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Future Engineering Journal

Abstract

The structural design of flexible or rigid paving layers depends on the strength of the foundation soil, which is expressed by the California Bearing Ratio (CBR). Soil strengthening and improvement techniques vary according to the type of soil, whether it is granular or cohesive. This study is concerned with evaluating the efficiency of three techniques used to improve the properties of granular soil, the first by using natural fibers, the second by using synthetic fibers, and the third by mixing with powders. The study methodology relies on reviewing, studying, classifying and comparing the previously published work in this context to determine the advantages and disadvantages of each of the techniques considered. The study concluded that the efficiency of improvement techniques depends mainly on the dose of additives, whether fibers or powders. In general, previous studies have indicated that the use of natural fibers or powders can improve soil properties up to 250%, while the improvement resulting from using synthetic fibers reaches only 150%. In addition, incorporating more than one improving technique increases the overall efficiency to about 300%. On the other hand, natural fibers are the most environmentally friendly alternative, while powders are the worst, and finally, synthetic fibers are the most durable one.

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