Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference

December 15-17,2011, Kochi (Paper No. H222

RICE STRAW REINFORCEMENT FOR IMPROVEMENT IN KUTTANAD CLAY

P.G. Greeshma, PG Student, College of Engineering, Trivandrum, greeshmapg@yahoo.com

Mariamma Joseph, Professor, College of Engineering, Trivandrum, mjh_mariamma@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT: Reinforced earth technique is considered as an effective ground improvement method because of its cost
effectiveness, easy adaptability and reproducibility In Alleypey district in Kerala, rice straw reinforced bunds are built
between paddy fields. These bunds are used for transport of both men and vehicles.In this context , a detailed study is
undertaken to study the effect of rice straw as a reinforcement material in kuttanad clay. The study is intended to
investigate the strength behaviour of the soil reinforced with randomly included rice straw fibres. The samples were
reinforced with untreated rice straw. The untreated rice straw was added to soil in addition with lime also. The reinforced
soil samples were then subjected to compaction and unconfined compressive strength tests to study the effect of fibre
reinforcement on kuttanad clay.Tests were also done to study the effect of alkaline medium (calcium hydroxide) and fresh
water on the durability of untreated and treated rice straw.

INTRODUCTION soil samples were then subjected to compaction and

Construction of building and other civil engineering
structures on weak or soft soil is highly risky on geo-
technical grounds because such soil is susceptible to
differential settlements, poor shear strength and high
compressibility. Improvement of load bearing capacity of
the soil may be undertaken by a variety of ground
improvement techniques like stabilisation of soil,
adoption of reinforced earth technique etc. Reinforced
earth technique is considered as an effective ground
improvement method because of its cost effectiveness,
easy adaptability and reproducibility.The concept of
reinforced soil with natural fiber materials originated in
ancient times. According to history findings in ancient
times date palm fibers, wood, bamboo and animals skin
were used for improvement of bricks properties and
increase of foundation bearing. Nowadays, from natural
or vegetable fibers as Kenaf, Coir, Banana, Jute, Flax,
Sisal, Palm, Reed, Bamboo and Wood Fibers are used for
improvement of soils mechanical properties. For
example these fibers are used for increase of tensile,
compression and shear strength of soils, to soft behavior
of brittle (specially in clay soils), to prevent of soil
erosion in slope, canals and shoreline, to reinforce of
embankment, help to grow plant on slopes, application in
asphalt covers,increase of bearing in clay soils,
application in unpaved roads and etc. Most advantages of
application natural fibers in comparison with metal and
polymer materials, is unpollution, easily available and
cost-effective. In Alleypey district in Kerala, rice straw
reinforced bunds are built between paddy fields. These
bunds are used for transport of both men and vehicles.In
this context , a detailed study is undertaken to study the
effect of rice straw as a reinforcement material in
kuttanad clay. The study is intended to investigate the
strength behaviour of the soil reinforced with randomly
included rice straw fibres. The samples were reinforced
with untreated rice straw. The untreated rice straw was
added to soil in addition with lime also. The reinforced
449
unconfined compressive strength tests to study the effect
of fibre reinforcement on kuttanad clay.Tests were also
done to study the effect of alkaline medium (calcium
hydroxide) and fresh water on the durability of untreated
and treated rice straw.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Prabhakar and Sridhar (2002) conducted studies on C- ij
soil collected from Bhopal, India with sisal fibres as
reinforcement.The sisal fibres were added in length of 1
cm, 1.5cm, 2cm and 2.5 cm and they were added at
different percentages of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1. The shear
strength and cohesion were found to increase with the
addition of sisal fibre and optimum was reported as
0.75% of 2 cm length fibre.Bouhicha et al. (2005)
conducted studies on clayey silty soil, silty sand, clay
sandy soil using barley straw as reinforcement. The
barley straw fibres were added in length of 1cm , 1 cm ,
2 cm, 4 cm and 6 cm and they were added at different
percentages of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 and 3.5. It was observed
that the compressive strength increased upto 1.5 % after
which it was shown to decrease. The effect of
reinforcement was more pronounced in clayey
soil.Sarbaz and Ghiassian (2007) conducted studies on
fine sand using palm fibres as reinforcement. The palm
fibres were added in length of 2 cm and 4 cm and they
were added at different percentages of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 .
It was observed that the CBR value of the soil was found
to increase with the inclusion of reinforcement.Marandi
et al. (2008) conducted studies on silty sand using palm
fibres as reinforcement. The palm fibres were added in
length of 2cm and 4 cm and they were added at different
percentages of .25, .5, .75, 1,, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 . It was
observed that the CBR value increased as the percentage
and length of reinforcement increased. Santhi Krishna
and Sayida(2009 ) conducted studies on black cotton soil
using sisal fibres as reinforcement. The sisal fibres were
added in length of 1.5 cm,2cm , 2.5 cm and 3 cm and
Greeshma P.G & Mariamma Joseph
they were added at different percentages of .25, .5, .75 The lime used for the study was locally available and the
and 1. It was observed CBR and unconfined compressive properties of which are given in Table 3
strenth were found to increase with addition of sisl fibre. Table 3. Properties of lime
The optimum percentage and length were reported as Components Amount (%)
0.5% and 2.5 cm respectively. Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 90
Silica 1.5
MATERIALS Ferric oxide 0.5
The materials used for the study are Kuttanad clay , Magnesium oxide (MgO) 1
untreated rice straw fibres and lime.
Alumina 0.2
Soil Carbondioxide 3.0
The soil used for the study is clay collected from
Kuttanad region in Alappuzha district. The soil was PREPARATION OF SAMPLES
partially air dried before the commencement of the The samples were prepared with rice straw fibres of
experiments.The properties of the soil are shown in random length added in percentages of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75
Table1. and 1%. The soil was also reinforced with untreated
straw in addition with lime.
Table 1. Properties of the soil
TEST PERFORMED
Kuttanad The test performed on the rice straw and soil are
Properties
clay explained in brief below.
Sand content (%) 8
Water Absorption Test
Silt size content (%) 52
The water absorption capacity of the naturally dried
Clay size content (%) 40 fibres under study was established using the equation
Specific Gravity 2.04 W= Ph-Pd ……………………………………………………….
Liquid Limit (%) 100 Pd
in which W denotes the water absorbed and Pd and Ph,
Plastic Limit (%) 36
denote the weight of air-dried and soaked fibres in
Plasticity Index (%) 64 drinking water respectively. The measurements were
Optimum moisture content (%) 33.0 carried out at specified intervals till the weight of soaked
Maximum dry density(kN/m3) 13.6 fibre became a constant.
Unconfined compressive strength(kPa) 21.09
Unconfined compression test
Rice Straw The test was conducted in accordance with IS2720-Part
The rice straw used for the study is collected from 10. The samples were prepared at their corresponding
Kuttanad region in Alappuzha. district. The rice straw maximum dry density and OMC.
was air dried to remove moisture from it.district.The rice
straw used for the study is shown in Fig 1. and the Durability Test
properties of rice straw are given in Durability studies on fibres were carried out by
Table 2. immersing the fibres in two different mediums,
namely,(i) in clean and fresh water (pH = 7.0) and (ii)
saturated lime solution [Ca(OH)2] and determining the
changes in the chemical composition of fibre after a
specified period. Fibres of random length were kept
immersed in airtight containers containing the above
mediums. At 24h time intervals, the fibres were taken
out, washed with plenty of water and dried at room
Fig 1. Rice Straw used for the study. temperature and then replaced in the same bottle. This
alternate wetting and drying operation were repeated for
Table 2. Properties of the rice straw 30 cycles (i.e. for a total of 60 days). In order to evaluate
Properties Rice Straw the performance of fibres subjected to alternate wetting
Average Diameter (mm) 2.5 and drying cycles, separate set of fibres were kept
Average Tensile Strength continuously immersed up to 60 days in airtight
12 containers. At the end of the above exposure period, the
(N/mm2 )
Fibre density(g/cc) 0.38 fibres were taken out and their tensile strength and the
UCC of soil reinforced with these fibres was determined
Lime

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RESULTS
Water Absorption of untreated Straw
The untreated straw immersed in water absorbs water
with time. Fig 2 shows the water absorption curve for
untreated straw. It is observed that after about five days
the water absorption becomes a constant and is more
than 500%.
Effect of Rice Straw Reinforcement in Kuttanad Clay
The unconfined compressive strength is observed to
increase with increase in lime content up to 7% after
which it is seen to decrease with lime content of 8%. An
increase of about 2.64 times improvement with respect to
unreinforced soil is seen in the UCC of the reinforced
soil when 7% of lime was added to the soil. The UCC
value is 54.56 kPa when 7% of lime is added to the soil.
Therefore, 7% is taken as the optimum value of lime and
this lime content is taken constant when soil is further
reinforced with varying percentage of untreated and
treated straw added in combination with lime.

Unconfined Compressive Strength of Untreated

Straw of Random Length in Addition with Optimum
Lime Reinforced Soil.
The Unconfined Compressive Strength of soil samples
with different percentages of untreated rice straw fibres
of random length added in combination with 7% lime
Fig 2. Water Absorption Curve for Untreated Rice straw were calculated from the loads at failure and shown in
Table 6.
Unconfined compressive test resuts
Table 6 .Unconfined Compressive Strength of Random
Unconfined Compressive Strength of Untreated Length untreated Rice Straw with Lime Reinforced Soil
Straw of varying length Reinforced Soil. Fibre
The Unconfined Compressive Strength of soil samples 0.0% 0.25% 0.5% 0.75% 1%
Content(%)
with different percentages of untreated rice straw fibres UCC(kPa) 21.01 56.4 81.28 57.47 56.5
of varying length were calculated from the loads at Improvement 2.68 3.86 2.73 2.68
failure and shown in Table 4. ratio
Table 4.Unconfined Compressive Strength of Random An increase of about 3.86 times improvement with
Length Rice Straw Reinforced Soil respect to unreinforced soil is seen in the UCC of the
Fibre reinforced soil when 0.5% of untreated straw in
0.0% 0.25% 0.5% 0.75% 1%
Content(%) combination with 7% lime is added to the soil.
UCC(kPa) 21.01 35.9 41 40.2 37.4 The samples reinforced with 0.5% untreated straw and
Improvement 1.65 1.94 1.90 1.77 7% lime are cured for 7, 14 and 28 days. It was found out
ratio that after 7 days of curing, the UCC was seen to decrease
for 14 and 28 days. The UCC at 7 days, 14 days and 28
The unconfined compressive strength is observed to days was found to be 85kPa, 82 kPa and 78
increase with increase in straw content up to 0.5% after kPa.respectively. This decrease may be attribute to the
which it is seen to decrease with straw content. An deterioration of straw due to alkali attck of lime on straw.
increase of about 1.94 times improvement with respect to
unreinforced soil is seen in the UCC of the reinforced Durabilty tests results
soil when 0.5% of untreated straw were added to the soil.
Durability tests results of untreated straw subjected
Unconfined Compressive Strength of Lime to alternate wetting and drying.
Reinforced Soil.
The Unconfined Compressive Strength of soil samples The tensile strength and Unconfined compressive
with different percentages of lime were calculated from strength samples reinforced with 0.5% untreated straw
the loads at failure and shown in Table 5. subjected to alternate wetting and drying in Ca(OH)2 and
water are shown in Table 6
Table 5 .Unconfined Compressive Strength of Lime
Reinforced Soil
Fibre
0.0% 2% 4% 6% 7% 8%
Content(%)
UCC(kPa) 21.01 46.47 48.55 53.95 54.56 48.45
Improvement 2.22 2.31 2.55 2.64 2.30
ratio

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Greeshma P.G & Mariamma Joseph
Table 6 Tensile Strength and UCC of untreated Straw dissolution is responsible for the loss in strength of the
subjected to alternate wetting and drying fibres and their efficiency as reinforcement.
Fibre Type Untreat Straw Straw
ed subjected to subjected to The reduction in tensile strength of fibre when subjected
Straw durability test durability to alternate wetting and drying in water may be due to
in Ca(0H)2 test in water microbiological action on rice straw
solution
The effect of alkaline medium and water on rice straw is
Tensile 12 1.07 4
more severe in alternate wetting and drying type
Strength
exposure than continuous immersion type exposure
(N/mm2)
because the main reasons is that the transport of OH
% decrease 91% 67% ions or Ca+2. ions from the water or alkaline medium to
UCC(kPa) 41 23 28 the fibres occurs slowly when the environment is kept
% decrease 44% 32% constant. When the rice straw are subjected to alternating
It can be observed from the table that the tensile strength wet and dry conditioning, the capillary pore system
of untreated straw decreases by 91% when subjected to would be alternately filled and emptied with alkaline
alternate wetting and drying in alkaline medium. This pore water. This movement increases the transport of
may be attributed to the chemical dissolution of lignin, hydration products from the medium to the fibres
especially in alkaline mediums, which acts as the binder
for the cellulose and hemi-cellulose present in the fibre, CONCLUSIONS
and the alkaline water gets crystallized in the pores 1. The unconfined compressive strength of soil
thereby making the fibre brittle.. The above chemical reinforced with 0.5% untreated straw of random length
dissolution is responsible for the loss in strength of the shows an increase of 1.94 times with respect to that of
fibres and their efficiency as reinforcement. unreinforced soil.
The reduction in tensile strength of fibre when subjected 2.The optimum percentage of lime is obtained to be 7%.
to alternate wetting and drying in water may be due to 3. The unconfined compressive strength of soil reinforced
microbiological action on rice straw. with 0.5% untreated straw of random length and 7 % lime
shows an increase of 3.86 times with respect to that of
Durability tests results of untreated straw subjected unreinforced soil.
to continuous immersion in solutions. 4. The unconfined strength of reinforced soil with curing
The tensile strength and Unconfined compressive decreases because of deterioration of straw in
strength samples reinforced with 0.5% untreated straw alkali.medium.
subjected to continuous immersion in Ca(OH)2 and 5.The fibres are more severely attacked by alkaline
water are shown in Table 7 medium and water when subjected to alternate wetting
and drying type exposure than continuous immersion type
Table 7. Tensile Strength and UCC of untreated Straw exposure.
subjected to continuous immersion
Fibre Type Untreated Straw Straw REFERENCES
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