Use of homopolymer polypropylene fiber for improving engineering characteristics of cement-stabilized soft clay

Abstract

Soft clay is a problematic soil that exhibits low bearing capacity and excessive settlement under loading. Chemical stabilization by the addition of lime or cement is commonly used to improve the geotechnical properties of soft clay. Whilst the lime-cement treatment enhances the compressibility and shear strength of soft clay, it decreases the ductility of treated soil, leading to brittle failure. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of homopolymer polypropylene fiber in enhancing the engineering characteristics of cement-stabilized soft clay particularly ductility. Homopolymer polypropylene fiber is added with different amounts to cement-treated soft clay and a series of laboratory experiments are carried out to examine the strength (compressive and tensile), stiffness and ductility of the mixtures. The results indicate that homopolymer polypropylene fiber is an effective additive in enhancing the engineering characteristics of cement-stabilized soft clay; however, its level of effectiveness relies on the amount of cement in the treated clay.