Dynamic Performance of Toyoura Sand Reinforced with Randomly Distributed Carpet Waste Strips

A fiber reinforced soil behaves as a composite material in which fibers of relatively high tensile strength are embedded in a matrix of relatively plastic soil. Shear stresses in the soil mobilize tensile resistance in the fibers, which in turn imparts greater strength to the soil. In this paper a study on the influence of synthetic fibrous materials in improving the dynamic strength characteristics of a fine sandy soil is reported. The project is aimed at converting fibrous carpet waste into a value-added product for soil reinforcement. A series of strain controlled large cyclic triaxial tests were carried out on Toyoura sand specimens reinforced with randomly distributed carpet strips. The dynamic strength characteristics of the reinforced sand are defined in terms of deformation modulus and damping ratio. The effects of parameters such as fiber content and fiber aspect ratio, have been studied. The results clearly indicate the effectiveness of the reinforcement in improving the dynamic properties of fine sand.