Effect of Coir Fiber on Compressibility Behavior of Clayey Soil

The significant high compressibility and low shear strength of clayey soil impose challenges to the civil engineers. Use of coconut coir fiber for improving soil property was advantageous because they are cheap, locally available and eco-friendly and used as a reinforcement material. Coconut fiber is a natural fiber extracted from the husk of a coconut. This paper focuses on the experimental investigation on the effect of coir fiber on the compressibility characteristics and permeability behavior of the clayey soil. Coir fiber was added in different percentages (viz 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7% and 0.8%) to the soil sample with 10 mm length, and the effect of coir fiber in compressibility and permeability characteristics of the soil was studied. Results show that compressibility decreased and the coefficient of consolidation increased on the addition of the coir fiber. Coir fiber of different percentage is used for the study, and optimum moisture content and maximum dry density were used for preparing the soil sample. An optimum percentage of coir fiber for the enhanced properties of soil was found out, and also, the coefficient of consolidation, compression index is found out from consolidation test with different loading rates. The compression index (c_c) decreases with the inclusion of coir fibers in the soil up to certain fiber content and increases thereafter.