Improvement of swelling clay properties using hay fibers

For soil stabilization, lime, fly ash, and different chemicals additives were used to improve the swelling characteristics of the clayey soil. In the present study, the hay of wheat is added to a type of clayey swelling soil to improve and stabilize its characteristics. Old houses in Egyptian villages were built with clay mixed with hay as a cementious agent between clay particles. The hay ratio used in the present study was 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% by weight of the clayey soil. The soil used in the study represents a type of swelling clayey soil. Index, strength and swelling properties tests are carried out on the clay–hay mixture. The results showed that the shear strength increases with the increase of hay ratio till approximately 1% hay addition. The indirect tensile strength for air dried samples increased as well. The deformation due to the swelling potential also decreased to about 20%.