Load-Settlement Characteristics of Granular Piles Mixed with Fibers and Lime

Granular piles are used to improve the poor ground like soft clays, cohesive soils, silty soils, loose sand etc. To improve the load carrying capacity of granular pile, the pile materials may be improved by mixing with Polypropylene fibers or lime. Based on the experiments carried out in the laboratory, conclude that, the load carrying capacity of the granular pile reinforced with fibers has been found to increase with increase in fiber content in granular pile. As the fiber content increases from 0 to 2.0%, the increase in ultimate load intensity carried by the treated clay bed is about 30.75%. Fiber content more than 2% did not result further improvement, but showed a declining trend at 4% fiber content. The load carrying capacity of granular pile mixed with lime has found to increase with increase in lime content in granular pile. As the lime content increase from 0 to 4.0%, the increase in ultimate load intensity carried by the treated clay bed is about 30.75%. But lime content more than 4% shows little improvement. Hence 4% lime content in granular pile is economical and has good load carrying capacity.