Use of Bentonite and Natural Fiber in Soil Stabilization

Bentonite and natural areca-nut fiber were used to investigate the effects of material combination on the mechanical properties of a natural soil. Laboratory experiments on soil with 15% bentonite at three different aspect ratios of areca-nut fiber, viz., 1 cm, 2.5 cm, and 5 cm along with 1% of fiber by weight were undertaken. A combination of 15% bentonite with 1% fiber of 2.5 cm aspect ratio had the highest cohesion value of 52 kPa. Further the results showed that with the increase in aspect ratio, the cohesion value increased from 1 cm to 2.5 cm. Interestingly, Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) was highest with a value of 19% for 2.5 cm compared to the other combinations. The study showed that longer fiber can enhance the soil’s ability to retain moisture; however, they may not necessarily lead to increased cohesion, as there is a balance between the reinforcing effect of fiber and their distribution within soil matrix.