Investigating the effect of reinforcing fine grained soils using shredded waste plastic

摘要

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of plastic inclusions on the shear strength of fine grained soils. Soil classification tests were performed prior to the direct shear test to determine physical properties. Relationships between angle of friction and the varying parameters; and cohesion and the varying parameters were deduced. It was graphically confirmed that at optimum conditions, the cohesion of fine grained soils increased by up to 100% while angle of friction showed a continuously decreasing trend by up to 50%. Based on the results obtained from the laboratory tests, it was concluded that the structural integrity of the fine grained soil, is ultimately reduced by inclusion of shredded plastics, as indicated by the decreasing shear strength and deteriorating slope stability. The minimum acceptable plastic contamination in fine grained soil backfill that would not induce greater than 10% reduction in properties (shear strength) was found to be 0.5%.