A full-scale trial embankment construction with soil reinforced with short randomly distributed polypropylene microfibres

This paper presents some important results of a full-scale experiment with a soil reinforced with short, randomly distributed polypropylene (PP) microfibres. A trial embankment 50 m long x 10 m wide with different sections of different reinforcing characteristics was built to verify the feasibility of this type of construction, and to study the most suitable procedures on site for both embankment construction and soil-fibre mixing. The experiment also aims at the validation of laboratory studies. The construction and quality control of the embankment layers are described, with special attention given to the mixture production. The full-scale experiment showed a reinforced soil behaviour broadly in agreement with the results of the laboratory studies. Soil reinforced with thinner fibres showed higher compressibility but also a higher recovery capacity when compared with unreinforced soil or soil reinforced with thicker fibres. This composite material complies with the stiffness requirements for several construction applications, proving to be a suitable material for construction.