Effect of Jute Fibres on Engineering characteristics of Black
Cotton Soil
Harshita Bairagi1, R.K.Yadav2, R.Jain3
1
(M.E. Student, Civil Engg. Deptt., Jabalpur Engineering College, Jabalpur, India.
[email protected])
2
(Associate Professor, Civil Engg. Deptt., Jabalpur Engineering College, Jabalpur, India).
3
(Associate Professor, Civil Engg. Deptt., Jabalpur Engineering College, Jabalpur, India).
Abstract: Light structures such as highways, railroads, runways, and other lifeline structures, constructed
over black cotton soil may be severely damaged due to high swell-shrinkage behaviour of this soil owing to
fluctuating water content. In India, black cotton soil cover as high as 20% of the total land area. Because it’s
swell-shrinkage behaviour it is also called expansive soil. Expansive soil are considered to be unsafe with
reference to safety of the structure in serviceability aspects, and needs to be tackled in a well engineered
manner, if it should be used as a foundation soil. Several ground improvement and ground stabilisation
techniques are in use to control the swelling potential of such soil. The use of Jute geotextile is a new and
innovative solution, in which a geotextile material is used in expansive soil to stabilize it. The present study
attempts to understand the effectiveness of Jute fibres in controlling swelling behaviour of black cotton soil
measured in the laboratory with and without use of random reinforced jute fibres in the black cotton soil. The
influence of one parameters of random reinforced jute fibres, via, its amount, on the measured reduction of
swelling behaviour is systematically studied, under controlled conditions. The objective of this study is to
propose an alternative method to control the swelling behaviour of the expansive soil. In the present study soil
samples containing 0%, 1%, 2% to 5% of jute fibre were prepared and the shrinkage limit, optimum moisture
content, maximum dry density, california bearing ratio and unconfined compressive strength were conducted as
per relevant IS code of practise. The test results showed significance decrease in the expansive behaviour of the
black cotton soil. The shrinkage limit increase from 8.66% to 14.68%.There is a remarkable increase in
California bearing ratio and unconfined compressive strength test results. The C.B.R. value increased from
1.8% to 4.1% and unconfined compressive strength values increased from 1.09kg/cm^2 to 1.35kg/cm^2. If black
cotton soil is blended with jute fibres from 0% to 5% by weight of black cotton soil.
Keywords: black cotton soil; stabilization; jute fibres; swelling behaviour.
I. Introduction
Soil improvement is of major concern in the construction activities due to rapid growth of urbanization and
industrialisation. The term soil improvement is used for the techniques which improve the index properties and
other engineering characteristic of expansive soils. Expansive soils are clay of high plasticity. They content
essentially the clay mineral montmorillonite. The soils have high shrinkage and swelling characteristics. The
shearing strength of the soils is extremely low. The soils are highly compressible and have very low bearing
capacity. It is extremely difficult to work with such soils. These soils are residual deposits formed from basalt or
trap rocks. The tendency of expansive soil to increase in volume due to infiltration of water is resisted by the
structure resting on the soil and as a consequence, vertical swelling pressure is exerted on the structure. Swelling
pressure develop if the soil is not allow to swell freely. The magnitude of swelling pressure depends on the
degree of expansion permitted. If the swelling pressure exerted by soil is not controlled, it may cause uplift and
distress in structure. The present study envisages the effect of jute fibres mixed in different proportion (up to 5%
by weight of dry soil) on index properties and engineering characteristics of black cotton soil.
II. Experimental Programme
The black cotton soil used in the present investigation was collected from Bilheri area of Jabalpur.The particle
size distribution curve of the soil is shown in fig.1.
In the present study jute thread is collected from grain market Jabalpur. The length of the jute fibre
used in the study was approximately 5cms with aspect ratio 15-20.
The black cotton soil was blended with different percentage of jute thread. The mix specification are as under
CF0 - Clay with 0% jute fibres.
CF1 - Clay with 1% jute fibres.
CF2 - Clay with 2% jute fibres.
CF3 - Clay with 3% jute fibres.
CF4 - Clay with 4% jute fibres
CF5 - Clay with 5% jute fibres
The consistency limits (liquid limit, plastic limit and shrinkage limit) tests were conducted as per
IS: 2720 the differential free swell tests were also conducted as per IS 2720 (Part XL) 1977.
III. Results and Discussion
The test results are summarized in table 1.
Table 1- Test results of black cotton soil
Test Performed CF0 CF1 CF2 CF3 CF4 CF5
1.Sieve Analysis(-75 88.732
micron size)(%)
2.Hydrometer test Well
graded soil
3.Liquid limit(%) 51.75
4. Plastic limit(%) 24.85
5. Shrinkage limit(%) 8.66 10.83 11.65 12.29 13.85 14.68
6. Differential free 66.04
swell(%)
7. Specific Gravity 2.60
8.Optimum moisture 22.1 22.7 23.2 23.9 24.5 25.1
content(%)
9.Maximum dry 1.61 1.60 1.60 1.59 1.57 1.56
density(g/cc)
10.California bearing 1.8 2.2 2.7 3.1 3.6 4.1
ratio(%)
11.Unconfined 1.09 1.15 1.22 1.26 1.30 1.35
compressive
strength(Kg/cm^2)
98.17 99.05
95.7296.82
93.7 99.67
92.08
90.54
89.68
83.56
79.76
76.57
70.19
N Based on total sample
62.21
57.72
49.45
44.67
39.88
31.933.5
28.7
0 0.01 0.1 1 10
Diameter D in mm
Fig.1 – Particle size distribution curve
Shrinkage limit
16 14.68
13.85
14 12.29
11.65
12 10.83
108.66 Shrinkage limit
8
6
4
2
0
CF0 CF1 CF2 CF3 CF4 CF5
Fig. 2 – Variation in shrinkage limit
Optimum moisture content
25.5 25.1
25 24.5
24.5
23.9
24
23.5 23.2 Optimum moisture content
23 22.7
22.522.1
22
21.5
21
20.5
CF0 CF1 CF2 CF3 CF4 CF5
Fig. 3 – Variation in Optimum moisture content
Maximum dry density
1.62
1.61
1.61
1.6 1.6
1.6
1.59
1.59
1.58 Maximum dry density
1.57
1.57
1.56
1.56
1.55
1.54
1.53
CF0 CF1 CF2 CF3 CF4 CF5
Fig. 4 – Variation of Maximum dry density
California bearing ratio
4.5 4.1
4 3.6
3.5 3.1
3 2.7
2.2 California bearing
2.5 ratio
21.8
1.5
1
0.5
0
CF0 CF1 CF2 CF3 CF4 CF5
Fig. 5 – Variation in C.B.R. values
Unconfined compressive strength
1.6
1.3 1.35
1.4 1.22 1.26
1.15
1.21.09
1 Unconfined compressive
strength
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
CF0 CF1 CF2 CF3 CF4 CF5
Fig. 6 – Variation in Unconfined compressive strength
IV. Conclusions
From the series of tests conducted on black cotton soil mixed with jute fibres, the following conclusions are
drawn :
1 With the increase in the jute fibres percentage the shrinkage limit values increases from 8.66% to 14.68%
( fig.2)
2 The Optimum moisture content values increase from 22.1 to 25.1 and the Maximum dry density are also
decreased from 1.61 to 1.56(fig.3 & fig.4).
3 There is significant increase in California bearing ratio and unconfined compressive strength values. The
California bearing ratio increases from 1.8% to 4.1%and the unconfined compressive strength increases
from 1.09kg/cm^2 to 1.35kg/cm^2.The variation is presented in figure 5 and 6.
4 From the test results it can be concluded that the addition of jute fibres to black cotton soil decreases its
swelling behaviour and increase the C.B.R. and unconfined compressive strength properties.
V. References
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Black Cotton Soil with stone dust and fibers ” Guntur India.
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Publication ,New Delhi.
[3] Ali. M.S, and Koranne. S.S. ;(2011) “Performance Analysis of Expansive Soil Treated With
Jute fibres and Fly ash”. EJGE Vol. 16 Bund. I, pp. 973-982.
[4] IS: 2720 (Part 38) 1976: Compaction Control Test.(Hilf Method)
IS: 2720 (Part 5) 1970: Determination of Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit.
[5] Harish kumar K., Muthukkumaran K. ;(2011)”Study on swelling soil behaviour and its
improvements” International journal of earth science and Engineering. Volume 04 No. 06 ,
Pp. 19-25.
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expansive soil extracted from rice husk ash” IPCBEE vol.3 2.
[8] Rao Ajjarapu Sreerama ,(2011) “Jute Geotextiles application in Kakinada port area”
Procedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference, Kochi.
[9] Suresh K. , Padmavathi V., Apsar Sultana ;(2009) “Experimental study on stabilisation of
Black Cotton Soil with stone dust and fibers ” Guntur India.
[10] Shelke A.P. ,Murty D.S.(2011), “Swelling pressure of expansive soil stabilied using EPS
Geoform” Proceeding of Indian Geotechnical Conference, Kochi.
