Effect of Waste Bamboo Fiber Addition on Mechanical Properties of Soil

Abstract

For soil improvement, a method using plant fiber has been used since ancient times. In recent years, the construction method using plant fiber has attracted attention as a ground improvement technology with less environmental load. In this work, the soil improvement effect using waste bamboo fiber was experimentally examined. The liquid limit and plastic limit of the mixed soil tended to increase with increasing bamboo fiber content and there was no change in the plasticity index of the mixed soil by the difference of bamboo fiber content. As a result from the compaction test and unconfined compression test, it was revealed that mixing of bamboo fiber resulted in a reduction of soil material required for construction and increasing in strength. The maximum compressive stress of the bamboo fiber mixed soil at the mixing ratio of 0%, 1%, 3% and 5% were 115, 108, 130 and 152 kN/m2, respectively. As the soil with fiber showed the lower stiffness and higher strength than that without fiber in the dry region, it can be judged that the addition of fiber brought ductility to the soil. And it was found that the decrease in the stiffness of the specimen due to the increase of water content was suppressed by the addition of the bamboo fiber. From the results of the observation with the digital microscope, it was observed that the two-layer structure consisting of the main relatively thick fibrous structure and the secondary capillary fibrous structure were formed. Thus, it was found that the complex structure of the bamboo fiber is deeply involved in the strength of the mixed soil.