Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced expansive subgrade soil stabilized with alkali activated binder, lime, and cement: A comparative study

Mazhar Syed; Anasua Guha Ray; Ankit Garg

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-79857-4_8

Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced expansive subgrade soil stabilized with alkali activated binder, lime, and cement: A comparative study

Mazhar Syed
, Anasua Guha Ray^*
, Ankit Garg

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Expansive subgrade soil exhibits a high degree of volumetric instability upon periodic moisture fluctuation, resulting in low bearing strength and loss of pavement serviceability. However, the use of conventional binders has a significant impact on the atmosphere by releasing greenhouse gases. In the present study, an attempt is made to enhance the strength characteristics of the expansive subgrade soil by stabilizing with an eco-friendly alkali activated binder (AAB) reinforced by two distinct types of fibers, polypropylene (PF) and chemically treated hemp fiber (CHF). The research also compares PF and THF reinforcement’s effectiveness in AAB with the conventional lime and cement binders. AAB is synthesized by adding an aluminosilicate precursor (slag and low calcium fly ash) to the alkali activator solution for sodium hydroxide and sodium silicates. In the alkaline binder, a minimum water to solids ratio (w/s) of 0.4 is maintained. The effects of varying PF and CHF content in lime, cement, and slag-fly ash-based AAB soil mixture is evaluated through a series of tests, including swelling potential, compressive shear, strength, and penetration resistance tests. California bearing ratio (CBR) is chosen as a subgrade performance indicator for both PF and CHF reinforced soil. Reliability analysis using Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) is further conducted to determine indices for CBR and strength tests that help to analyze the impact of uncertainties associated with the design of the fiber-reinforced AAB treated subgrade layer. Microstructural and morphological studies are carried out for lime, cemented, and AAB treated soil reinforced with PF and CHF. It is observed that PF reinforced soil has achieved a higher interfacial bonding with strong interlocking density under low tensile and shrinkage cracking compared to other fibers. The study also shows that the subgrade strength improvement under higher fiber dosages is prominent when AAB is used as an additive compared to lime and cement. The reliability analysis results show that the optimum dosages of fiber and slag-fly ash ratio in AAB-soil mixture are essential factors for strengthening the subgrade parameters.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Transportation Infrastructure Engineering, Materials, Behavior and Performance - Proceedings of the 6th GeoChina International Conference on Civil and Transportation Infrastructures
Subtitle of host publication	From Engineering to Smart and Green Life Cycle Solutions, 2021
Editors	Wynand JvdM Steyn, Zhixin Wang, Glynn Holleran
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Pages	118-139
Number of pages	22
ISBN (Print)	9783030798567
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79857-4_8
State	Published - 2021
Externally published	Yes

Publication series

Name	Sustainable Civil Infrastructures
ISSN (Print)	2366-3405
ISSN (Electronic)	2366-3413

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.

Keywords

Alkali activated binder
Expansive subgrade soil
Hemp fiber
Polypropylene fiber
Reliability analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Computational Mechanics
Environmental Engineering
Civil and Structural Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-79857-4_8

Cite this

Syed, M., Guha Ray, A., & Garg, A. (2021). Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced expansive subgrade soil stabilized with alkali activated binder, lime, and cement: A comparative study. In W. J. Steyn, Z. Wang, & G. Holleran (Eds.), Transportation Infrastructure Engineering, Materials, Behavior and Performance - Proceedings of the 6th GeoChina International Conference on Civil and Transportation Infrastructures: From Engineering to Smart and Green Life Cycle Solutions, 2021 (pp. 118-139). (Sustainable Civil Infrastructures). Springer Science and Business Media B.V.. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79857-4_8

Syed, Mazhar ; Guha Ray, Anasua ; Garg, Ankit. / Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced expansive subgrade soil stabilized with alkali activated binder, lime, and cement : A comparative study. Transportation Infrastructure Engineering, Materials, Behavior and Performance - Proceedings of the 6th GeoChina International Conference on Civil and Transportation Infrastructures: From Engineering to Smart and Green Life Cycle Solutions, 2021. editor / Wynand JvdM Steyn ; Zhixin Wang ; Glynn Holleran. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2021. pp. 118-139 (Sustainable Civil Infrastructures).

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abstract = "Expansive subgrade soil exhibits a high degree of volumetric instability upon periodic moisture fluctuation, resulting in low bearing strength and loss of pavement serviceability. However, the use of conventional binders has a significant impact on the atmosphere by releasing greenhouse gases. In the present study, an attempt is made to enhance the strength characteristics of the expansive subgrade soil by stabilizing with an eco-friendly alkali activated binder (AAB) reinforced by two distinct types of fibers, polypropylene (PF) and chemically treated hemp fiber (CHF). The research also compares PF and THF reinforcement{\textquoteright}s effectiveness in AAB with the conventional lime and cement binders. AAB is synthesized by adding an aluminosilicate precursor (slag and low calcium fly ash) to the alkali activator solution for sodium hydroxide and sodium silicates. In the alkaline binder, a minimum water to solids ratio (w/s) of 0.4 is maintained. The effects of varying PF and CHF content in lime, cement, and slag-fly ash-based AAB soil mixture is evaluated through a series of tests, including swelling potential, compressive shear, strength, and penetration resistance tests. California bearing ratio (CBR) is chosen as a subgrade performance indicator for both PF and CHF reinforced soil. Reliability analysis using Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) is further conducted to determine indices for CBR and strength tests that help to analyze the impact of uncertainties associated with the design of the fiber-reinforced AAB treated subgrade layer. Microstructural and morphological studies are carried out for lime, cemented, and AAB treated soil reinforced with PF and CHF. It is observed that PF reinforced soil has achieved a higher interfacial bonding with strong interlocking density under low tensile and shrinkage cracking compared to other fibers. The study also shows that the subgrade strength improvement under higher fiber dosages is prominent when AAB is used as an additive compared to lime and cement. The reliability analysis results show that the optimum dosages of fiber and slag-fly ash ratio in AAB-soil mixture are essential factors for strengthening the subgrade parameters.",

keywords = "Alkali activated binder, Expansive subgrade soil, Hemp fiber, Polypropylene fiber, Reliability analysis",

author = "Mazhar Syed and \{Guha Ray\}, Anasua and Ankit Garg",

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Syed, M, Guha Ray, A & Garg, A 2021, Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced expansive subgrade soil stabilized with alkali activated binder, lime, and cement: A comparative study. in WJ Steyn, Z Wang & G Holleran (eds), Transportation Infrastructure Engineering, Materials, Behavior and Performance - Proceedings of the 6th GeoChina International Conference on Civil and Transportation Infrastructures: From Engineering to Smart and Green Life Cycle Solutions, 2021. Sustainable Civil Infrastructures, Springer Science and Business Media B.V., pp. 118-139. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79857-4_8

Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced expansive subgrade soil stabilized with alkali activated binder, lime, and cement: A comparative study. / Syed, Mazhar; Guha Ray, Anasua; Garg, Ankit.
Transportation Infrastructure Engineering, Materials, Behavior and Performance - Proceedings of the 6th GeoChina International Conference on Civil and Transportation Infrastructures: From Engineering to Smart and Green Life Cycle Solutions, 2021. ed. / Wynand JvdM Steyn; Zhixin Wang; Glynn Holleran. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2021. p. 118-139 (Sustainable Civil Infrastructures).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced expansive subgrade soil stabilized with alkali activated binder, lime, and cement

T2 - A comparative study

AU - Syed, Mazhar

AU - Guha Ray, Anasua

AU - Garg, Ankit

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Expansive subgrade soil exhibits a high degree of volumetric instability upon periodic moisture fluctuation, resulting in low bearing strength and loss of pavement serviceability. However, the use of conventional binders has a significant impact on the atmosphere by releasing greenhouse gases. In the present study, an attempt is made to enhance the strength characteristics of the expansive subgrade soil by stabilizing with an eco-friendly alkali activated binder (AAB) reinforced by two distinct types of fibers, polypropylene (PF) and chemically treated hemp fiber (CHF). The research also compares PF and THF reinforcement’s effectiveness in AAB with the conventional lime and cement binders. AAB is synthesized by adding an aluminosilicate precursor (slag and low calcium fly ash) to the alkali activator solution for sodium hydroxide and sodium silicates. In the alkaline binder, a minimum water to solids ratio (w/s) of 0.4 is maintained. The effects of varying PF and CHF content in lime, cement, and slag-fly ash-based AAB soil mixture is evaluated through a series of tests, including swelling potential, compressive shear, strength, and penetration resistance tests. California bearing ratio (CBR) is chosen as a subgrade performance indicator for both PF and CHF reinforced soil. Reliability analysis using Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) is further conducted to determine indices for CBR and strength tests that help to analyze the impact of uncertainties associated with the design of the fiber-reinforced AAB treated subgrade layer. Microstructural and morphological studies are carried out for lime, cemented, and AAB treated soil reinforced with PF and CHF. It is observed that PF reinforced soil has achieved a higher interfacial bonding with strong interlocking density under low tensile and shrinkage cracking compared to other fibers. The study also shows that the subgrade strength improvement under higher fiber dosages is prominent when AAB is used as an additive compared to lime and cement. The reliability analysis results show that the optimum dosages of fiber and slag-fly ash ratio in AAB-soil mixture are essential factors for strengthening the subgrade parameters.

AB - Expansive subgrade soil exhibits a high degree of volumetric instability upon periodic moisture fluctuation, resulting in low bearing strength and loss of pavement serviceability. However, the use of conventional binders has a significant impact on the atmosphere by releasing greenhouse gases. In the present study, an attempt is made to enhance the strength characteristics of the expansive subgrade soil by stabilizing with an eco-friendly alkali activated binder (AAB) reinforced by two distinct types of fibers, polypropylene (PF) and chemically treated hemp fiber (CHF). The research also compares PF and THF reinforcement’s effectiveness in AAB with the conventional lime and cement binders. AAB is synthesized by adding an aluminosilicate precursor (slag and low calcium fly ash) to the alkali activator solution for sodium hydroxide and sodium silicates. In the alkaline binder, a minimum water to solids ratio (w/s) of 0.4 is maintained. The effects of varying PF and CHF content in lime, cement, and slag-fly ash-based AAB soil mixture is evaluated through a series of tests, including swelling potential, compressive shear, strength, and penetration resistance tests. California bearing ratio (CBR) is chosen as a subgrade performance indicator for both PF and CHF reinforced soil. Reliability analysis using Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) is further conducted to determine indices for CBR and strength tests that help to analyze the impact of uncertainties associated with the design of the fiber-reinforced AAB treated subgrade layer. Microstructural and morphological studies are carried out for lime, cemented, and AAB treated soil reinforced with PF and CHF. It is observed that PF reinforced soil has achieved a higher interfacial bonding with strong interlocking density under low tensile and shrinkage cracking compared to other fibers. The study also shows that the subgrade strength improvement under higher fiber dosages is prominent when AAB is used as an additive compared to lime and cement. The reliability analysis results show that the optimum dosages of fiber and slag-fly ash ratio in AAB-soil mixture are essential factors for strengthening the subgrade parameters.

KW - Alkali activated binder

KW - Expansive subgrade soil

KW - Hemp fiber

KW - Polypropylene fiber

KW - Reliability analysis

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U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-79857-4_8

DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-79857-4_8

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85119417899

SN - 9783030798567

T3 - Sustainable Civil Infrastructures

SP - 118

EP - 139

BT - Transportation Infrastructure Engineering, Materials, Behavior and Performance - Proceedings of the 6th GeoChina International Conference on Civil and Transportation Infrastructures

A2 - Steyn, Wynand JvdM

A2 - Wang, Zhixin

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PB - Springer Science and Business Media B.V.

ER -

Syed M, Guha Ray A, Garg A. Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced expansive subgrade soil stabilized with alkali activated binder, lime, and cement: A comparative study. In Steyn WJ, Wang Z, Holleran G, editors, Transportation Infrastructure Engineering, Materials, Behavior and Performance - Proceedings of the 6th GeoChina International Conference on Civil and Transportation Infrastructures: From Engineering to Smart and Green Life Cycle Solutions, 2021. Springer Science and Business Media B.V. 2021. p. 118-139. (Sustainable Civil Infrastructures). doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-79857-4_8

Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced expansive subgrade soil stabilized with alkali activated binder, lime, and cement: A comparative study

Abstract

Publication series

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this