1. Utilization of Carpet and Apparel Waste
for Soil Reinforcement
Reinforcement of soils with randomly distributed fibers (both natural and synthetic) is a practicable means
for improving the strength and load bearing capacity of soils. This study focuses on the use of carpet and
apparel waste fibers and synthetic fibers for soil reinforcement. These fibers are classified as ideally
extensible inclusions, that is fiber to soil Youngs’ modulus ratio less than 3000 to 1. These fibers are
characterized as having larger rupture strains than the maximum tensile strains in the soil without the
inclusions. Therefore, no matter how large the load, the ideally extensible inclusions do not rupture. Soil
reinforced with these inclusions show an increase in peak stress but more significant is the reduction in
post peak strength loss that they provide. The figure below shows the results of triaxial compression
tests performed on compacted specimens with fiber contents ranging from 0% to 3% by dry weight of soil.
The fiber reinforced specimens show a significant increase in peak stress and a reduction in post peak
strength loss. The 2% and 3% specimens exhibit strain hardening behavior.
As Compacted Specimens Confined at 5 psi
Project Contact - John Murray