UNDRAINED RESPONSE OF LOOSE FIBER REINFORCED SAND

In the context of this paper, undrained response of fiber reinforced sands is investigated through consolidated undrained triaxial tests conducted under effective consolidation pressures of 50, 100 and 200 kPa. in loose state of the host sand (Dr=25%) and at fiber concentrations of 0.5% and 1%. Results were challenging since addition of fiber reinforcement caused increased dilative tendency of the host sand giving way to considerable amount of decrease in excess pore water pressures which is advantageous for undrained loading conditions especially for earthquake loading conditions. This behaviour brought about the fact that both fiber phase and the sand matrix should be contributing to hydrostatic and deviatoric stress states of the fiber reinforced samples which was also proved very recently by a couple of researchers (İbraim et.al (2010) in the literature.