Use of Basalt Fibers for Soil Improvement

Abstract

Soil reinforcement with natural and man-made fibers is one of the techniques to improve a number of mechanical and physical properties of soils. Although basalt originated fibers are currently being used for concrete, it is not an easy task to find a source in literature concerning the use of basalt fibers for soil improvement. In this study, basalt fibers have been used for this new aim. This study is an investigation into evaluation of the increase in soil strength, which is reinforced, in different percentages, by basalt chopped fibers. A silty soil sample has been chosen for this study and has been mixed, with 6, 12, and 24 mm long basalt fiber at varying contents. The unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests show that the addition of 24 mm long fibers into soil gives the maximum improvement in strength and the optimum fiber content (by dry weight of soil) is 1.5%.