Using fiber and liquid polymer to improve the behaviour of cement-stabilized soft clay

This work studies the effect of using two types of polymer (fibers and liquid) to enhance the strength of cemented soft clay. Four polymer contents were used (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1% by dry weight of the soil) to investigate the unconfined compressive strength, q(un) of soft clay mixed with three cement contents (5,10 and 15%). For wide understanding to the polymer/cemented soil behaviour several factors were considered in this study such as curing time, dry unit weight, the mixture workability and the behaviour after disturbance. This investigation revealed that both fibers and liquid polymers can improve the cemented soft clay strength, however the fiber mechanism in improving the mixture is totally different than the liquid. Increasing the fiber content shall increase q(un) till a peak point at fiber content of 0.5%, where the strength started to reduce after. The mixture workability has been improved with increasing the liquid polymer content, and reduced with increasing the fiber content. Fibers can be used to raise up the strength of disturbed cemented soft clay up to 240% by using fiber content of 0.5%. Both fibers and liquid polymers showed a remarkable mechanically, economically and environmentally dominance to be used as additive to cement in improving the soft clay. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.