Improvement in bearing capacity of shallow improvement ground by mixing short fibers

Ground improvement technology such as a cement stabilization method has been applied to very soft ground in Japan. As for this method, cement-treated soil has relatively low tensile strength and shows very brittle behavior. It is therefore expected to use a fiber reinforcing material for improving mechanical property of the cement-treated soil. In this study, short fibers produced from waste paper were used as a reinforcing material in shallow improvement ground for increase of the tensile strength. Furthermore, model test of the improved ground was performed using loading device for applying uniform vertical stress corresponding embankment load. Improvement in bearing capacity of the shallow improvement ground with deep mixing columns was investigated under the different test conditions. The effectiveness of short fibers for improvements of deformation property and bearing capacity of the improved ground was confirmed from the test results.