International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 10 | Oct 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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An Experimental Investigation on the Stabilization of Expansive Soil Using Lime and Sisal Fiber Gorla Sai kumar1 and Dr. K. Ramu2 1 Master in Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Engineering(A), JNTUK, Kakinada,
Andhra Pradesh, India
2 Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Engineering(A), JNTUK, Kakinada, Andhra
Pradesh, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - The present study focuses on the stabilization of
leading to improved strength and reduced plasticity. When lime is added to expansive soils such as black cotton soil, it initiates reactions like cation exchange, flocculation, and pozzolanic activity. These reactions decrease the soil’s swelling potential and enhance its load-bearing capacity. Lime treatment also improves the workability and durability of soil, making it suitable for use in road subgrades, foundations, and embankments. Due to its availability, costeffectiveness, and long-term performance, lime stabilization is considered an efficient and sustainable method for improving weak soils.
Expansive Soil using lime and sisal fiber to improve its engineering properties and reduce its swelling behavior. Black cotton soil, being highly expansive, poses serious challenges for civil engineering structures due to its low strength and high plasticity. To overcome these limitations, the soil was stabilized by adding lime in varying proportions of 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by dry weight of soil. Based on laboratory investigations, the optimum lime content was found to be 6%, which resulted in a significant improvement in strength and reduction in plasticity. Further, the soil with optimum lime content was reinforced with sisal fiber at different percentages of 0.5%, 0.7%, 0.9%, and 1.1%, and the optimum fiber content was determined as 0.9%. The results revealed that the combined addition of lime and sisal fiber substantially enhanced the load-bearing capacity and reduced plasticity, swelling, and shrinkage of the soil. The study concludes that stabilization using 6% lime and 0.9% sisal fiber provides the most effective improvement in the geotechnical performance of expansive soil, offering a sustainable and cost-efficient solution for subgrade and foundation applications.
1.2 Sisal Fiber Sisal fiber is a natural, biodegradable fiber extracted from the leaves of the Agave sisalana plant. It is known for its high tensile strength, durability, and resistance to environmental degradation. In soil stabilization, sisal fiber is used as a reinforcing material to improve the strength, ductility, and toughness of weak soils. When mixed with soil, the fibers act as tension-resisting elements that control crack formation and enhance load-bearing capacity. Unlike synthetic fibers, sisal is eco-friendly, cost-effective, and easily available in many regions. The inclusion of sisal fiber in lime-treated black cotton soil helps to improve shear strength and reduce brittleness, providing a sustainable approach to soil reinforcement.
Key Words: Expansive Soil (ES), Lime, Sisal Fiber, Soil Stabilization.
1. INTRODUCTION Black cotton soil is one of the most problematic expansive soils, known for its high shrink–swell characteristics and low bearing capacity. These properties make it unsuitable for construction purposes without proper stabilization. To improve its engineering behavior, lime is commonly used as a chemical stabilizer, which reacts with soil minerals and reduces plasticity. However, lime-treated soil may still lack sufficient tensile strength. To overcome this, natural fibers such as sisal fiber are added to improve the soil’s ductility and strength. The combination of lime and sisal fiber provides a sustainable and effective method for enhancing the strength and stability of black cotton soil.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW 1.Jairaj et al. (2019): Conducted an experimental study on the stabilization of black cotton soil using lime and sisal fiber. Lime was added in different proportions (1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%), and sisal fiber was mixed at varying percentages (0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%). The results showed that the addition of 0.5% sisal fiber with optimum lime content improved the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and shear strength significantly. The study concluded that the combination of lime and sisal fiber provides better results than using lime alone.
1.1 Lime
2. Manjunath K. R. et al. (2013): Studied the behavior of black cotton soil reinforced with sisal fiber and lime. Lime was added in 3% proportion, and sisal fiber was varied from 0% to 1% by dry weight of soil. The study observed that the
Lime is one of the most widely used materials for soil stabilization in geotechnical engineering. It is a calcium-based binder that reacts chemically with clay minerals in the soil,
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