Laboratory evaluation of the effect of polymer carpet waste on geotechnical properties of Bandar Anzali sandy soil

Reinforcement of soil with polymer waste materials is one of the new and practical methods for improvement and stabilization of soil. The purpose of soil reinforcement is to improve shear strength, increase ductility, increase stability, increase bearing capacity, increase the slope stability, safety factor and reduce the settlement. One of the common types of polymer waste used in soil reinforcement is waste from textile and carpet production factories. In this paper, the effect of reinforcing the soil with carpet waste by randomized distribution, has been studied. Laboratory study program includes the effect of parameters such as weight percentage (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% of soil dry weight) and the ratio of sides (1, 2 and 5) of carpet waste under overheads of 100, 200, and 400 kPa in dense conditions and the moisture obtained from a proctor standard compaction test is on the shear strength of the samples. The results of direct shear and standard compaction tests, reveal that the addition of carpet waste to sandy soil improves the shear strength parameters, reduces the maximum dry unit weight and increases the optimum moisture content. Thus, due to the recyclability of this type of material, their use in civil engineering and geotechnical projects is both economically viable and reduces the environmental problems caused by the accumulation of these wastes in nature.