This document summarizes a study on soil stabilization using coir (coconut fiber). It describes evaluating the properties of clayey soil, determining index properties, and testing the effect of adding different percentages of coir fiber (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%) on unconfined compressive strength and CBR value. The results showed that compressive strength increased by 78.8% and CBR value increased with 1.5% coir fiber addition compared to unreinforced soil. The optimum moisture content increased while maximum dry density decreased with fiber content. Overall, the study demonstrated coir fiber is effective and economical for improving soil strength properties.

1. Soil Stabilization
Using Coir
Presented By:
Gaurav Sharda(150028)

2. Content
1. Introduction
2. Steps of Soil Stabilization
3. Soil Stabilization Techniques
4. Advantages
5. Tests Carried Out
6. Results Obtained
7. Conclusion
8. References

3. Soil Stabilization
The necessity of improving the engineering properties of soil has been
recognized for as long as construction has existed. Many ancient cultures
including the Chinese, romans utilized various techniques to improve soil
stability, some of which were so effective that many of the buildings and
roadways they constructed still exist today. Although this process of
improving the engineering properties of soils has been practised for
centuries, soil stabilization did not gain significant acceptance for highway
construction until world war ll. Today, stabilization with lime, fly ash,
portland cement and bituminous materials is very popular.

4. Steps of Soil Stabilization
1. Evaluating the properties of given soil.
2. Deciding the lacking properties of soil.
3. Choosing effective and economical method of soil stabilization.
4. Designing the Stabilized soil mix for intended stability and durability
values.

5. Objective Of Soil
Stabilization
● To increase bearing Capacity and Stability (Avoid Failure)
● To reduce post construction Settlements
● To reduce liquefaction risk (Seismic Areas)
● Use of Local Material (Economy)
● Improve Properties

6. Types Of Soil Stabilization
Surface Stabilization
Physical Stabilization
● Cement stabilization
● Lime stabilization
● Bitumen stabilization
● Fly Ash stabilization
● Nano material stabilization

7. Chemical Stabilization
● Sodium chloride
● Calcium chloride(for Roads)
● Sodium silicate
Surface Stabilization
Types Of Soil Stabilization

8. Mechanical Stabilization
● Tamping
● Roller
● Compaction
Types Of Soil Stabilization

9. Sub Surface Stabilization
● Preloading
● Sand drains
● Dynamic compaction
● Grouting
● Use of geotextiles
Types Of Soil Stabilization
Sub-Surface Stabilization

10. Advantages Of soil
Stabilization
● Improvement in Strength
● Economical Result
● Stability
● Erosion Prevention
● Increases Durability

11. Advantages Of Coir Fibre
● It’s a renewable resource and CO2 neutral material.
● The fiber is abundant, non-toxic in nature.
● Low density and very cheap.
● The fibre has a high degree of retaining water.

12. Material Used
● In this project, the soil i s taken from “Geotech Lab GNDEC,
Ludhiana”
● For Stabilizing, Coir (Coconut) Fibre is used.

13. Properties Of Soil Used
S. No Properties Values
1 Specific Gravity 2.65
2 Liquid Limit 26.5 %
3 Plastic Limit 21 %
4 Plasticity Index 5.5%
5 Classification Of Soil CL-ML
6 Optimum Moisture Content 10.25 %
7 Maximum Dry Density 1.785gm/ml
8 Unconfined Compressive Strength .335Kg/cm²
9 CBR Value 1.16 %

14. Properties Of Coir Fibre
Sr. No. Property Value
1 Length 3cm to 6cm
2 Diameter .1mm to .5mm
3 Specific Gravity 1.40
5 Fibre Type Single

15. Sr. No AUTHOR NAME PAPER NAME DESCRIPTION
1 JEENA MATHEW Comparative study on
effect of soft soil
stabilization using coir
fibers and
polypropylene fibers
The unconfined compressive strength of the
polypropylene fiber reinforced clay was more
than 5 times that of unreinforced clay. It is
concluded that 30mm fibers at 1.5% yield a
maximum values in terms of unconfined
compressive strength.
2 LEEMA PETER Characteristics of
expansive soil
stabilized with coir
waste.
The engineering properties of soil vary with
the addition of coir waste but further studies
need to be conducted before its
implementation in the field.
Literature Review

16. Sr. No AUTHOR NAME PAPER NAME DESCRIPTION
3 SHUKLA DEVDATT Soil stabilization using
coconut coir fiber.
The addition of coconut coir fiber into
the expansive soil has changed the
compaction parameters. The OMC of
the expansive soil has decreased and
MDD increased with addition of coir fiber
4 A.
ANANDHAMURUGAN
Study on the stabilization
of soil using coir fibers
A study is carried out for improvement of
CBR values for the effect of cement and
randomly distributed coir fiber separately
and combination of both.
5 EVANGELIN RAMANI
SUJATHA
Influence of random
inclusion of coconut fibers
on the short term strength
of highly compressible
clay
The random inclusion of coconut coir
improves the unconfined compressive
strength and stiffness of the soil. The
optimum inclusion is 0.75%.
Literature Review

17. Objectives
● The objective of this project is to analyse the effect of inclusion
of coir fibres in soil on the stability of soil in cost effective
manner.
● To determine the index properties of clayey soil.
● To determine the improvement in unconfined compressive
strength and CBR value of clayey soil by using coir fibre at
different percentages.
● To determine the optimum percentage of coir fibre.

18. Methodology and Testing
1. Determining the physical properties of given sample.
2. Testing was done at different percentages of coir fibre(.5%, 1%
and 1.5%)
3. In this project the comparison of optimum moisture content,
maximum dry density, unconfined compressive strength,
california bearing ratio of soil at 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% of coir
fibre by dry weight of soil.

19. Test Carried Out
● Pycnometer test (specific gravity)
● Liquid Limit
● Plastic Limit
● Standard Proctor Compaction Test (According to IS 2720 -
PART 7)
● Unconfined Compression Test (According to IS 2720 -
PART 10)
● California Bearing Ratio (According to IS 2720 - PART 16)

20. Mix Proportions Used
Sr. No. Designation(S:C)
1 100 : 0
2 99.5 : 0.5
3 99 :1
4 98.5 : 1.5
S- Soil
C- Coir Fibre

21. Test Carried Out
Liquid Limit

22. Test Carried Out
Standard Proctor compaction Test

23. Moisture content vs Dry Density for soil fiber
mix
S.No. Mix Proportion (S:C) OMC (%) MDD(gm/ml)
1 100 : 0 10.25 1.779
2 99.5 : 0.5 12.20 1.708
3 99 : 1 14.10 1.651
4 98.5 : 1.5 14.25 1.46

24. OMC variation with Fibre Content

25. MDD Variation with Fibre

26. Test Carried Out
Unconfined Compression Test

27. Variation of compressive
strength with coir fiber
Sr. No. Mix Proportions Unconfined Compressive Strength
(Kg/cm²)
1 100 : 0 0.335
2 99.5 : 0.5 0.351
3 99 : 1 0.374
4 98.5 : 1.5 0.599

28. Variation of compressive strength with coir
fibre

29. Test Carried Out
California Bearing Ratio

30. Conclusion
Standard Proctor Test:
● An increase in OMC from 11% to 14.5%, and an decrease in
MDD from 1.78gm/ml to 1.46gm/ml was observed.
● The reason for decrease in MDD is the less specific gravity of
fiber as compared to soil particles. These fibers also don’t let the
soil particles to come near each other and hence the density
decreases.
● The reason for increase in OMC is the water absorbing capacity
of fibers which is greater as compared to soil particles.

31. ● Unconfined Compressive Strength:
An increase in compressive strength from 0.335 kg/cm2 to 0.599
kg/cm2, this means 78.8% increase in strength with addition of 1.5%
coir fiber.

32. REFERENCE
● Dr. K.R. Arora ,”Soil mechanics and foundation engineering”,
S.Chand and company limited, New delhi,2010.
● IS:2720, (Part 5) Indian standard code of practice for determination of
liquid and plastic limit.
● IS:2720, (Part 7) Indian standard code for practice for determination
of water content- Dry density relation using light compaction.
● IS:2720, (Part 10) Indian standard code of practice for determination
of unconfined compressive strength.
● IS:2720, (Part 16) Indian standard code of practice for determination
of CBR

33. ● A.Anandhamurugan, K Karuppasamy, S.jagan.,”Study on the soil
stabilization of soil using coir fibers”, International Journal of
Advance Research in Basic Engineering Sciences and
Technology(IJARBEST) Vol.3,Issue.4, April 2017.
● Shukla Devdatt, Rajan Shikha, Saxena A.K, Jha A.K..,”Soil
Stabilization using Coconut Coir Fiber”,International Journal for
Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology
(IJRASET) Volume 3. September 2015
● Pooja Upathyay, Yatendra Singh,”Soil Stabilization using natural
Fiber Coir”, International Research journal of Engineering and
Technology (IRJET) Volume: 04, December 2017

34. Thank you
Presented By:
Gaurav Sharda(150028)
Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College
Ludhiana