Optimization of Tensile Strength of Geosynthetic Reinforcement for CBR Value of Low Plastic Soil

Abstract

The geotextiles are used in the globe for the civil and geotechnical engineering applications. Extensive studies implemented on geotextiles’ applications but little effort spent for optimization of geotextiles’ tensile strength. Most of the previous researchers used 2 or 3 different tensile strength geotextiles for their respective research. In this study, the effect of inclusion of ten different tensile strength (commonly available in market) of non-woven geotextile for optimization of California bearing ratio (CBR) value of soil was investigated. A comparison was made among the soaked and unsoaked silty-clayey soil through the usage of the needle-punched nonwoven (NW) geotextiles as a reinforcement and optimization had been achieved. The needle-punched NW geotextiles had different tensile strengths (10, 25, 35, 50, 65, 80, 100, 115, 123 and 140 kN/m) corresponding to local unit of (150, 350, 500, 700, 900, 1100, 1300, 1500, 1600 and 1800 GSM) respectively. For the soaked condition of soil, the CBR value was increased from 6.66% to 161.765% and for unsoaked condition, the CBR value of the soil was increased from 5.40% to 153.65% after using geotextiles. The maximum enhancement of the tensile strength for the CBR value was at the value of 115 kN/m or 1500 GSM at both soaked as well as unsoaked conditions and beyond 115 kN/m or 1500 GSM, there wasn’t any increase in CBR value.