ASCE India Conference 2017
Nano-Particle Coated Natural Fiber Impregnated Soil as a Sustainable Reinforcement Material
Publication: Urbanization Challenges in Emerging Economies: Resilience and Sustainability of Infrastructure
ABSTRACT
This study explores the usage of sustainable materials in the form of natural fibers for reinforcing and improving the subgrade strength of pavements. In the past, natural fibers possessing suitable bio-chemical properties have been applied for subgrade reinforcement. In the current study, the use of a waste weed, water hyacinth (WH) along with agricultural fibers (jute and coir) have been tested. It is established that the natural fibers have a limited in field-life due to its degradation with time. In order to improve the strength as well as increasing the working life of such natural fibers, attempt was made in the study to chemically coat the natural fiber surface with nanoparticles of ferric hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. The chemical coating showcased the alteration of the fiber surface and was initially analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) followed by energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) tests. This study focuses on the short term behavior of nanoparticle coated natural fiber impregnated soil and its use as a sustainable pavement subgrade. Tensile strength as well as moisture absorption test was done for all untreated and treated natural fibers. The impregnation of nanoparticles on the fiber surface resulted in increase of surface roughness of the fiber and further increases the tensile strength of the material. Unconfined compressive strength test was performed to evaluate the improvement in mechanical characteristics of randomly distributed fiber reinforced soil. The increase in compressive strength at varying moisture conditions and its mechanism has been discussed for soil reinforced with treated, untreated fibers; as well as bare soil. The results demonstrate the efficacy of using chemically altered natural fiber in increasing subgrade strength of embankment material as a sustainable infrastructure tool.
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Published In
Urbanization Challenges in Emerging Economies: Resilience and Sustainability of Infrastructure
Pages: 435 - 444
Editors: Udai P. Singh and G. L. Sivakumar Babu, Indian Institute of Science
ISBN (Online): 978-0-7844-8203-2
Copyright
© 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Dec 13, 2018
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