Published Paper Details:

Soil stabilization is a fundamental aspect of geotechnical engineering, especially when addressing the behavior of non-clayey soils. Although these soils generally present fewer challenges compared to clayey soils, issues related to strength, compressibility, and shear performance under loading still necessitate effective stabilization techniques. While traditional stabilizers such as cement, lime, and synthetic fibres have been widely used, the use of natural fibres has recently gained attention as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative. Among the available natural fibres, bamboo stands out due to its abundance, renewability, and favorable mechanical properties. This study investigates the feasibility of using bamboo fibres to enhance the geotechnical properties of non-clayey soils, specifically silty sand by analyzing their effects on strength, compressibility, and shear behavior. Bamboo fibres, locally sourced and processed, were incorporated into soil samples at varying percentages (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% by dry weight). Standard laboratory tests, including Atterberg limits, Proctor compaction, and direct shear tests, were conducted to evaluate the impact of fiber reinforcement on the physical and mechanical characteristics of the soil. The results demonstrated that bamboo fibre reinforcement led to noticeable improvements in strength and ductility compared to unreinforced samples. Additionally, compaction characteristics were enhanced, with an increase in maximum dry density (MDD) and a reduction in optimum moisture content (OMC). Specifically, OMC decreased from 12.16% in untreated soil to 8.48% at 1% fibre content, indicating improved compaction efficiency and a denser soil structure. Although the MDD improvement values were not explicitly stated, the trend indicated increased density with higher fibre content. Shear strength also improved significantly with the inclusion of bamboo fibres. At a normal stress of 50 kPa, shear strength increased from 29.5 kPa (0% fibre) to 35.33 kPa (0.75% fibre). At 100 kPa, it rose from 57.01 kPa to 66.33 kPa, and at 150 kPa, from 84.53 kPa to 97.33 kPa for the same fibre content. These results confirm that bamboo fibre reinforcement enhances the mechanical performance of non-clayey soils, making it a promising and sustainable alternative for ground improvement applications.