Experimental evaluation of dynamic deformation characteristics of sheet pile retaining walls with fiber reinforced backfill

Fiber reinforced soil behaves as a composite material in which fibers of relatively high tensile strength are embedded in a matrix of soil. Shear stresses in the soil mobilize tensile resistance in the fibers, which in turn imparts greater strength to the soil. In this paper a study on the influence of synthetic fibrous materials in improving the dynamic response characteristics of fine sandy soil is reported. The project aims at converting fibrous carpet waste into a value-added product for soil reinforcement. A series of five shaking table tests using rigid box were carried out on Toyoura sand specimens reinforced with randomly distributed geotextile strips. The dynamic deformation characteristics of the reinforced sand are defined in terms of wall lateral deformation and rotation. The results clearly indicate the effectiveness of fiber reinforcement in improving dynamic properties of fine sand and deformation characteristics of fiber reinforced sheet pile retaining wall during shaking.