Strengthening of Cohesionless Soil Using Basalt Fibre Geogrids

Abstract

Modern soil reinforcement uses more durable materials and advanced methodology in increasing the bearing capacity of feeble soils [2]. Basalt fibre geogrids can be characterized as a green nonpolluting material used in stabilizing the week foundation soils by the interaction of frictional forces that develops at the soil reinforcement interface [3]. This revolutionary fibre obtained from volcanic extrusive basalt rock possess high tensile strength than steel fibres and even effectively replaces glass and carbon fibres in terms of cost-efficiency and performance [7]. Tests were carried out to determine the effectiveness of basalt fibre geogrids in cohesionless soil. Cellular arrangement [8] of geogrid with coir fibre inclusions at different confinement depth ratios [1] (CD/B = 0.25, 0.75, 1.5 and 2) and variation in the number of geogrid cells (N = 1, 5 and 9) were performed. Results show that maximum strength can be attained within the zone of influence at optimum coir fibre content [6].