Weak Expansive Soil Physical Properties Modification by Means of a Cement-Jute Fiber

Abstract

Sixteen groups of comprehensive tests have been conducted to investigate the modifications in the physical properties of a weak expansive soil due to the addition of a cement jute fiber. The tests have been conducted to analyze the liquid plastic limit, the particle distribution and the free expansion rate. The results show that: (1) With an increase in the cement-jute fiber content, the free expansion rate of the modified expansive soil gradually decreases, however, such a rate rebounds when the fiber content exceeds 0.5% and the cement content exceeds 6%. (2) With an increase in the cement percentage, the particle unevenness coefficient (Cu) and curvature coeffi- cient (Cc) of the modified expansive soil tend to grow gradually. The Cc coefficient reaches 1.0 when the cement content is 6%. The unevenness coefficient of 16 soil samples is greater than 5.0, however, the Cu coefficient decreases when the cement content reaches 6%. (3) The plastic limit of soil increases as the cement content is made higher, while the liquid limit and plastic index decrease gradually. When the content of the modified material is 2% + 0.1%~2% + 0.7% (Cement content + jute fiber content), the change of particle size distribution is most obvious. (4) When the contents of cement and jute fiber are is 6% and 0.5%, respectively, the modification induced in the physical properties of soil samples corresponds to the best case.