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Geomechanics and Engineering Volume 2, Number 4, December 2010 , pages 321-335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2010.2.4.321 |
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Peat stabilization using cement, polypropylene and steel fibres |
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Behzad Kalantari, Arun Prasad and Bujang B.K. Huat
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| Abstract | ||
| This article describes a laboratory research on stabilizing tropical peat using ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as a binding agent, and polypropylene and steel fibres as chemically inert additives. California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were carried out to evaluate the increase in the strength of the stabilized samples compacted at their optimum moisture contents and air cured for up to 90 days. The results show that the UCS values of stabilized peat samples increased by as high as 748.8% by using OPC (5%), polypropylene fibres (0.15%), and steel fibres (2%). The CBR values of the samples stabilized with OPC (5%), polypropylene fibres (0.15%), and steel fibres (4%) showed an increase of as high as 122.7%. The stabilized samples showed a shrinkage in volume upon air curing and this shrinkage was measured by an index called, volume shrinkage index (VSI). The highest VSI recorded was 36.19% for peat without any additives; and the minimum was 0% for the sample containing 30% OPC, 0.15% polypropylene fibres and 2% steel fibres. The technique of stabilizing peat with OPC, polypropylene and fibres, coupled with air curing, appears to be cost-effective compared with other frequently used techniques. | ||
| Key Words | ||
| peat; cement; polypropylene fibres; steel fibres; optimum moisture content; California bearing ratio; unconfined compressive strength; volume shrinkage index. | ||
| Address | ||
| Behzad Kalantari: Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran Arun Prasad: Dept. of Civil Engineering, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India Bujang B.K. Huat: Dept. of Civil Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia | ||