Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

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Materials Today: Proceedings

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Investigational study on the influence of lime and coir fiber in the

stabilization of expansive soil
S.C. Boobalan ⇑, M. Sivakami Devi
Department of Civil Engineering, Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore 641 008, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: This research paper describes the method of expansive soil stabilization using lime and coir fibers. Coir
Available online xxxx fibers are rich in lignin content that helps them to retain their tensile strength even in wet condition.
Locally available soil in and around Kuniamuthur, Coimbatore were collected for stabilization. The soil’s
Keywords: index properties such as specific gravity, moisture content and compaction effect were determined. The
Expansive soil effect of penetration level, compression and shearing were experimented for plain and reinforced soil
Lime with varying fiber content such as 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% along with 5% optimum lime addition based on
Stabilization
the previous research studies. The results shows that CBR values increases beyond the 1.5% and UCS
Index properties
Coir Fiber
and Shear strength attains a maximum value at 1% addition of fiber and 5% optimum level of lime.
Hence 1% coco fiber content and 5% lime is concluded to be the optimum addition for an effective soil
stabilization.
Copyright Ó 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the Sustainable Materials
and Practices for Built Environment.

1. Introduction accepted materials like bitumen emulsions, portland cement,

Soil is a composite mixture of organic matter, air, water, miner-
als and dead microorganisms. It formulates at the land surface as
the earth’s skin. Soil is important to life on earth and also supports
plant life. Sand is most widely used materials in the construction
works. It comprises of rock particles and hard minerals such as
SiO2. The most abundant type of soil found in the world is clay.
Clay is a heavy soil type consisting of high nutrients like kaolinite,
montmorillonite that make the soil to shrink and swell in large
amount. Clay soils endure dry out in summer and wet & cold in
winter. Hence it is not adopted for the construction purposes.
Soil stabilization play a major role in the construction industry.
It would increase the shrink and swell soil properties, shear
strength of soils and improve the load carrying capacity of soil
sub grade for supporting the building foundations and pavements.
In the recent times, advanced materials are identified such as
polymer-based products, fiber reinforcement, copolymer-based
products, calcium chloride and sodium chloride for effective stabi-
lization of poor strength soil. Meanwhile, soil can also be stabilized
by geosynthetics and geogrid materials. Nowadays, widely
⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: boobalansc@skcet.ac.in (S.C. Boobalan).
cement fly ash, tar, tree resin, cement kiln dust, lime fly ash, ionic
stabilizers can also use for soil stabilization techniques.
The methods of stabilization include compaction. Wetting dry-
ing cycles, reinforcement, solid wastes, traditional agents, non-
traditional agents, deep soil mixing and injection technique. Fibres
are the materials which are added onto the soil in order to increase
their properties and make it suitable for the construction purposes.
It is important that the properties of the fibre should be adaptable
with that of the soil to which it is to be applied. Synthetic fibers are
coming from raw materials of petrochemicals such as sodium
hydroxide and carbon disulphide, so it is classified as man-made
fibers.
2. Literature review
G. L. Sivakumar Babu et al. [1] investigated the various natural
fibers utilization in construction practice. One of the available nat-
ural fibers is coir, which is cheap, biodegradable, locally available,
eco-friendly and also has improved mechanical properties like ten-
sile strength. They conducted the stiffness and strength studies on
the behaviour of coir fiber reinforced with soil samples and their
results were associated with the unreinforced samples. Their
results showed that strength and stiffness were improved for the

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.01.230
2214-7853/Copyright Ó 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the Sustainable Materials and Practices for Built Environment.

Please cite this article as: S.C. Boobalan and M. Sivakami Devi, Investigational study on the influence of lime and coir fiber in the stabilization of expansive
soil, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.01.230
S.C. Boobalan and M. Sivakami Devi
soil samples reinforced with 1–2% fiber content. Mahipal Singh
Chauhan et al. [2] examined the subgrade soil with coir and syn-
thetic fiber inclusion for determining the fiber reinforcement effi-
ciency. Samples were prepared with subgrade silty sand and fly
ash along with varying proportions of different fibers. Results con-
cluded that increase in the deviator stress and number of load
cycles, permanent and resilient strains decrease with increase of
confining pressure. And also concluded that coir fiber showed bet-
ter resilient property than synthetic fibers. Pooja Upadhyay et al.
[3] conducted investigation on stabilization of soil by using natural
coir fiber extracted form coconut. They examined the various per-
centage inclusion of fibers and conducted proctor compaction test,
OMC, direct shear test, UCS for the stabilization of soil samples
with and without coir fibers and revealed that optimum utilization
of coir fiber in the stabilization of soil. Ravindran Gobinath et al. [4]
examined the effect of soil stabilized with reinforcement of banana
fiber along with sodium silicate. Gravelly sand samples were pre-
pared with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% of banana fiber and 1% sodium
silicate. The test results such as UCS, CBR, plasticity index, split ten-
sile strength and shear strength increased with increase in fiber
content in the range of 445% for UCS, 80% for shear strength,
194% of split tensile strength and 1083% of CBR values with 0.5%
banana fiber content compared with unreinforced soil samples.
Shwetha Prasanna et al. [5] suggested that performance of prob-
lematic soils was improved by increased density of soil, compact-
ing the soil effectively, or by addition of admixtures. In their
study, soil stabilization was done by using the coconut shell ash.
Results concluded that 0.4–0.8% of coconut shell ash content
revealed improved dry density of soil, OMC and angle of internal
friction. P. P. Dahale et al. [6] investigated the fly ash along with
lime for the stabilization of soil. Fly ash utilization was not only
improving the soil properties and also solving the issues of effec-
tive disposal. The strength and compaction parameters, UCS, CBR
tests were conducted for the soil stabilized samples with varying
proportion of fly ash and lime. Anjani Kumar Yadav et al. [7] uti-
lized the locally available waste materials like sugarcane bagasse
ash, rice husk ash and cow dung ash in the stabilization of sub-
grade soil. The ash content with 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12% replace-
ment by weight of soil was done in the soil stabilization
investigation samples. Their results revealed that UCS and CBR val-
ues continuously increased and then decreased which concluded
that optimum ash replacement of 7.5%.
Ifeyinwa Ijeoma Obianyo et al. [8] conducted the investigation
of predicting the stabilized lateritic soil strength by using the mul-
tivariate regression models. Also showed that model had reduced
the cost and time of Nigeria construction projects. They have
developed that multivariate regression model by using the bone
ash stabilized with lateritic soils for predicting the strength. The
lateritic soil brick samples were prepared with various percentages
of bone ash and cured at various temperatures and ages. Compres-
sion strength obtained from the samples were utilized for prepar-
ing multivariate and nonlinear models. Sayyed Mahdi Hejazi et al.
[9] reviewed those various types of synthetic and natural fibers
history, applications, benefits and executable problems. And also,
predictive model utilized for short fiber soil composite were also
discussed. Innocent Kafodya and Okonta [10] investigated the fly
ash and lime stabilized soil mechanical behaviour along with the
pre-compression and inclusion of fiber content. Various percent-
ages of 25 mm sisal fibres such as 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% by
dry mass of soil were mixed with soil to be stabilized. Both the sta-
bilized soil and fiber composites were subjected to the pre-
compression stresses of 10% and 20% of mobilized strength by
the un-precompressed samples. UCS test of soil samples were con-
ducted. Results showed that 0.75% fiber content with un-
precompressed samples achieved 3.5 MPa optimum strength,
10% pre-compression along with 0.25% fiber content showed that
2
Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx
2.8 MPa, 20% pre-compression samples along with 0.25% fiber con-
tent showed 3.04 MPa. By comparing the results, un-
precompressed samples showed better strength than pre-
compressed samples. And also concluded that ductility property
had been improved due to the inclusion of fibers in soil samples.
Amit Kumar Rai et al. [11] reviewed the various literatures
related to soil stabilization by using the modern waste materials
such as glass powder, e-waste and plastic. The conclusions made
from this review were flakiness behaviour and seasonal variations
identified in few of the soil stabilizing materials. This review paper
aimed at two conclusions, one would be the comparative study of
soil stabilization by using various modern waste materials and
other would be found the effective way of disposing the wastes.
M.S. Deepak et al. [12] studied the stability properties of clayey soil
by different kinds of fly ash content along with lime inclusion. The
experiments were conducted on standard proctor compaction,
Atterberg limits and UCS of different mix ratio of soil sample along
with various kinds of fly ash and lime. The conclusions made from
their study where fly ash does not influence any plasticity property
in soil samples; fly ash along with lime decreases the plasticity of
soil sample. But the workability of the soil samples was improved
by modifying the collision behaviour and its particle size. And also
concluded that, Flyash class C was found to be more efficient than
fly ash class F when mixed with lime for reinforced earth materials.
J. Prabakar and Sridhar [13] described about the foundation failure
of engineering structures either by poor shear strength and differ-
ential settlements. Thus, the soil strength is improvement by vari-
ety of ground improvement techniques. One such techniques is
reinforced earth technique and it is mostly adopted because of easy
adaptability, reproducibility and cost effectiveness. They have done
an experimental investigation on sisal fibers as reinforced earth
material with different ranges of fiber content as 0.25, 0.5, 0.75
and 1% by weight of raw naturally available soil. Another more
parameter also included in this study was length of fibers such
as 10, 15, 20 and 25 mm. The conclusions of their study were sig-
nificant improvement in shear strength parameters and deviator
stress of the studied soil by conducting the compaction and triaxial
compression tests. And also concluded that sisal fiber was one of
the better reinforced earth materials.
From the above literatures reviewed, coir is a natural fibre
which is cost efficient, easily available and has good mechanical
properties. It has high lignin content that will reduce the rate of
degradation. The one general disadvantage of all the fibres is its
low tenacity so that the fibres could not grip with the soil firmly.
So, on the other hand, lime is a natural material used for bonding.
Its presence makes the soil more consistent and stable. It also
increases the load bearing capacity of the soil. Hence lime is added
is an optimum percentage to improve the bond between the coir
and soil hence making it tenacious.
3. Index properties of soil
Initially the materials and the types of soil used for the stabi-
lization were studied from the literature. Locally available soil in
and around Kuniamuthur, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu were collected
and its index properties were determined. The soil was collected at
a depth of 1 m from the ground surface as undisturbed sample. The
type of soil is clay which comes under the category ‘‘CH”. Its size
lies between 2 mm and 4.75 mm. Its uniformity coefficient and cur-
vature coefficient values are 55 and 0.22 respectively. Its moisture
content and specific gravity values are calculated. The determina-
tion of plastic limit and liquid limit are also done and the results
are shown below:
Moisture Content: 0.75%
S.C. Boobalan and M. Sivakami Devi Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

Specific Gravity: 2.41

OMC: 8%
MDD: 1.9 kg/cm2
Liquid Limit: 32%
Plasticity Index: 9%
Plastic Limit: 21%

4. Stabilization techniques of soil

The Index properties were determined along with its specific

gravity, moisture content, maximum dry density and optimum
moisture content. The tests such as vane shear test, CBR, UCS are
conducted for the plain soil and the reinforced soil with varying
% of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% respectively.

4.1. Lime
Fig. 2. CBR Test Results Comparison.
Soil stabilization of building foundations, roads, airfields and
earthen dams were done by using the lime. While preparing the
lime slurry, additives such as thinners are mixed with lime for
achieving better performance.

4.2. Coco fibers

Coco fiber is otherwise known as coconut fibres. It is obtained

from the outer husk of coconut. It is used for manufacturing the
fiber brushes, doormats, floor mats and mattresses. Coco fibers
are available in between the internal shell and hard outer coat of
coconut. The applications of ripen brown coco fibers are used in
horticulture, sacking and upholstery padding and white coco fibers
that means obtained before unripen coconuts, is utilized for man-
ufacturing fishing nets, string, rope and finer brushes. Due to the
non sinking capability of fibers, it can also use as long length fibers
for dragging buoys and boats without adding any weights in Fig. 3. UCS Test Results Comparison.
between. For Construction purposes, the soil’s naturally available
cohesive property imparts good shear strength to the soil, whereas
the tensile strength is increased by the addition of ripen brown obtained from the jute manufacturer in Coimbatore for project
coco fibres. These fibres help in interlocking between the soil par- purpose.
ticles increasing the load bearing capacity. The properties of coco
fibres presented in Table 1 is used in this project which was
4.3. Strength test results and discussion

Table 1
Properties of Coco Fibers.
The strength test such as CBR, UCS and Vane shear test were
done for the plain and the reinforced soil samples. For obtaining
Description of properties Value the shear strength of undrained soils particularly soft clays, vane
Fiber Diameter (mm) 0.1–0.406 shear test is used. Under unconfined conditions, sample of materi-
Fiber Length (mm) 50–110 als with right cylindrical shape can withstand maximum axial
Elongation (%) 10–25
Specific Gravity 1.12–1.15
compressive stress is determined by Unconfined Compression
Average Tensile Strength (N/mm2) 150 Strength Test (UCS). For evaluate the subgrade strength of pave-
ments and roads, one of the penetration tests as California Bearing

Fig. 1. (a) CBR Test Sample; (b) Unconfined Compression Test Sample; (c) Vane Shear Test Sample.

3
S.C. Boobalan and M. Sivakami Devi
Table 2
Shear strength values.
Designation of specimen Diameter (cm) Height (cm)
CFRS 0.0 3.75 7.50
CFRS 0.5 3.75 7.50
CFRS 1.0 3.75 7.50
CFRS 1.5 3.75 7.50
Ratio (CBR) test is used. Fig. 1. shows the CBR, UCC and Vane Shear
Test samples.
4.3.1. California bearing ratio
The CBR test was conducted and the ratio values were obtained
for both 2.5 mm and 5 mm penetration. This test was conducted
for plain soil and reinforced soil with varying percentages such
as 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%. It was clearly seen that the CBR values keep on
increasing as the fibre content increases. Hence no optimum per-
centage of fibre was identified for the maximum CBR value. It
was inferred that as long as fibre content increases the CBR also
increases. Fig. 2 shows that CBR test results comparison.
Standard load for 2.5 mm penetration = 1370 kg
Standard load for 5 mm penetration = 2055 kg
Testing Loadx100%
CBR ð%Þ ¼
Penetration load to the specimen ðstandard materialÞ
4.3.2. Unconfined compression strength test
UCS test is conducted for plain soil and reinforced soil with
varying percentages such as 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%. The test results shows
that the fibre content with 1% shows maximum strength value and
beyond this percentage the shear strength value starts decreasing.
Hence the 1% fibre content is said to be the optimum percentage of
inclusion for the soil for the applied percentage of hydrated lime
and index properties. The specimen diameter 38 mm and height
75 mm. Fig. 3 shows the UCS test results comparison.
4.3.3. Vane shear test
Vane shear test is conducted for plain soil and reinforced soil
with varying percentages such as 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%. The diameter
and the height of the specimen are 3.75 and 7.5 cm respectively.
The test results shows that the fibre content with 1% shows maxi-
mum strength value and beyond this percentage the shear strength
value starts decreasing. Hence the 1% fibre content is said to be the
optimum percentage of inclusion for the soil for the applied per-
centage of hydrated lime and index properties. Table 2 shows the
shear strength values.
Torque ¼ ðSpring Constant=180Þ  ðDifference in DegreeÞ
T [10] I. Kafodya, F. Okonta, Effects of natural fiber inclusions and pre-compression
sf ¼
p d2 ½H2 þ d6
5. Conclusions
Following observations are made in the investigational study of
influence of lime and coir fibres in the stabilization of expansive
soils:
Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx
Torque (kN) Shear strength (N/mm2)
0.89 0.0046
0.67 0.0034
1.00 0.0015
0.72 0.0037
1. The lime is added to improve the tenacity capacity of the coir
fibers. And also, optimum 5% lime is used in the preparation
of the soil sample.
2. The CBR values keeps on increasing as the increase in fiber con-
tent upto 1.5%.
3. The UCS values increases up to the addition of 1% fibres and
starts decreasing further.
4. The shear strength values keep increasing up to 1% fibre addi-
tion and starts decreasing further.
5. From the results, 1% fibre content along with hydrated lime of
5% is found to be the optimum addition to obtain higher
strength.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
to influence the work reported in this paper.
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