Abstract
This paper presents the effect of short, discrete, randomly oriented fibres (natural and synthetic) on the mechanical properties of clayey soils. The mechanical properties investigated include peak unconfined compressive strength, stiffness and ductility. Three types of clayey soil were obtained from the eastern part of Irbid city in northern Jordan. Two types of fibre were used in this study: nylon and palmyra fibres, with aspect ratios (L/d) equal to 75. The clayey soils were mixed with fibres at five different percentages by volume of solid soil particles: 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%. The results showed that the peak unconfined compressive strength, stiffness and ductility of the clay-fibre mixture increased with fibre content. The post-peak softening in compression resistance decreased with increasing fibre content. The relative unconfined compressive strength increased with fibre content. Palmyra fibre showed a higher increase in the relative unconfined compressive strength than nylon fibre when mixed with clayey soil, for all fibre contents. Furthermore, the clayey soil with a high activity index showed greater improvement when mixed with fibres than that with a low activity index.