Abstract
This paper explores the aspects related to the energy consumption for the compaction of unreinforced and fibre reinforced samples fabricated in the laboratory. It is well known that, for a fixed soil density, the addition of fibres invariably results in an increased resistance to compaction. However, similar peak strength properties of a dense unreinforced sample can be obtained using looser granular soil matrices mixed with small quantities of fibres. Based on both experimental and discrete element modelling (DEM) procedures, this paper demonstrates that less compaction energy is required for building loose fibre reinforced sand samples than for denser unreinforced sand samples while both samples show similar peak strength properties. Beyond corroborating the macro-scale experimental observations, the result of the DEM analyses provides an insight into the local micro-scale mechanisms governing the fibre-grain interaction. These assessments focus on the evolution of the void ratio distribution, re-arrangement of soil particles, mobilisation of stresses in the fibres, and the evolution of the fibre orientation distribution during the stages of compaction.
Highlights
Laboratory characterisation of the behaviour of fibre reinforced sand requires fabrication of small scale samples for element testing
The formation of fibre reinforced sand samples commonly used in laboratory studies follows the so called moist tamping fabrication technique (Ladd, 1978)
As an initial attempt to assess the costeffectiveness of the fibre reinforcement technique, this paper seeks to provide a fundamental analysis and quantitative estimation of the energy required for the compaction phase of samples formed in laboratory
Summary
Laboratory characterisation of the behaviour of fibre reinforced sand requires fabrication of small scale samples for element testing. The sample fabrication invariably includes a succession of several stages like soil-fibre mixing, deposition and compaction. Mixing sand and fibres for laboratory element testing purposes is not a complex process, nor does it require highly technical skills. The formation of fibre reinforced sand samples commonly used in laboratory studies follows the so called moist tamping fabrication technique (Ladd, 1978). As an initial attempt to assess the costeffectiveness of the fibre reinforcement technique, this paper seeks to provide a fundamental analysis and quantitative estimation of the energy required for the compaction phase of samples formed in laboratory. A numerical assessment of the sample formation process based on Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) is conducted to provide insight into the interaction mechanisms at the fibre and grain scale
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