International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 9, Issue 4, April 2018, pp. 812–815, Article ID: IJCIET_09_04_091

Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=9&IType=4
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

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SOIL STABILIISATION USING RAW PLASTIC

BOTTLES
S.Saravanan
PRIST University, Thanjavur

B.Jose Ravindraraj
PRIST University, Thanjavur

ABSTRACT
Soil stabilisation is any process which improves the physical properties of soil,
such as increasing shear strength, bearing capacity etc. which can be done by use of
controlled compaction or addition of suitable admixtures like cement, lime and waste
materials like fly ash, phosphogypsum etc. The cost of introducing these additives has
also increased in recent years which opened the door widely for the development of
other kinds of soil additives such as plastics, bamboo etc. This new technique of soil
stabilisation can be effectively used to meet the challenges of society, to reduce the
quantities of waste, producing useful material from non-useful waste materials. Use of
plastic products such as polythene bags, bottles etc. is increasing day by day leading
to various environmental concerns. Therefore the disposal of the plastic wastes
without causing any ecological hazards has become a real challenge. Thus using
plastic bottles as a soil stabiliser is an economical utilization since there is scarcity of
good quality soil for embankments. This project involves the detailed study on the
possible use of waste plastic bottles for soil stabilisation. The analysis was done by
conducting plate load tests on soil reinforced with layers of plastic bottles filled with
sand and bottles cut to halves placed at middle and one-third positions of tank. The
comparison of test results showed that cut bottles placed at middle position were the
most efficient in increasing strength of soil. The optimum percentage of plastic strips
in soil was found out by California Bearing Ratio Test and using this percentage of
plastic, plate load test was also performed. The size and content of strips of waste
plastic bottles have significant effect on the enhancement of strength of the soil.
Keywords: Liquefaction, Large Lateral Flow.
Cite this Article: S.Saravanan and B.Jose Ravindraraj, Soil Stabiliisation Using Raw
Plastic Bottles, International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 9(4), 2018,
pp. 812–815.
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 Soil Stabiliisation Using Raw Plastic Bottles

1. INTRODUCTION
Soil stabilisation means the improvement of stability or bearing power of the soil by the use
of controlled compaction, proportioning and/or the addition of suitable admixture or
stabilisers. The basic principles of soil stabilisation are:
 Evaluating the properties of given soil.
 Deciding the lacking property of soil and choose effective and economical method of
soil stabilisation.
 Designing the stabilised soil mix for intended stability and durability values.
Stabilisation can increase the shear strength of a soil and/or control the shrink-swell
properties of a soil, thus improving the load bearing capacity of a sub-grade to support
pavements and foundations. Stabilisation can be used to treat a wide range of sub-grade
materials from expansive clays to granular materials. The most common improvements
achieved through stabilisation include better soil gradation, reduction of plasticity index or
swelling potential, and increases in durability and strength. In wet weather, stabilisation may
also be used to provide a working platform for construction operations. These types of soil
quality improvement are referred to as soil modification. Benefits of soil stabilisation are
higher resistance values, reduction in plasticity, lower permeability, reduction of pavement
thickness, elimination of excavation, material hauling and handling, and base importation,
aids compaction, provides all-weather access

2. LITERATURE SURVEY
Lateral spreading past bridge foundations was observed in the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in
Taiwan. During the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake, many sand boiling phenomena were
observed in central Taiwan, which caused severe ground settlement and structure damages.
Examples of damage to deep foundations and lifeline utilities due to liquefaction-induced
lateral spreading are; the railway bridge foundations during the 1991 Limon earthquake
(Youd et al., 1992); the batter piles supporting the 7th Street Terminal Wharf in the 1989
Loma Prieta earthquake (Benuzca 1990); and the damage to numerous water and gas lines in
the 1906 San
Francisco earthquake (Bartlettand Youd, 1992). The extent of damage and affected areas
in Bhuj earthquake (26th January 2001) has provided a unique opportunity to evaluate a wide
range of geotechnical issues. A large area in the Rann of Kutch experienced massive
liquefaction resulting in ground subsidence and lateral flow. A large number of dams in the
Kutch district suffered moderate to severe damages. Many buildings were damaged and
collapsed in the city of Ahmedabad situated on the bank of the Sabarmati River.
Dynamic FEM analyses have the potential to better represent certain aspects of pile
foundation behaviour during earthquake loading and liquefaction-induced deformations. FEM
analyses can explicitly include the effects of progressive liquefaction on seismic response,
ground deformations

3. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
For many years, road engineers have used additives such as lime, cement and cement kiln dust
to improve the qualities of readily available local soils. Laboratory and field performance tests
have confirmed that the addition of such additives can increase the strength and stability of
such soils. However, the cost of introducing these additives has also increased in recent years.
This has opened the door widely for the development and introduction of other kinds of soil
additives such as plastics, bamboo, liquid enzyme soil stabilizers etc.

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 S.Saravanan and B.Jose Ravindraraj

Soil stabilisation using raw plastic bottles is an alternative method for the improvement of
subgrade soil of pavement. It can significantly enhance the properties of the soil used in the
construction of road infrastructure. Results include a better and longer lasting road with
increased loading capacity and reduced soil permeability. This new technique of soil
stabilisation can be effectively used to meet the challenges of society, to reduce the quantities
of waste, producing useful material from non-useful waste materials that lead to the
foundation of sustainable society. It can be effectively used in strengthening the soil for road
embankments and in preparing a suitable base for the upper pavement structure. Since it
increases the bearing capacity of soil considerably, the land use can be increased. It can lower
the road construction and maintenance costs while increasing the overall quality of its
structure and surface.
The promise that soil stabilisation technology can actually improve the mechanical
qualities of local road soil so that stronger, more durable roads can be built has prompted
national road ministries around the world to conduct extensive testing to verify that this new
technology is truly cost-effective. The result is that this new advance in soil stabilisation
technology is increasingly being used in both constructing and improving/rehabilitating
unsurfaced and paved roads worldwide

4. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

In order to conduct this study, various materials such as lateritic soil, plastic bottles (both cut
and uncut), sea sand and synthetic threads were used.
The Standard Proctor Compaction tests were done to assess the amount of compaction and
the water content required in the field [1]. The water content at which the maximum dry
density is attained is obtained from the relationships provided by the tests.
The California Bearing Ratio test was conducted to determine the optimum amount of
plastic strips in soil. This is done by mixing soil with varying percentages (0.0%, 0.2%, 0.4%
etc.) of plastic strips in soil and the 4 day soaked CBR Value is obtained. [2].Plate load tests
were conducted with plain lateritic soil, soil stabilised with full bottles, soil stabilised with
bottles cut to two halves and soil stabilised with optimum percentage of plastic strips[3].
Load-settlement graphs for each plate load test were drawn. For each load-settlement graph,
the load corresponding to 4mm settlement was noted. The ultimate load and corresponding
settlement of the plate is also determined from the load- settlement graph plotted for various
test arrangements.

5. SOIL PROPERTIES DESCRIPTION

Nevada Sand (Dr=40%) Slightly Cemented
Sand Density (kN/m3) 25 28 Φ 32 35 Ψ 2 5 k (m/s) 6.05 × 10-5 3.197 × 10-5 μ 0.25 0.3 E
(kN/m2) 38000 49000
Pile Property Material Concrete Diameter (m) 0.6 EA (kN) 3.56 × 105 EI (kNm2) 8000

6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

COMPACTION TEST
From the compaction curve, the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content were
obtained as 18.95kN/m3 and 11.22 % respectively. This is used for finding the bulk density of
the soil filled in the tank for plate load test. The California Bearing Ratio test was also carried
out by mixing the soil with optimum moisture content It is observed from the test results that
for soil mixed with waste plastic strips, soaked CBR values increased from 1.967 to 2.479

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 Soil Stabiliisation Using Raw Plastic Bottles

with 0.6% of plastic and there after decreased. Hence the optimum percentage of plastic strip
in soil is found to be 0.6%. It was also observed that there was a reduction in the CBR value
from 1.967 for plain soil to 1.687 on adding 0.2% plastic this is because the addition of small
amount of plastic into soil lead to a dispersed and disturbed structure to soil than that it was in
its compact form. Also the optimum moisture content was maintained the same so it also
affected the decrease in the value.

7. CONCLUSIONS
Use of plastic products such as polythene bags, bottles, containers and packing strips etc. is
increasing day by day. The disposal of the plastic wastes without causing any ecological
hazards has become a real challenge to the present society. Thus using plastic bottles as a soil
stabiliser is an economical and gainful utilization since there is scarcity of good quality soil
for embankments and fills. Thus this project is to meets the challenges of society to reduce the
quantities of plastic waste, producing useful material from non-useful waste materials that
lead to the foundation of sustainable society.

REFERENCES
[1] Arora, K. R. (2004). Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. Standard Publishers
Distributors.
[2] Kumar, M. A., Prasad, D. S. V. and Prasadaraju, G. V. R. (2009). Utilisation of industrial
waste in flexible pavement construction. Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering,
Vol. 13
[3] IS: 1888(1982), Method of Load Test on Soils. Indian Standards Institutions, New Delhi.
[4] Abhishek Jandiyal, Sandeep Salhotra, Raju Sharma and Umer Nazir, A Review on using
Fibers made from Waste PET Bottles in Concrete. International Journal of Civil
Engineering and Technology, 7(4), 2016, pp.553–564.
[5] Ufaq Nazir Dar and Sandeep Salhotra, Effect of Metakaolin and of Civil Engineering and
Technology, 8(7), 2017, pp. 830–835.

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