Static Response of Sands Reinforced with Randomly Distributed Fibers
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 116, Issue 11
Abstract
Laboratory triaxial compression tests are performed to determine the static stress‐strain response of sands reinforced with discrete, randomly distributed fibers, and to observe the influence of various fiber properties, soil properties, and test variables on soil behavior. In addition to the experimental program, a model is developed, based on a statistical theory of strength for composites, to predict the fiber contribution to strength under static loads. Randomly distributed fiber inclusions significantly increase the ultimate strength and stiffness of sands. The increase in strength and stiffness is a function of sand granulometry (i.e., gradation and particle size and shape) and fiber properties (i.e., weight fraction, aspect ratio, and modulus). The sand‐fiber composites have either a curved linear or a bilinear failure envelope, with the break occurring at a threshold confining stress called the “critical confining stress.” The magnitude of the critical confining stress decreases with an increase in sand gradation, particle angularity, and fiber aspect ratio, and increases with an increase in fiber modulus. The critical confining stress is insensitive to changes in sand particle size and fiber content. Predicted strength increases from fiber reinforcement using a theoretical model based on a statistical theory of strength for composites agree reasonably well with measured values.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Andersen, A., and Simon, N. E. (1960). “Norwegian triaxial equipment and technique.” Proc., Res. Conf. on Shear Strength of Cohesive Soils, ASCE, Boulder, Colo., Jun., 695–709.
2.
Andersland, O. B., and Khattak, A. S. (1979). “Shear strength of kaolinite/fiber soil mixtures.” Proc., Int. Conf. on Soil Reinforcement, I, Paris, France, 11–16.
3.
Arenicz, R. M., and Chowdhury, R. (1988). “Laboratory investigation of earth walls simultaneously reinforced by strips and random reinforcement.” Geotech. Testing J., 11(4), 241–247.
4.
Gray, D. H., and Ohashi, H. (1983). “Mechanics of fiber reinforcement in sand.” J. Geotech. Engrg., ASCE, 109(3), 335–353.
5.
Gray, D. H., and Al‐Refeai, T. (1986). “Behavior of fabric versus fiber‐reinforced sand.” J. Geotech. Engrg., ASCE, 112(8), 804–820.
6.
Gray, D. H., and Maher, M. H. (1989). “Admixture stabilization of sands with discrete, randomly distributed fibers.” Proc. XIIth Int. Conf. on Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1363–1366.
7.
Head, K. H. (1986). Manual of soil laboratory testing. 3, John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y.
8.
Hoare, D. J. (1977). “Laboratory study of granular soils reinforced with randomly oriented discrete fibers.” Proc., Int. Conf. on Use of Fabrics in Geotech., L'Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chausses, I, Paris, France, 47–52.
9.
Ladd, R. S. (1978). “Preparing test specimens using undercompaction,” Geotech. Testing J., 1(1), 16–23.
10.
Lee, K. L., Adams, B. D., and Vagneron, J. M. (1973). “Reinforced earth retaining walls.” J. Soil Mech. Found. Div., ASCE, 99(10), 745–764.
11.
Leflaive, E. (1985). “Soils reinforced with continuous yarns: The Texol.” Proc. XIth Int. Conf. on Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., III, San Francisco, Calif., 1787–1790.
12.
Maher, M. H. (1988). “Static and dynamic response of sands reinforced with discrete, randomly distributed fibers,” thesis submitted to the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, Mich., in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
13.
McGown, A., et al. (1985). “Soil strengthening using randomly distributed mesh elements.” Proc., XIth Int. Conf. on Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., III, San Francisco, Calif., 1735–38.
14.
Naaman, A. E. (1972). “A statistical theory of strength for fiber reinforced concrete,” thesis submitted to the Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., at Cambridge, Mass., in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
15.
Roscoe, K. H. (1970). “Influence of strains and soil mechanics.” Geotechnique, 20(2), 129–170.
16.
Waldron, L. J. (1977). “Shear resistance of root‐permeated homogeneous and stratified soil.” Proc., Soil Sci. Soc. of Amer., 41, 843–849.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 116 • Issue 11 • November 1990
Pages: 1661 - 1677
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 ASCE.
History
Published online: Nov 1, 1990
Published in print: Nov 1990
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.