength (qu) is the compressive stress at which the
unconfined cylindrical soil sample fails under simple compressive test. The experimental setup
constitutes of the compression device and dial gauges for load and deformation. The corrected
cross-sectional area was calculated by dividing the area by (1- ε) and then the compressive stress
for each step was calculated by dividing the load with the corrected area .
Qu = load/corrected area (A’)
qu - compressive stress
A’= cross-sectional area/ (1- ε)
5.7. Materials of soil stabilization

 Soil sample
 Reinforcement: Short PP (polypropylene) fiber
Figure 5.1: Polypropylene Fibre

Table 5.1: - Waste plastic and its sources
Waste plastic Origin
Low density polyethylene Carry bags, sacks, milk pouches, bin lining,
cosmetic and detergent bottles
High density polyethylene Carry bags, bottle caps, and house-hold articles.
(HDPE)
Polyethylene Terephthalate Drinking water bottles etc.

(PET)
Polypropylene(PP) Bottles caps and closures, wrappers of

detergent, biscuit and wafers packets,
microwave trays for meal etc.
Polystyrene(PS) Yoghurt pots, clear egg packs, bottle caps.

Foamed polystyrene: food trays, egg boxes,
disposal cups, protective packaging etc.
Polyvinyl chloride(PVC) Mineral water bottles, credit cards, toys, pipes,

and electrical fittings, furniture, folders and
pens, medical disposables etc.
MATERIALS USED
Soil: The content in soil (fine Sand = 45.15%, silt = 23.90% and clay = 30.95%). They are
characterized by medium shrinkage and swelling properties. Because of its swelling and
shrinkage characteristics, the soils have been a challenge to the civil engineers. The clayey soil is
very hard when dry, but loses its strength completely when in wet condition. Rich proportion of
late rite is found in soil from mineralogical analysis.
Plastic fiber: Waste Plastic in form of Polypropylene were obtained from Industrial areas and
also form municipal waste as well as kabadiwala. After proper cleaning and Processing, the
plastic were shred (Break) into fibers each of average thickness of 3mm. These plastic particles
are usually considered to be waste materials.

Chapter – 06
ADVANTAGES AND APPLICATION
6.1. Advantages of Soil Stabilization: -

Soil properties vary a great deal and construction of structures depends on the bearing
capacity of the soil hence, we need to stabilize the soil which makes it easier to predict the load
bearing capacity of the soil. The gradation of the soil is also a very important property to keep in
mind while working with soils. The soils may be well-graded which is desirable as it has less
number of voids or uniformly graded which though sounds stable but has more voids. Thus, it is
better to mix different types of soils together to improve the soil strength properties. [10]
 It improves the strength of the soil, thus, increasing the soil bearing capacity.
 It is more economical both in terms of cost and energy to increase the bearing capacity
of the soil rather than going for deep foundation or raft foundation.
 It is also used to provide more stability to the soil in slopes or other such places.
 Sometimes soil stabilization is also used to prevent soil erosion or formation of dust,
which is very useful especially in dry and arid weather.
 Stabilization is also done for soil water-proofing; this prevents water from entering into
the soil and hence helps the soil from losing its strength.
 It helps in reducing the soil volume change due to change in temperature or moisture
content.
 Stabilization improves the workability and the durability of the soil.

6.2. Application of Stabilisation
1. Foundation support systems

Application of deep mixing method in foundation engineering incudes foundation
systems to heavy machinery, highway embankment, storage tanks, dome silo and rail
system
Figure 6.1: - Foundation support system
2. Properties Improvements
Reclamation and remediation of contaminated land, creation of winter working
platforms, waterlogged sites (quick reduction in moisture content)
Figure 6.2: - Property Improvement

Chapter –07
CONCLUSION
The uses of plastic are in various field but after usage the waste has adverse effect in
nature and it’s not easy or possible to restrict its uses but it can be used as an soil stabilizing
agent which would be economical and effective implementation in engineering field. Recently,
many expensive methods for the stabilization process are carried on such as geo synthetic
materials and other techniques. So, this techniquecan be replaced by the reinforcement with
plastic strips which will make the construction process economical and also make the proper
arrangement of plastic waste conserving the various component of the environment.The shear
strength of fiber reinforced soil is improved due to the addition of the waste polymer fibers and it
is a nonlinear function. Up to a critical fiber content shear strength increased considerably and
later small reduction is observed. However shear values are greater than unreinforced soil.
The feasibility of reinforcing soil with strips of reclaimed high density polyethylene has
also been investigated to a limited extent It has been also reported that the presence of a small
fraction of HDPE fiber can increase the fracture energy of the soil. Although, there has been a
few studies on the subject of engineering behavior of HDPE, reinforced soil needs a detailed
study pertaining to its use in real life problems is still quite high.
Overall it can be concluded that fiber reinforced soil can be considered to be good ground
improvement technique specially in engineering projects on weak soils where it can act as a
substitute to deep/raft foundations, reducing the cost as well as energy.

REFERENCES
1. C. Gümüşer& A. Şenol International Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 12, No. 2,
Transaction B: Geotechnical Engineering, April 2014 on Effect of fly ash and different
lengths of polypropylene fibers content on the soft soils
2. Yadav Parit, Meena Kuldeep Kumar, (2011)” A comparative study in soil plasticity of
Hall area and lecture complex area of NIT Rourkela” B.tech thesis, NIT, Rourkela.
3. A. S. Muntohar Influence of Plastic Waste Fibers on the Strength of Lime-Rice Husk Ash
Stabilized Clay Soil.
4. Fuhuachen (1975): “Foundations on Expansive Soils”, Elsevier scientific publishing
company, New York.
5. Satyanarayana. D (1966): “Swelling pressure and related mechanical properties of black
cotton soil”, Ph.D. Thesis IISc, Bangalore.
6. Phatak. D.R. (1990): “Foundations engineering”, Everest publishing house, Pune Murthy.
V.N.S (1993): “Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering”, Vol .1. Soosan, TG and
Sridharan, A and Jose, BT and Abraham, BM (2005) Utilization of quarry dust to
improve geotechnical properties of soils in Highway Construction Geotechnical Testing
Journal, 28 (4). pp. 391- 400.
7. A. Sridharan , T. G. Soosan , Babu T. Jose and B. M. Abraham “ Shear strength studies
on soil quarry dust mixtures” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering Volume
24,Number 5 October 2006 p.1163-1179.
8. Best Practices of the Natural Stone Industry. Solid Waste Management at The Quarry
andFabrication facility. Prepared by the University of Tennessee Center for clean
products. April 1 2009 Zalihe Nalbantoğlu (2004)”Effectiveness of Class C fly ash as an
expansive soil stabilizer”.
9. G.S. Ghataora and U.K. Ling presented is there paper entitled “Behaviour of Fibre-
Reinforced and Stabilized Clayey Soils Subjected to Cyclic Loading” published in
“Studio Geotechnical et Mechanical”, Vol. XXXII, No. 3, 2010.
10. S. A. Naeini and S. M. Sadjadi, (2008),” Effect of Waste Polymer Materials on Shear
Strength of Unsaturated Clays”, EJGE Journal, Vol 13, Bund k, (1-12).
11. Yetimoglu, T., Inanir, M., Inanir, O.E., 2005. A study on bearing capacity of randomly
distributed fiber-reinforced sand fills overlying soft clay. Geotextiles and
Geomembranes 23 (2), 174–183.
12. Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC, 2008, Engineering Properties of Soils Based on Laboratory
Testing.

01 Soil Stabilization

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

01 Soil Stabilization

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

“Soil Stabilization by plastic waste fibre”

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Pravara Rural Education Society’s

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 1

Sir Vishveshvaraya Institute of Technology, Nashik

Prof. Dr. B.L. Pangarkar Prof. Dr. B.L. Pangarkar

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 2

It gives me an immense pleasure to submit this Project report on ‘SOIL

SHELKE DIGAMBAR BALASAHEB

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 3

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 4

Chapter –06 22-25

Figure No. Name of the figure Page No.

3.1 Soil Stabilization 10

4.1 Mechanical method of soil stabilization 12

4.2 Mixing depth 13

5.1 Polypropylene Fibre 15

6.1 Foundation support system 18

6.2 Property Improvement 18

Table no. Name of the table Page No.

5.1 Waste plastic and its sources 16

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 5

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 6

Figure: 1.1 - Solid plastic waste

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 7

1.2. Effect of Plastic Waste on Environment

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 8

1.3. Soil Stabilization

1. Evaluating the properties of given soil.

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 9

1.4. Plastic Waste Used in Soil Stabilization

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 10

1.5. Objective of Seminar

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 11

2.1. Past Publications: -

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 12

Dr. Babitharani.H, Ashwini D G, Pavansiva kumar.Ch, Dimple Bahri, Koushik.B, Sindhu

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 13

3.1. Various properties of soil

3.1.2. Plastic size distribution

3.1.3. Specific Gravity

Table 3.1: - Types of soil with specific gravity

Clay and Silty clay 2.67-2.9

Organic soil <2.0

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 14

3.1.4. Shear strength

Figure 3.1: - Soil Stabilization

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 15

3.2. Need of soil stabilization

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 16

4.1. Mechanical method of soil stabilization

Figure 4.1: - Mechanical method of soil stabilization

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 17

4.2. Additive method of soil stabilization

4.2.1. Oriented fiber reinforcement

4.2.2. Random fiber reinforcement

Figure 4.2: - Mixing depth

Department of Chemical Engg. SVIT Nashik Page 18

5.1. Specific Gravity of Soil

Specific Gravity G = w 2- w1 / (w4 -w1) - (w3 -w2)

W1- Weight of bottle in gms

5.2. Liquid Limit

5.3. Plastic Limit

Where;- Wl=liquid limit.