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Study on direct shear strength properties of sand mixed with polyurethane prepolymer and sisal fiber

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Abstract

Sandy soil has engineering characteristics, such as loose structure, non-plasticity, poor stability, and compressibility, which can readily cause engineering problems. In practical engineering, physical and chemical methods are usually used to improve the overall performance of sand to ensure the safety of the engineering. However, some reinforcement methods are complex in technology, expensive in materials, and poor in environmental protection. Polyurethane reinforcing agent was introduced in the present study to improve soil reinforcement. Sand samples with different dry densities, sisal fiber content, and polyurethane pre-polymer content were prepared, and a series of direct shear tests were carried out to evaluate the shear strength of the sand. The microscopic mechanism of the sand mixture was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results showed that the dry density of the sand mixture had a positive effect on the shear strength within the test range. Increasing the concentration of polyurethane prepolymer can increase the shear strength of sandy soil due to the more stable network structure. The cohesion reaches up to about 148 kPa as polymer content is 3%. The shear strength of sand increases first of all and then decreases with an increase in sisal fiber content, 0.4% sisal fiber is an optimum content for sand reinforcement.

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41877212) and Open Project of Technology Innovation Center for Ecological Monitoring & Restoration Project on Land (Arable), Ministry of Natural Resources (Grant No. GTST2021-006).

Funding

This research was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41877212) and Open Project of Technology Innovation Center for Ecological Monitoring & Restoration Project on Land (Arable), Ministry of Natural Resources (Grant No. GTST2021-006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Shefeng Hao

  2. Technology Innovation Center for Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Project on Land (Arable), Ministry of Natural Resources, Geological Survey of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, 210018, China

    Shefeng Hao, Yongxiang Yu & Jinglei Song

  3. School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Jin Liu, Zezhuo Song, Wenyue Che, Tingwei Huang, Zhihao Chen & Shaorui Sun

Authors
  1. Shefeng Hao
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  2. Yongxiang Yu
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  3. Jinglei Song
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  4. Jin Liu
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  5. Zezhuo Song
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  8. Zhihao Chen
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  9. Shaorui Sun
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Contributions

Shefeng Hao and Yongxiang Yu wrote the main manuscript text. Jinglei Song, Jin Liu and Zezhuo Song prepared all figures. Wenyue Che, Tingwei Huang and Zhihao Chen conducted the test. Shaorui Sun revised the syntax of the paper. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shefeng Hao.

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Hao, S., Yu, Y., Song, J. et al. Study on direct shear strength properties of sand mixed with polyurethane prepolymer and sisal fiber. Environ Earth Sci 82, 436 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11121-9

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