Mechanical behavior of silty sand reinforced with natural discrete elements: Effect of silt content, fiber content and other parameters

Introduction/purpose: Many studies have reported a notable reduction in the shear strength of sandy soils when fine fractions are present, resulting in soils with poor geotechnical properties. With the lack of suitable soils for construction, it is now imperative to alter the properties of soil to make it suitable for engineering purposes. Numerous methods and techniques exist to enhance soil stability. The inclusion of discrete elements as reinforcement is particularly effective due to its contribution to a variety of desirable results. Methods: This paper investigates the impact of natural discrete elements on the shear strength behavior of silty sand at medium relative density prepared with different dispositional methods using different moisture contents. The study focuses on different parameters, namely, silt, fiber and water contents. Results: The experimental results indicate a reduction of strength with an increase in silt content and water content. Furthermore, the strength, volumetric change, and mechanical properties of the mixtures greatly improved with the addition of sisal fibers at low moisture contents. However, no significant improvement was recorded at high moisture contents, indicating the negative influence of moisture content on the fiber reinforcement mechanism. Conclusion: Following a rigorous analysis of the obtained results, it was determined that Sisal fibers can be judiciously used for improving soil characteristics.