International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

ON THE SHEAR STRENGTH BEHAVIOUR OF BAMBO REINFORCED

SOIL
T.Jiri1, D.Bagang2 , D. Devi3
1
FormerM.Tech Student, Civil Engg. Deptt., NERIST, Itanagar-791109,tokojiri@gmail.com,
2
Reaserch Scholar, Civil Engg. Deptt., NERIST, Itanagar-791109, shanghaidhon@gmail.com,
3
Associate Professor, Civil Engg. Deptt., NERIST, Itanagar-791109, dd@nerist.ac.in

ABSTRACT
Bamboos are sustainable construction materials which possess high tensile and compressive strengthand can be inexpensively used in
bulk and simple techniques of construction. Therefore it would be advantageous to use bamboo as reinforcing material for improvement of soil
strength, which will have direct effect on bearing capacity of soil. The present study is aimed to investigate the uses of locally available bamboos
in Arunachal Pradesh as reinforcement to study the shear strength behaviour of a local soil.The bamboo reinforcements are used in two forms,
bamboo grid form and bamboo chips form.Laboratory unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests were performed with 38mm diameter soil samples.
The grids were prepared in the form of circular mat of 38mm diameter with thickness of about 3 mm to 4 mm. In case of bamboo chips as
reinforcement the length of the bamboo chips were kept 5 mm to 6 mm with an approximate section of 3mm x 4 mm.The study reveals that the
shear strength parameters of soil increases with the increase in number of bamboo layers, as well as with the increase in percentage of the
bamboo chips. The maximum value of cohesion and angle of internal friction were found to be increased by 180% and 56.66% respectively over
that of plain unreinforced soil, when 3 layers reinforcement is provided. In case of bamboo as chip reinforced soil, the increase in cohesion and
angle of internal friction were observed to be 170% and 56.6% respectively with 3% of bamboo chips.

Keywords: Bamboo reinforcement, unconsolidated undrained triaxial test, bearing capacity

1. INTRODUCTION
The engineering properties of the soil can be improved by introducing continuous reinforcement elements in the form of sheet, strips,
nets, synthetic fabrics or fibre within a soil mass. The concept of using natural and artificial fibers to reinforce the soil is not new and there are
instances where these fibers were used to enhance the strength and stiffness of soil [1-25]. But very few studies have been carried out to study
the potential use of bamboo as a reinforcing material to enhance strength and bearing capacity of soil. Bamboos are sustainable construction
materials which possess high tensile and compressive strength. Bamboos exist abundantly in tropical, subtropical and temperate zones of the
world, and can be inexpensively provided in bulk and simple techniques of construction. These two are the most important aspects of a cost
effective approach that could be practical and affordable for local stakeholders and the authorities. Therefore it would be advantageous to study
on shear strength parameters of bamboo reinforced soil for direct use of bamboo to increase the soil strength, which will have direct effect on
bearing capacity of soil. The present study is aimed to carry out a laboratory trial on the use of cheap and abundant bamboo as a material for soil
reinforcement. From the previous reviews it is found that the use of bamboo grid reinforcement under the foundation could increase the bearing
capacity of the peat soil. [25]. Research had also been made to check the compressive strength and shear strength behaviour of bamboo in a grid
form as reinforced material placed in one, two and three layers over soil by conducting unconfined compressive strength test and triaxial tests on
unreinforced and reinforced soil sample. Trial axial test result indicates shear strength improvement of mine waste soil with reinforcement. The
maximum strength improvement is with three layers of reinforcement [13].The aim of this work therefore is to carry out a laboratory trial on the
use of cheap and abundant bamboo as a material for soil reinforcement. In this paper the results of shear strength parameters of bamboo grid as
reinforcement of soil with three different bamboo layers as well as with three different percentages of bamboo chips under triaxial testhas been
evaluated.

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1. Soil
The soil used in this study is collected from the Hoj-Potinroad, Yupiawith 27.1692N Latitude and 93.719E Longitudesituated in
Papumpare district of state Arunachal Pradesh. Fig 1 shows the grain size distribution of soil sample. It has predominantly sandy particles
consisting of 77% sand with 15% silt. The soil is non plastic in nature due to presence of high percentage of sandy particles with liquid limitand
specific gravity of soil sample is 24.637 and 2.653 respectively.The maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of the soil sample are
18.3% and 13.06% respectively.The selected soil is classified as poorly graded sand (SP) according to IS: 1498, 1970.

100

80
Percent Finer

60
soil sample
40

20

0
0.00 0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00
Particle Size (mm)
Fig. 1.Grain size distribution curve for the soil.

2.2. Bamboo
The bamboo used in this study is known as JATI BAMBOO (scientific name-Bambusatulda) and is commonly known as Hor (Nyishi) in
Arunachal Pradesh was collected from the local bamboo shop, situated at Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh. In this study, bamboo is used in two
forms, bamboo grid layer (BGL) form (grid reinforcement is placed in one, two and three layers) and bamboo chips(BC) form (blended with
selected soil sample by 1%, 2% and 3% of dry weight of soil). The basic properties of bamboo were ascertained with 500 gm/m2 mass per unit
area, 100.2 KN/m tensile strength, and maximum elongation of 1.5%.The thickness and width of the bamboo sample were kept identicalfor both
BGL and BC forms and were 3 mm and 4 mm respectively.The length of bamboo chips was kept between 5 mm to 6 mm.

2.3.Experimental setup
Laboratory triaxial tests were performed with 38mm diameter soil samples. The soil were sieved through 4.25 mm IS sieve and samples were
prepared in the laboratory corresponding to its maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of unreinforced soil. Both unreinforced and
reinforced samples were tested under confining pressures of 30kPa, 50kPa and 70kPa. In case of bamboo grid as reinforcement, three different
location of grid were considered. In one set, a single layer of bamboo grid was placed horizontally at the centre of the sample. In the second set,
two layers of bamboo grids, each at one third height of the sample were placed. In the third set, three layers of bamboo grids, each at one fourth
height of the sample were placed. The grids were prepared in the form of circular mat of 38mm. Similarly, in case of bamboo chips as
reinforcement, three different percentage, namely 1 %, 2 % and 3 % of dry weight of the soil samples were considered. Shear strength
parameters (cohesion and angle of internal friction) for both reinforced and unreinforced condition is determined corresponding to different BGL
and BC.

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1Shear
Shear strength parameters of unreinforced and reinforced soil samples
Shear strength parameters are obtained by drawing Mohrs circle at different confining pressure of 30 (kPa), 50 (kPa) and 70 (kPa).
Figure 2 and figure 3 show the charts of cohesion in kPa with respect to different arrangements of bamboo reinforcement of respective two
different forms. Whereas, figure 4 and figure 5 show the charts of angle of internal friction. It is clear from charts that cohesion and angle of
internal friction of reinforced soil samples are increasing with the increase in the number of reinforcement layers as well as percentage of chips.
It can be observed that the unreinforced soil has the least value of cohesion and angle of internal friction with c=10kPa
=10kPa and =30.
=30 But after
inclusion of bamboo reinforcement layers the c and valu
values have notably increased. For sample reinforced with one layer at centre, the
cohesion and angle of internal friction are increased by 75% and 16.6 % respectively, with two layers they are increased by 100% and 33.33%
and with 3 layers of reinforcement they
ey are increased by 170% and 57.66% respectively. Thus, it is evident from the results that the maximum
percentage increase is shown by 3 layers of reinforcement.
Similarly, the percentage increase of cohesion
ion for 1%, 2% and 3% of BC are found to be 50%, 110% and 170% respectively, and that
of angle of internal friction are 6.66%, 40%, and 56.66% respectively.Hence, in case of soil reinforced with various percentage of BC, maximum
values of cohesion and angle of internal friction are observed
obse for soil reinforced with 3% of BC.

Fig.2. cohesion of soil reinforced with different layer of BG

BGL

Fig.3. Cohesion of soil reinforced with different percentage of B

BC

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

Fig. 4. Angle of internal friction oof soil reinforced with BGL

Fig.5. Angle of internal friction of soil reinforced with different percentage of B

BGL

3.2 Effects of reinforcements on peak deviator stress

It is clear from the figure 6and figure 7 that the peak deviator stress of the soil is increasing significantly with the increase in the number of
bamboo layers as well as increase in percentage of bamboo chips
chips.. Increase in peak shear strength is more pronounced for higher number of
reinforcement layers. It shows that the reinforcement enhances the lateral confinement of the soil.

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

Fig. 6.. Peak deviatoric stress vs number of BGL

BC

Fig. 7.P
.Peak deviatoric stress vs percentage of BC

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International Journal of Advanced in Management, Technology and Engineering Sciences ISSN NO : 2249-7455

4. CONCLUSION
Based on the present investigation the following conclusions are drawn.
1. The shear strength parameters of soil increases with the increase in number of bamboo layers as well as with percentage of bamboo chips. The
maximum value of cohesion and angle of internal friction were found to be increased by 180% and 56.66% respectively over that of plain
unreinforced soil, when 3 layers of reinforcement is provided.
2. Unreinforced soil has the least peak deviator stress. Percentage increase in peak deviator stress with increasing confining pressure is more
compared to the percentage increase in peak deviator stress with increase in number of layer of reinforcement.
3. Bamboo grid layer being open structure allows strength mobilization at low stresses and improves the friction at the soil reinforcement
interface, thus increase the shear strength of soil.
4. Both arrangements of bamboo reinforcement i.e., bamboo grid layer and Bamboo chips, have been proved effective to be used as
reinforcement materials for the improvement of shear strength parameters, though layer reinforcement exhibit higher improvement compared to
percentage content reinforcement.Therefore layer reinforcement method is considered better.

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