Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

I.1. Background of the Study
Soil is a fundamental and ultimately finite resource that
fulfills a number of functions and services for society which
are central to sustainability. There are many different types
of soils, and each one has unique characteristics; color,
texture, structure, and mineral content. The depth of the soil
also varies. Soil is formed slowly as rock (the parent
material) erodes into tiny pieces near the Earth's surface.
Organic matter decays and mixes with inorganic material such
as rock particles, minerals and water to form soil
(EnchantedLearning.com, n.d).
In construction, soil plays a significant role. The
stability of the structure depends on the properties of soil.
Misconception of soil properties would result in unnecessary
maintenance costs or structure failure such as soil
settlement. The movement of the soil which caused by the
change of ground water table is one of the causes why
foundation settlement occurs. Some soils are also not capable
of supporting the weight or bearing pressure exerted by
buildings foundation resulting to the footing to press or
sink into the soft soils, similar in theory to how a person
standing in the mud sinks into soft, wet clay (Foundation
SupportWorks, n.d).
Dealing with clayey soils constitutes great challenges to
geotechnical engineers, as structures on compressible clay can
create numerous problems. Construction without soil
improvement is impractical due to probable large settlements
that may occur (Bindu, Sobha, & Babu, 2011). Clay soils are
known to be one of the major factors causing foundation
problems. The ability of clay to expand and contract is
dependent to the change in moisture, shrink-swell phenomenon,
causing foundation problems and slope failure (Foundation
Repair Guide , 2004-2007).
Various soil improvement techniques such as soil
stabilization and soil reinforcement are developed to increase
the strength of soil. In the case of geotechnical engineering,
the inclusion of fibrous material in the soil mass in order to
improve the mechanical behavior of soil is widely developed
(Chaple & Dhatrak, 2013). Soil reinforcement is not a new
technique but a concept adapted from ancient time abundantly
demonstrated by nature in the action of tree roots (Chaple &
Dhatrak, 2013). Many ancient structures incorporated layers of
natural tensile elements to reinforce the soil for
construction of stable structures.
Soil reinforcement is a procedure where natural or
synthesized additives are used to improve the properties of
soils (Hejazi). The natural fiber for improving soil
properties is advantageous because they are cheap, locally
available, biodegradable and eco-friendly. The natural fiber
reinforcement gives significant improvement in shear strength
and other engineering properties of the soil.

Many studies developed using natural fibers as
reinforcement on soil. Natural fibers such as sisal, coir,
bamboo and etc. are abundant in many countries like
Philippines. Coconut fiber, which is abundantly available in
the locality, is to be used as reinforcement on sandy lean
clay.
Coconut fiber, also known as coir, comes from the inner
husk of coconuts. According to the University of Florida
Extension, coconuts are the most widely grown nut in the world
and contribute significantly to the economy of many tropical
areas. The short, tough fibers can be woven or pressed
together for a number of uses. Unlike man-made fibers, coconut
is a renewable resource (Myers, 2010).In Philippines about one
third of arable agricultural land or 3.26 million hectares is
planted to coconut representing sixty (64) out of total
seventy nine (79) provinces, and 1,195 out of the 1,554
municipalities in the country (AgFishTech Portal, n.d).
This study presents the influence of coconut fiber on the
shear strength of sandy lean clay.

I.2. Objectives
Objectives: This research project aims to investigate the
shear strength of sandy lean clay reinforced with coconut
fiber.
Specifically, it aims:
1. To determine the undrained shear strength of the sandy
lean clay with the following coconut fiber content by
dry weight:
a. 0.2% coconut fiber by weight.
b. 0.4% coconut fiber by weight.
c. 0.6% coconut fiber by weight.
d. 0.8% coconut fiber by weight.
e. 1.0% coconut fiber by weight.

2. To determine if there are significant differences that
exist between the undrained sandy lean clay with :
a. 0.2% coconut fiber by weight.
b. 0.4% coconut fiber by weight.
c. 0.6% coconut fiber by weight.
d. 0.8% coconut fiber by weight.
e. 1.0% coconut fiber by weight.
3. To determine if there is a significant relationship
between coconut fiber reinforcement and the undrained
shear strength of the sandy lean clay.

4. To determine the optimum percentage by dry weight of
coconut fiber reinforcement for sandy lean clay.

I.3. Hypothesis
1. There is no significant difference between the
undrained shear strength of sandy lean clay reinforced
with varying percentage of coconut fiber.
2. There is no significant relationship between the
coconut fiber relationship and the undrained shear
strength.

I.4. Scope and Limitations
The focus of the study is on the utilization of coconut fiber
as reinforcement in sandy lean clay.
The scope and limitations of the study are the following:
1. The shear strength of the sandy lean clay soil reinforced
with coconut fiber will be tested using unconfined
compression test.
2. The sandy lean clay soil will be randomly mixed with
coconut fiber having a percentage by weight of 0.20,
0.40, 0.60, 0.80 and 1.00.
3. The coconut fiber will have a uniform length of 25mm all
throughout the study.
4. The extraction of coconut fiber will be done manually.
5. The coconut fiber to be used will be extracted from a
completely ripened coconut.

I.5. Significance of the Study
In construction industry, soil as one of the primary
criterion in planning and designing a project requires a lot
of tests in order to ensure a safety design specification.
Soils compressive strength and its ability to resist shear
failure differ depending on its type. Also the design of
foundations, roads and pavements varies on soil.
Treatment of sandy lean clay with natural fiber offers
economical, ecological and environmental benefits. The coconut
fiber is abundantly available throughout the country, produced
at cheaper costs. It is advantageous to use coir fiber as
reinforcement because of its cost effectiveness and easy
adaptability. The coconut fiber is an eco-friendly product;
hence it will not create any environmental problems.
This study would be beneficial to geotechnical engineers
in terms of the strength of the soil. This kind of method
could be used to avoid various foundation problems and
anticipated soil movement.

I.6. DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. Coconut Fiber a fiber obtained from the fibrous husk
(mesocarp) of the coconut (Cocos nucifera) from the
coconut palm, which belongs to the palm family (Palmae)
(Lloyd, n.d).

2. Undrained Shear Strength- The resulted strength of half
of the unconfined compressive strength of soil (Soil
Mechanics).


3. Unconfined Compression Test measures the shear
strength of the soil. The unconfined compression test is
by far the most popular method of soil shear testing
because it is one of the fastest and cheapest methods of
measuring shear strength. The method is used primarily
for saturated, cohesive soils recovered from thin-walled
sampling tubes. The unconfined compression test is
inappropriate for dry sands or crumbly clays because the
materials would fall apart without some land of lateral
confinement (Chaoyang University of Technology).

4. Sandy lean clay A lean clay (CL) with more sand
content than gravel and is abbreviated as s(CL). It has
a less than 70% fines and less than 15% gravel (Soil and
Rock Classification and Logging, 2003). It should have a
liquid limit of less than 50%, inorganic, plasticity
index of greater than 7, plotted at the CL group in the
plasticity chart for USCS and have a greater than 30%
passing No. 200.

5. Lean Clay Clay with a low liquid limit and have the
symbol CL (Elementary Soil Engineering).


CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Soil provides the basic support for all civil engineering
structures such that geotechnical engineers include soil as
the most widely used as engineering materials (Zaniewski &
Mamluok, 2011). It is a unique natural material, and its
properties are governed not only by the particles size
distribution, particles shape, and density of particle
packing, but also by the presence of water and air in the
voids (Das, 1981). To identify specific textures in soils,
common descriptive terms such as gravels, sands, silts and
clays are being used (Budhu, 2007).
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
Soil can be classified according to USDA, AASHTO USCS,
and engineering behavior (Das, 1981).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a textural
classification system that is based on the particle-size
limits as described under the USDA system in Fig. 2.a that is:
sand size having 2.0-0.05mm in diameter, silt size having
0.05-0.002mm in diameter, and clay size having smaller than
0.002mm in diameter (Das, 1981).













The American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is a system that classifies
soil into seven major groups: A-1 through A-7. Soils
classified under groups A-1, A-2, A-3 are granular materials
of which 35% or less of the particles pass through the no. 200
sieve. Soils of which more than 35% pass through the no. 200
sieve are classified under groups A-4, A-5, A-6 and A-7. These
soils are mostly silt and clay-type material (Gillesania,
2006).

Chart








The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) was first
developed by Professor A. Casagrande (1948). The USCS is based
on the characteristics of the soil that indicate how it will
behave as a construction material. In the USCS, all soils are
placed into one of three major categories. They are: coarse-
grained, fine-grained, and highly organic (Rossiter, n.d)





Figure 2.1.a AASHTO Classification Chart


Figure 2.1.b USCS Classification Chart
Fig. 2.1.a USDA Textural Classification


The engineering behavior type of textural classification of soil is based entirely on the particle-size distribution. The amount and type of clay minerals present in fine-grained soils dictate to a great extent
th
ei
r
ph
ys
ical properties (Das, 1981).
There are many different types of soils, and each one has
unique characteristics, like color, texture, structure, and
mineral content (EnchantedLearning.com, n.d). Generally, soils
are called gravel, silt or clay.
Soil Reinforcement
Reinforced soil is the technique where tensile elements
are placed in the soil to improve stability and control
deformation. To be effective, the reinforcements must
intersect potential failure surfaces in the soil mass
(Nicolon, n.d). It serves as an initial lateral confinement
that allows the soil to mobilize more shearing resistance
(Budhu, 2007)
Generated strain of reinforcements from the strain of
soil mass creates tensile load in the reinforcement in which
Figure 2.1.c USCS Classification Chart continuation


it acts to restrict soil movement and impart additional shear
strength, thus reinforcement system gives greater shear
strength than the soil mass alone (Nicolon, n.d).
The term reinforced soil describes any soil mass which
has had its shear strength improved by combining it with
resisting elements; these resisting elements, or
reinforcements may take the form of bars, strips, tube, grids
or sheets (Pedley, 1990).
Reinforcing of soil can be done in different ways such as
soil nailing, soil dowelling, using of geosynthetics and using
fibers that are randomly mixed with soil. Soil nailing is a
technique used for stabilizing either vertical or steep cut
slopes and is executed incrementally; after each stage of
excavation the reinforcements or nails are installed (Pedley,
1990). Soil dowelling is used for the stabilization of
shallow, unstable or creeping slopes (Pedley, 1990).
Geosynthetic is manufactured from a polymeric material such as
geogrids or geotextiles which can be used as reinforcement to
increase shear strength of soils, thereby providing a more
competent structural material (Post Construction Best
Management Practices Manual). Reinforcing the soil with short,
randomly-distributed short fibers appear to be a very
promising soil stabilizing technique for a variety of
applications (Leshchensky, 2013).
Reinforcement with natural fiber in composites has
recently gained attention due to low cost, easy availability,
low density, acceptable specific properties, ease of
separation, enhanced energy recovery, CO2 neutrality,
biodegradability and recyclable in nature (Verma, Gope,
Shandilya, Gupta & Maheshwari, 2013).
Coconut Fiber
Coconut fiber is a natural fiber that can be easily
obtained in many tropical areas and is considered as
environment friendly material owing and their biodegradability
and renewable characteristics (Bujang, Awang, & Ismail, 2007).
It is reasonably waterproof and resistant to salt water and
microbial degradation (Picha, 2003).
Coconut fiber known to have the greatest shearing
strength that even on its wet conditions the property of the
coir fiber remains. Coir fiber is usually used as fuel. Hence,
it can be used for several civil engineering applications such
as ground improvement (Kar, Pradhan, & Naik, 2014).


Unconfined Compression Test
Unconfined Compression Test
subjects the soil to an axial
compressive load between two platens and
there is no confinement of the sample,
and the load is recorded using a proving
ring or a load cell and the axial
deformation of the soil sample is
recorded using a dial gauge
(Undrained and Drained Shear
Strength, 2002).
In the soil shear testing, the unconfined compression
test is one of the fastest and cheapest methods of measuring
shear strength and so far it is the most popular method
(Unconfined Compression Test)
Hence, sandy lean clay is in need to improve its shearing
capacity with the aid of coconut fiber as a reinforcing agent.


Figure 2.3 Unconfined
Compression Testers