Subgrade soil stabilization using coir and polypropylene strips

Abstract

The in-situ materials on something that the pavement structure is built is referred to as the subgrade. The sub - grade should be capable of withstanding the loads imposed by the pavement construction. A good subgrade is one that can withstand a large amount of stress without deforming excessively. When subjected to heavy wetness or cold temperatures, most soils experience some volume change. Clay soils may shrink and expand depending on their moisture level, and soils with too much particles might freeze heave in colder climates. One of the techniques to enhance the strength of weak soil is to stabilise the soil by addition of certain materials. This can be done through both mechanical and chemical methods. This study attempted the use of sustainable materials such as coir fibre and polypropylene strips for subgrade soil stabilization and concluded that load bearing capacity of the soil by has risen the addition of both coir and polypropylene fibre compared to the virgin soil.