CHAPTER I

Introduction

Development of roads is important as it provides access to various places of

the country for improvement. Problems in road arises when laid on soft subgrade

because of large deformations, however it may not be viable option when it comes

for low volume roads. In such situation, there is possibility of utilizing the natural

geotextiles instead of geosynthetics, as an economic alternate to overcome the

problem. This research will utilize the abaca fiber as a natural geotextile material due

to its nativity and abundance in the country.

Abacá, binomial name Musa textilis, is a species of banana native to

the Philippines, grown as a commercial crop in the Philippines, Ecuador, and Costa

Rica. The plant, also known as Manila hemp, has great economic importance, being

harvested for its fiber extracted from the leaf-stems. The plant grows to 13–22 feet

(4.0–6.7 m), and averages about 12 feet (3.7 m). The fiber was originally used for

making twines and ropes; now most is pulped and used in a variety of specialized

paper products including tea bags, filter paper and banknotes. It is classified as a

hard fiber, along with coir, henequen and sisal. (Bailey,1947)

Abaca fiber is considered as one of the strongest among natural fibers which

is three times stronger than sisal. This is one of the finest among natural fibers and

believed to be resistant to salt water decomposition than any other vegetable fibers.

It originated in the Philippines and is one of the dollar earners of the country for

centuries. The fiber cells of mature abaca is longer and has thicker cell wall than

younger abaca pseudo stems which would suggest that the cell growth is more on

the increased in length and thickened cell walls rather than the expansion of the

cell diameter by itself. Aside from the novel compounds, the dominance of some
essential elements in the abaca fiber would possibly lead to soil fertility decline due

to crop uptake. Moisture content of the dried fiber should be lower than 14 % to

avoid deterioration and microbial damage caused by molds and fungi. Tensile

strength and E-modulus are important parameter of abaca fiber specifically for

aerospace and automotive applications. Pulp and paper are the principal interest

best suited for bank notes, currency papers, cigarette filters, toiletries, lens

cleansing, tea bags, and other related products. Composites were also an

interesting uses of abaca fiber for aerospace and automotive industries. Geotextile

are other uses of natural fibers (e.g., abaca) for environmental protection

specifically for soil conservation and control of soil erosion. (Armecin,2014)

The nativity and abundance of abaca in the Philippines enlightened the

researchers to use it as an alternative geotextile for the subgrade stability to avoid

or minimize soil damage in constructing roads.

Geotextile are permeable fabrics which, when used in association with soil,

have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain. Typically made

from polypropylene or polyester, geotextile fabrics come in three basic forms: woven

(resembling mail bag sacking), needle punched (resembling felt), or heat bonded

(resembling ironed felt).Geotextile composites have been introduced and products

such as geogrids and meshes have been developed. Geotextile are able to

withstand many things, are durable and is able to soften a fall if someone falls down.

(Muller [Link]., 2015)

Overall, these materials are referred to as geosynthetics and each

configuration geonets, geosynthetic clay liners, geogrids, geotextile tubes, and

others can yield benefits in geotechnical and environmental engineering design.

Geotextile and related products have many applications and currently support many
civil engineering applications including roads, airfields, railroads, embankments,

retaining reservoirs, canals, dams, bank protection, coastal

engineering and construction site silt fences or geotube. Usually geotextile are

placed at the tension surface to strengthen the soil. Geotextile are also used for

sand dune armoring to protect upland coastal property from storm surge, wave

action and flooding. A large sand-filled container (SFC) within the dune system

prevents storm erosion from proceeding beyond the SFC. Using a sloped unit rather

than a single tube eliminates damaging scour.

Erosion control manuals comment on the effectiveness of sloped, stepped

shapes in mitigating shoreline erosion damage from storms. Geotextile sand-filled

units provide a soft armoring solution for upland property protection. Geotextile are

used as matting to stabilize flow in stream channels and swales. (Barrett,1966)

Geotextile can improve soil strength at a lower cost than conventional soil

nailing. In addition, geotextile allow planting on steep slopes, further securing the

slope. Geotextile have been used to protect the fossil hominid footprints

of Laetoli in Tanzania from erosion, rain, and tree roots. In building demolition,

geotextile fabrics in combination with steel wire fencing can contain explosive debris.

Coir (coconut fiber) geotextile are popular for erosion control, slope stabilization and

bioengineering, due to the fabric's substantial mechanical strength. Coir geotextile

last approximately 3 to 5 years depending on the fabric weight. The product

degrades into humus, enriching the soil. (Barrett,1966)

any vertical or horizontal constructions. It is usually damaged as the sub base course

penetrates to the soil due to the application of loads. Therefore, the researchers will

focus on stabilizing the subgrade surfaces on secondary roads in order to preserve

the nature of the soil.

1.1 Statement of the Problem

Due to the increase of demands of road projects for accessibility and

transportation, the possibility and probability of subgrade damage also increases. By

this problem the civil engineering community must find ways to find solution to this

problem in order to preserve the functionality of the soil.

 What are the chemical, mechanical and physical properties of Abaca Fiber as

an alternative geotextile material?

 Can the Abaca Fiber as an alternative geotextile material sustain the loads

applied to the road?

 What type of soil does the Abaca Fiber as an alternative geotextile material

best fit?

 What are the advantages and disadvantages of using geotextile on road

construction?

 How would Abaca Fiber as an alternative geotextile material stabilize the

subgrade surface of roads?

1.2 Objectives of the Study

This study aims to utilize the Abaca Fiber as an alternative geotextile material for

the stability of secondary roads. Furthermore, the study aims to:

 To determine the chemical, mechanical and physical properties of Abaca Fiber

as an alternative geotextile material.

 To determine if the Abaca Fiber as an alternative geotextile material can

sustain the loads applied to the road.

 To determine the type of soil does the Abaca Fiber as an alternative geotextile

material best fit.

 To determine the advantages and disadvantages of using geotextile on road

construction.
  To determine how would Abaca Fiber as an alternative geotextile material

stabilize the subgrade surface of roads.

1.3 Significance of the Study

This study will evaluate the sufficient strength and load bearing capacity of

abaca fiber as an alternative geotextile material in road construction. By using

geotextile, it will help to increase the stability and lessen soil erosion. Also, to

separate the subbase from the subgrade resulting in stronger road [Link]

geotextile perform this function by providing a dense mass of fibres at the interface

of the two layers. It is cost-effective because abaca plants are abundant in the

country.

The basic principles of incorporating geotextiles into a soil mass are the same

as those utilized in the design of reinforced concrete by incorporating steel bars. The

fabrics are used to provide tensile strength in the earth mass in locations where

shear stress would be generated. Moreover, to allow rapid dewatering of the roadbed,

the geotextiles need to preserve its permeability without losing its separating

functions. Its filtration characteristics must not be significantly altered by the

mechanical loading.

1.4 Scope and Limitations

This study primarily focused on the utilization of the material in subgrade

stabilization. It would involve the collection of soil sample and determination of the

geotechnical properties in the assigned location. The soil specimen was transported
from the field to the laboratory, it is assumed that treatment of the specimen was

enough to be representative of field conditions. Test results are suited only to the

materials that were acquired from the source and not to those by other

manufacturers.

The result would be analysed and the effect of the geotextile on the tested soil

sample would be evaluated and the appropriate recommendations would be made

for their best use.

Also concerned with, is that the life span and sufficient strength of the

material that can sustain for many years since the fiber used is organic and exposed

with water and soil. Due to that reason, the material may experience deterioration

causing by the hydrolosis of polyester in humid conditions.

1.5 Conceptual Framework

ABACA FIBER AS
AN ALTERNATIVE
GEOTEXTILE

PRODUCTION OF
GEOTEXTILE
(harvest, extracting)
 PREPARATION OF
MATERIAL
(weaving)

TESTING
(strength, stiffness,
thickness)

APPLICATION OF
GEOTEXTILE
(overlaying)

SUBGRADE
STABILIZATION

1.6 Definition of Terms

Abaca - binomial name Musa textilis, is a species of banana native to the Philippines,

grown as a commercial crop in the Philippines, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.

Coir - is a natural fibre extracted from the husk of coconut and used in products such

as floor mats, doormats, brushes and mattresses.

materials.

Geonets - is a geosynthetic material consisting of integrally connected parallel sets

of ribs overlying similar sets at various angles for in-plane drainage of liquids or

gases.

Geotextile - are permeable fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have

the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain.

Polypropylene or polyster - any of various thermoplastic plastics or fibers that are

polymers of propylene.

Soil fertility - refers to the ability of a soil to sustain agricultural plant growth, i.e. To

provide plant habitat and result in sustained and consistent yields of high quality

Stabilization - the process of making something physically more secure or stable.

Subbase course - is the layer of aggregate material laid on the subgrade, on which

the base course layer is located.

Subgrade - is the native material underneath a constructed road, pavement or

railway track.