capstone project

1. FIJI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
CAPSTONE PROJECT
SYNOPSIS
SUPERVISOR: MR SATISH PISINI
TOPIC
SUSTAINABLE SOIL STABILIZATION USING NATURAL FIBERS
GROUP MEMBERS ID#
SAMUELA TAOBA 2016135973
VISHWALEEN RAM 2016133741
ISIKELI KAMA 2011001640
SHANEEL CHAND 2016137377
SUHAYL ANSAAR 2017140976
IFTIKAR MOHAMMED 2017143736
MELI TUBUNA 2013116206
1. Introduction
Civil engineering structures whether minor or huge, modest or complex respites
on the ground in which the load of the structure is transferred to soil. Steadiness of any such
structure be contingent on the properties of the underlying soil. If the soil strength can be
improved by the utilization of waste materials, then the cost of construction can be reduced
engineers are faced with the maintenance of structures with the use of limited finance (O.
S. Enokela, 2012). Structures such as roadway project and building practices require first-
class material for completion of building standards Superiority material is unattainable or
in short supply ng several areas of the world. Due to these restrictions, engineers are often
involuntary to seek other design using substandard resources which is costly, marketable
building aids, and novelty design performs. Certain innovative energies are complete to
reinforce the sub grade soil by mechanical stabilization or soil-cement, lime and etc to
improve its performance. One of the latest techniques is the soil reinforcement (M. Parag
Chaple, 2013). Soil strengthening is an active and dependable technique for refining
strength and stability of the soil
This project focusses on the available materials that is available in Fiji the soil
improvements by mechanical stabilization may consist in the use of Coir or coconut Fibre
and bamboo fibres (P. K. Jayasree, 2015). So, this coir Fibre excess can be used in
stabilization of soil and thus it can be efficiently disposed of (Stuti Maurya, 2015). The
inclusion of fibres had some influence on the engineering behaviour of soil-coir mixtures.
The accumulation of arbitrarily spread polypropylene fibres lead to in considerably
plummeting the consolidation settlement of the clay soil. Span of fibres has an immaterial

2. result on this soil distinctive, whereas Fibre contents proved more influential and effective.
Adding of Fibre give rise to in decrease in plasticity and intensification in hydraulic
conductivity (Dharmendra Kumar, 2015).
Since there are many types of fibres readily available in Fiji such as coconut
husk, bamboo etc... utilizing this fibre as soil stabilizing components which is an advantage
to cost and are environmentally friendly.
2. ResearchProblem and Objectives
Objective
The chief objective of the project is to study the effect of the soil strength after the
application of sustainable soil stabilization methods and materials.
Statement of the problem (Anon., n.d.)
This research focuses on soil stabilization materials and methods thereby soils and related
materials and structures are made stronger.
It is seen in Fiji that for retaining walls, pavement and other construction works,
reinforcement steel is used in massive quantities and the cost of which is very high.
Therefore, instead of using tones of reinforcement steel , we can simply replace it by using
geotextiles and geo-synthetic materials, or we can use other methods which will be
sustainable and effective.
3. Methodology
Many natural resources are used and wasted with price in construction of building and
structures. The use of sustainable materials in the roads and foundation design of buildings is
counseled. A sequence of model test will be done on both road model and foundation model
that will be approved purchasable by means of the model test facility that will be developed
at the geotechnical laboratory, Department of Civil engineering, FNU. The collection of data
will be achieved from the site and the experiments done in the laboratory. Logical data from
the testing of soil will be obtained to do analysis in GeoStudio software. The results obtained
from the testing will be accumulated to be used in FLAC 3D. Experimental arrangements,
testing apparatus, sizes and experimental process will be established on the source of
objectives and probable results of this study.
4. Expected outcomes
The following specific outcomes may be expected from this research:
 Explaining the mechanism of sustainable stabilization of soil
 Working on model dimensions and experiment testing preparations
 Using of Geo-studio software for modeling and analysis for results

3.  Development of poster about sustainable soil stabilization methods and materials
 Midyear progress report
 Presentation of the project
5. Timeline
This research will be carried out regularly during this semester. Key specific details are given
below:
Week Task
Week 3  Synopsis and expression of interest
 Abstract, problem statement and brief review of literature
Week 4-6  Review of significant publications and preparation of research
draft proposal along with detail literature
Week 7-8  Preparation of poster
 Validation of numerical models
 Collection of data for software analysis
Week 9-12  Mid-year progress report
 GEO-STUDIO software analysis
Week 13-15  Presentation
 Analytical framework
 Compare of results and conclusion of results
References
DharmendraKumar,S. N.A. N.S. T., 2015. California Bearing RatioVariationsinSoil Reinforcedwith
Natural Fibers. IntrnationalJournalof Emerging Technologies,6(2),pp.95-104.
M. Parag Chaple,A.I.D.,2013. Performance of CoirFiberReinforcementClayeysoil. International
Journalof engineering and sicence, 2(4), pp. 54-64.
O. S. Enokela,P.O.A.,2012. StrengthAnalysisof CoconutFiberStabilizedEarthforFarmStructures.
InternationalJournalof Advancemntsin Research and Technology, 1(2),pp.1-7.
P. K.Jayasree,K.B. L. P. K.K. N.,2015. Volume Change Behaviorof Expansive Soil StabilizedwithCoir
Waste. J. of Materialsin Civil Engineering , 27(6), pp. 1-8.
Stuti Maurya, A. K.S. P. K.J. R. K.,2015. Review onStabilizationof Soil UsingCoirfiber. International
Journalof Engineering research,4(6), pp.296-299.