Abstract

Kerala (the southernmost state in India), which is named after a coconut tree, is the first place that produced coir. The process of coir extraction produces coir waste, the disposal of which is becoming a major problem recently. Coir waste includes dusty matter called coir pith, along with some baby fibers. Studies have not yet been conducted on the influence of these coir wastes regarding the engineering behavior of soil. Two types of soils viz. lateritic soil and soft clay have been considered using different percentage of coir waste ranging from 0.5 % to 3 % by weight of soil. The main objective of the present investigation is to assess the usefulness of coir waste as a soil admixture and is focused on its influence on the engineering properties of soil. The present study covers the characterization of soils and coir pith, compaction behavior, CA bearing ratio, swelling and compressibility behavior. The results show that addition of coir waste modifies the geotechnical characteristics of both types of soils.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
coir, coir pith, coir fiber, soil admixture

References

1.
Babu
,
S. G. L.
 and
Vasudevan
,
A. K.
, “
Strength and Stiffness Response of Coir Fiber Reinforced Tropical Soil
,”
J. Mater. Civil Eng.
, Vol.
20
,
2008
, pp.
571
–
577
. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2008)20:9(571)
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
2.
Aggarwal
,
P.
 and
Sharma
,
B.
, “
Application of Jute Fiber in the Improvement of Subgrade Characteristics
,”
Proceedings of International Conferences on Advances in Civil Engineering
 
Kerala, India
, Dec 20–23,
2010
, pp.
51
–
53
.
3.
Ramesh
,
H. N.
,
Manoj Krishna
,
K. V.
, and
Mamatha
,
H. V.
, “
Compaction and Strength Behavior of Lime-Coir Fiber Treated Black Cotton Soil
,”
Geomech. Eng.
, Vol.
2
,
2010
, pp.
19
–
28
. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2010.2.1.019
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
4.
Prabakar
,
J.
 and
Sridhar
,
R. S.
, “
Effect of Random Inclusion of Sisal Fiber on Strength Behavior of Soil
,”
Consruct. Building Mater.
, Vol.
16
,
2002
, pp.
123
–
131
. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0950-0618(02)00008-9
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Jamellodin
,
Z.
,
Talib
,
Z. A.
,
Kolop
,
R.
, and
Noor
,
N. M.
, “
The Effect of Oil Palm Fiber on Strength Behavior of Soil
,”
Proceedings of the 3rd SANREM Conference
,
2010
, pp.
68
–
72
.
6.
Marandi
,
S. M.
,
Bagheripour
,
M. H.
,
Rahgozar
,
R.
, and
Zare
,
H.
, “
Strength and Ductility of Randomly Distributed Palm Fibers Reinforced Silty Sand Soils
,”
Am. J. Appl. Sci.
, Vol.
5
,
2008
, pp.
209
–
220
. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2008.209.220
7.
Bouhicha
,
M.
,
Aouissi
,
F.
, and
Kenai
,
S.
, “
Performance of Composite Soil Reinforced With Barely Straw
,”
Cement Concrete Comp.
, Vol.
27
,
2005
, pp.
617
–
621
. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2004.09.013
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Chauhan
,
M. S.
,
Mittal
,
S.
, and
Mohanty
,
B.
, “
Performance Evaluation of Silty Sand Subgrade Reinforced with Fly Ash and Fiber
,”
Geotext. Geomembranes
, Vol.
26
,
2008
, pp.
429
–
435
. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2008.02.001
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
Muntohar
,
A. S.
, “
Influence of Plastic Waste Fibers on the Strength of Stabilized Clay Soil With Lime-Rice Husk Ash
,”
Civil Eng. Dimension
, Vol.
11
,
2009
, pp.
32
–
40
.
10.
Babu
,
S. G. L.
,
Vasudevan
,
A. K.
, and
Sayida
,
M. K.
, “
Use of Coir Fibers for Improving the Engineering Properies of Expansive Soil
,”
J. Nat. Fibers
, Vol.
5
,
2008
, pp.
61
–
75
. https://doi.org/10.1080/15440470801901522
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
11.
Balan
,
K.
,
1995
, “
Studies on Engineering Behavior and Uses of Geotextiles With Natural Fibers
,” Ph.D. thesis,
Indian Institute of Technology
, Delhi, India.
12.
Dutta
,
R. K.
 and
Sarda
,
V. K.
, “
CBR Behavior of Waste Plastic Strip-Reinforced Stone Dust/Fly Ash Overlying Saturated Clay
,”
Turkish J. Eng. Environ. Sci.
, Vol.
31
,
2007
, pp.
171
–
182
.
13.
Chandra
,
S.
,
Viladkar
,
M. N.
, and
Nagrale
,
P. P.
, “
Mechanistic Approach for Fiber-Reinforced Flexible Pavements
,”
J. Transport. Eng.
, Vol.
134
,
2008
, pp.
15
–
23
. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-947X(2008)134:1(15)
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
14.
Kumar
,
P.
 and
Singh
,
S. P.
, “
Fiber Reinforced Fly Ash Subbases in Rural Roads
,”
J. Transport. Eng.
, Vol.
134
,
2008
, pp.
171
–
180
. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-947X(2008)134:4(171)
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
15.
Muntohar
,
A. S.
 and
Hantoro
,
G.
, “
Influence of Rice Husk Ash and Lime on Engineering Properties of a Clayey Subgrade
,”
Electron. J. Geotech. Eng.
, Vol.
5
,
2000
,
1
–
9
.
16.
Joseph
,
M.
,
2010
, “
A Study on the Water Retention Characteristics of Soils and Their Improvements
,” Ph.D. thesis,
Cochin University of Science and Technology
, Kerala, India.
17.
Prasad
,
D. S. V.
,
Kumar
,
M. A.
, and
Raju
,
P.
, “
Utilization of Industrial Waste in Flexible Pavement Construction
,”
Electron. J. Geotech. Eng.
, Vol.
13
,
2009
.
18.
Sadek
,
S. M.
,
Najjar
,
S. S.
, and
Freiha
,
F.
, “
Shear Strength of Fiber Reinforced Sands
,”
J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng.
, Vol.
136
,
2007
, pp.
490
–
499
. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000235
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
19.
Shirsavkar
,
S. S.
 and
Koranne
,
S. S.
, “
Innovation in Road Construction Using Natural Polymer
,”
Electron. J. Geotech. Eng.
, Vol.
15
,
2010
.
This content is only available via PDF.
All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or part, in any printed, mechanical, electronic, film, or other distribution and storage media, without the written consent of ASTM International.
You do not currently have access to this content.