Effects of oil palm mesocarp fibers on the physical and mechanical properties of expansive soils
1 Department of Civil Engineering, National Advanced Polytechnical School of Douala, University of Douala, Cameroon.
2 Department of Architecture and Engineering Arts, Fine Arts Institute, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
3 Department of Civil Engineering, Advanced Technical Teacher Training College of the Technical education, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
4 Laboratory of Materials, Mechanics and Civil Engineering, National Higher Polytechnic School of Maroua, University of Maroua, Cameroon.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 22(01), 794–811
Publication history:
Received on 29 February 2024; revised on 11 April 2024; accepted on 13 April 2024
Abstract:
Palm fiber is one of the favorable materials used in stabilization of soft soil in geotechnical engineering projects, nowadays due to its sustainability, less damage of environment, biodegradability, availability and cost-effectiveness in a context of widespread appeal to the world for return to nature by protecting the earth. On the other hand, expansive soils are renowned for their swelling-shrinkage property and these volumetric changes resultantly cause huge damage to civil infrastructures. Likewise, subgrades consisting of expansive soils instigate serviceability failures in pavements across various regions worldwide. This paper presents results of the laboratory evaluation of expansive soils stabilized with oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF), with a view to determine its suitability as flexible pavement construction material. The mixtures were subjected to British Standard heavy (modified Proctor) compaction energy to determine their strength characteristics. The samples were subjected to different tests to ascertain their index properties. Varying proportions of OPMF from 1% to 4% were incorporated into the soil samples and the effects were observed based on compaction and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) results. The control samples without inclusion of OPMF achieved the highest Maximum Dry Densities (MDD), the MDDs reduced linearly as the OPMF content increased. Consequently, the CBR values decreased with increase in OPMF. The reduction in MDD ranged from 20.28g/cm3, 18.5 g/cm3, 15.65 g/cm3, 12.53 g/cm3 as the OPMF increased from 1%, 2% to 3%, 4%. and the optimum moisture content remained almost unaffected due to high-absorbent nature of the fibers. With the inclusion of the OPMF, the CBR value under soaked conditions dropped from 5% to 1.8% rendering them very unsuitable for pavement subgrade. It was concluded that the presence of fiber depreciated the engineering properties of the earth materials. Direct application of OPMF in any part of road pavement has been dissuaded.
Keywords:
Expansive Soils; Soil Stabilization; Oil Palm Mesocarp Fibers; Compaction; Density; California Bearing Ratio.
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