A STUDY ON CBR BEHAVIOR OF WASTE PLASTIC STRIP REINFORCED SOIL

The performance of paved and unpaved roads is often poor after every monsoon and, in most cases; these pavements show cracking, potholes, wheel path rutting and serious differentialsettlement at various locations. Therefore, it is of utmost importance considering the design andconstruction methodology to maintain and improve the performance of such pavements. Attemptshave been made in the study to demonstrate the potential of reclaimed high density polyethylenestrips (HDPE) as soil reinforcement for improving engineering performance of subgrade soil.HDPE strips obtained from waste plastic were mixed randomly with the soil. A series of California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were carried out on randomly reinforced soil by varying percentage of HDPE strips with different lengths and proportions. Results of CBR tests demonstrated that inclusion of waste HDPE strips in soil with appropriate amounts improved strength and deformation behavior of subgrade soils substantially. The proposed technique can be used to advantage in embankment/road construction.