Description:Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method for producing good quality engineered soil and particularly to a method for producing good quality engineered soil with reduced moisture content and improving soil stress-strain relationship curve through an addition of optimum fibre dosage.
Description of Related Art
[002] Soil reinforcement is an ancient technique for improving properties of soil such as, stress-strain relationship, soil strength, bearing capacity, and so forth. Naturally available soil has weak strength and behaves like a plastic material with a fragile failure pattern. There are some reinforcement techniques that are used to improve soil characteristics and properties. These conventional reinforcement techniques comprise continuous and random inclusion of fabrics, grids, or fibres into the soil. However, soil deformation usually occurs due to prevailing moisture content, applied load, duration of the load applied, and nature of the soil. Although the currently available reinforcement techniques are used to modify the existing soil by inclusion and confinement; however, the soil characteristics still vary according to the mineral and moisture content present in it.
[003] At present, different kinds of soil reinforcement techniques are used for strengthening and stabilizing naturally occurring weak soil. However, different kinds of soil contain different minerals and thus needs a particular method for increasing its strength. Such kind of soil should be modified through strength enhancement procedure to increase a particular soil’s respective behavior. Currently, no commercial or industrial method is available that can provide reduced swelling characteristics and effective strengthening of all types of soil based on its moisture content.
[004] There is thus a need for a method that can produce good quality engineered soil with the reduced moisture content in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a method for producing good quality engineered soil. The method comprising steps of: pulverizing soil collected from a depth ranging from 20 Centimeters (cm) to 25 Centimeters (cm) by using a ball mill; drying the pulverized soil at a pre-defined temperature; removing lumps and foreign materials from the dried soil by using a wooden mallet; treating fibres by immersing the fibres in an alkali solution for a first pre-defined amount of time; crushing the fibres into fine grain sized fibres upon drying out the wet fibres in sunlight; adding a pre-defined level of water content into the soil from a pre-defined height by using a pour dropping method such that the pre-defined height is 10 Centimetres; mixing the added water, the soil, and a pre-defined percentage of the treated fibres by using a hand mixer for a second pre-defined amount of time by leaving one minute gap between a mixing process after every four minutes such that the pre-defined percentage of the treated fibres is added slowly upon allowing one full minute of rotation of the hand mixer to prepare the engineered soil; and curing the engineered soil under three conditions selected from an open-air condition, plastic sheet, and in controlled desiccation for 12 days for determining soil stress strain characteristics under varying moisture content.
[006] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for producing good quality engineered soil that may be designed with specific fibre and reduced moisture content.
[007] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for producing good quality engineered soil that may be designed for preventing soil deformation due to prevailing moisture content.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for producing good quality engineered soil that may be designed for reducing swelling characteristics of soil.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for producing good quality engineered soil that may be designed for improving soil stress-strain relationship curve.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for modifying characteristics of naturally occurring weak soil by utilizing a specific process.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for modifying naturally occurring weak soil for improved strength and sturdiness by utilizing a strength enhancement procedure.
[0012] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a method for producing stronger engineered soil that may be dependent on its mineral content.
[0013] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0014] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1A illustrates soil, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1B illustrates fibres, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 1C illustrates a tray, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 1D illustrates a cross section of engineered soil after curing with varying moisture contents, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2A illustrates a graph representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 11% moisture content when placed in an open-air condition, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2B illustrates a graph representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 11% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2C illustrates a graph representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 11% moisture content when placed in a Desiccator, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2D illustrates a graph representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 11% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2E illustrates a graph representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 11% moisture content when placed in a plastic bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2F illustrates a graph representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 11% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 2G illustrates a graph representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 12% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 2H illustrates a graph representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 12% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 2I illustrates a graph representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 12% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 2J illustrates a graph representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 12% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2K illustrates a graph representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 12% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2L illustrates a graph representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 12% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 2M illustrates a graph representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 13% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 2N illustrates a graph representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 13% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 2O illustrates a graph representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 13% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 2P illustrates a graph representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 13% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 2Q illustrates a graph representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 13% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 2R illustrates a graph representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil at 13% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
[0038] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for producing the good quality engineered soil, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0041] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0042] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0043] FIG. 1A illustrates soil 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, a pre-defined quantity of soil 100 may be collected from various sources such as, but not limited to, tree root zones, grass root zones, shrub root zones, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any source for collecting the soil 100. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined quantity of soil 100 may be 4.6 kilograms.
[0044] In an embodiment of the present invention, a depth from which the soil 100 may be collected may be different for different types of the sources. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the soil 100 may be collected from the depth of around 20 Centimeters (cm) to 25 Centimeters (cm) from a top surface without any vegetation present in the soil 100.
[0045] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the soil 100 may be pulverized to break into small sized particles having a size less than 2 Millimeters (mm). In such embodiment of the present invention, the soil 100 may be pulverized by using a pulverization tool such as, but not limited to, a roller mill, an impact mill, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pulverization tool may be a ball mill. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the pulverization tool including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0046] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the pulverized soil 100 may be dried at a pre-defined temperature by using a drying method. The pre-defined temperature may be in a range of 63 degrees Celsius to 66 degrees Celsius, in an embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined temperature may be 65 degrees Celsius. The drying method may be, but not limited to, a microwave drying method, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the drying method including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0047] In an embodiment of the present invention, lumps and foreign materials may be removed from the dried soil 100 by using a lump removing tool. The lump removing tool may be, but not limited to, spade, hoe, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lump removing tool may be a mallet. The mallet may be made up of any material such as, but not limited to, rubber, plastic, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mallet may be made up of wood. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the mallet including known related art and/or later developed technologies. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the lump removing tool including known related art and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the soil 100 may be passed through a sieve of 1.3 Millimeters to ensure that no lumps are left in the soil 100.
[0048] FIG. 1B illustrates fibres 102, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fibres 102 may be waste fibres, natural fibres, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fibres 102 may be man-made fibres that may be intact and without any segregation. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fibres 102 may be treated by first immersing the fibres 102 into an alkali solution for a first pre-defined amount of time to make the fibres 102 durable and non-corrosive. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the alkali solution may be, 3M Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution. Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first pre-defined amount of time may be 24 hours.
[0049] Further, the wet fibres 102 may be taken out from the alkali solution and may be dried in sunlight until the fibres 102 get completely dried, in an embodiment of the present invention. The dried fibres 102 may be crushed into fine grain sized fibres to mix the crushed fibres 102 into the soil 100, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0050] FIG. 1C illustrates a tray 104, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tray 104 may be pre-designed for mixing the soil 100 with water, in an embodiment of the present invention. The tray 104 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a steel material, a plastic material, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plastic material may be a High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the tray 104 that may be durable including known related art and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tray 104 may be having dimensions of 30 Centimeters (cm) X 30 Centimeters (cm).
[0051] The soil 100 may be placed in the tray 104 and a pre-defined level of water content that may be prepared at room temperature may be added in the soil 100 from a pre-defined height by using a pour dropping method, in an embodiment of the present invention. The pre-defined level of water content may be added from the pre-defined height into the soil 100 to avoid splashing of the water, and to ensure that the water is mixed properly in the soil 100. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined height may be 10 Centimeters (cm). In an embodiment of the present invention, different levels of water content may be added in the soil 100 for achieving an optimum moisture content in the soil 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the optimum moisture content may be required to get maximum dry density in the soil 100. As used herein, the term “optimum moisture content” may be referred to as a level of water content to be added in the soil 100 by using a Proctor test. Also, the Proctor test measures soil compaction to determine a point at which the soil 100 may be most efficiently compacted using construction equipment, based on the optimum moisture content and a maximum dry weight.
[0052] In an embodiment of the present invention, if the level of the water content added in the soil 100 is more than the optimum moisture content, then it is called as a wet of optimum. In another embodiment of the present invention, if the level of water content is less than the optimum moisture content, then it is called as a dry of optimum.
[0053] Further, a hand mixer may be used for mixing the added water, the soil 100 and a pre-defined percentage of the treated fibres 102 for a second pre-defined amount of time by leaving one minute gap between a mixing process after every four minutes, in an embodiment of the present invention. The second pre-defined amount of time may be 14 minutes, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined percentage of treated fibres 102 may be added slowly after allowing one full minute of rotation of the hand mixer to ensure that the water is completely mixed in the soil 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hand mixer may be rotated at a pre-defined speed to thoroughly mix the water, the soil 100 and the treated fibres 102. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined speed of the hand mixer may be 400 rotations per minute (rpm). In an embodiment of the present invention, different percentages of the treated fibres 102 may be added to the wet soil 100. The different percentages of the treated fibres 102 may be 0.1% and 0.2%, in an embodiment of the present invention. The treated fibres 102 may be mixed thoroughly to the wet soil 100 to ensure proper dispersion of the fibres 102, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0054] In an embodiment of the present invention, the mixed soil 106 may be tilted multiple times for a third pre-defined amount of time by using a machine mixer to increase the mixing of water. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the third pre-defined amount of time may be 10 minutes. In an embodiment of the present invention, the mixed soil 106 may be the engineered soil 106 that may be produced by the mixture of the soil 100, the water and the fibres 102. Further, the engineered soil 106 may be filled in molds for testing where the engineered soil 106 may be cured under three conditions such as, in an open-air condition, in a plastic sheet, and in a controlled desiccation.
[0055] FIG. 1D illustrates a cross section of the engineered soil 106 after curing with varying moisture contents, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the engineered soil 106 may undergo the testing where the engineered soil 106 may be cured for 12 days under the three conditions with the different moisture contents such as, 11% moisture content, 12% moisture content and 13% moisture content. During the testing, no moisture escape was found.
[0056] FIG. 2A illustrates a graph 200 representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph 200 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content and 0.1% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the open-air condition.
[0057] FIG. 2B illustrates a graph 202 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The graph 202 represents stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content and 0.2% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the open-air condition.
[0058] FIG. 2C illustrates a graph 204 representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content when placed in a Desiccator, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph 204 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content and 0.1% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the Desiccator.
[0059] FIG. 2D illustrates a graph 206 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The graph 206 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content and 0.2% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the Desiccator.
[0060] FIG. 2E illustrates a graph 208 representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph 208 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content and 0.1% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the plastic bag.
[0061] FIG. 2F illustrates a graph 210 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The graph 210 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 11% moisture content and 0.2% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the plastic bag.
[0062] FIG. 2G illustrates a graph 212 representing a stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph 212 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content and 0.1% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the open air.
[0063] FIG. 2H illustrates a graph 214 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The graph 214 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content and 0.2% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the open-air condition.
[0064] FIG. 2I illustrates a graph 216 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph 216 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content and 0.1% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the Desiccator.
[0065] FIG. 2J illustrates a graph 218 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The graph 218 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content and 0.2% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the Desiccator.
[0066] FIG. 2K illustrates a graph 220 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph 220 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content and 0.1% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the plastic bag.
[0067] FIG. 2L illustrates a graph 222 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The graph 222 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 12% moisture content and 0.2% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the plastic bag.
[0068] FIG. 2M illustrates a graph 224 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph 224 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content and 0.1% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the open-air condition.
[0069] FIG. 2N illustrates a graph 226 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content when placed in the open-air condition, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The graph 226 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content and 0.2% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the open-air condition.
[0070] FIG. 2O illustrates a graph 228 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph 228 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content and 0.1% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the Desiccator.
[0071] FIG. 2P illustrates a graph 230 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content when placed in the Desiccator, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The graph 230 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content and 0.2% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the Desiccator.
[0072] FIG. 2Q illustrates a graph 232 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph 232 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content and 0.1% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the plastic bag.
[0073] FIG. 2R illustrates a graph 234 representing the stress strain relationship for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content when placed in the plastic bag, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The graph 234 represents the stress strain curves for the engineered soil 106 at 13% moisture content and 0.2% fibre content when the engineered soil 106 is cured for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days in the plastic bag.
[0074] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for producing the good quality engineered soil 106, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0075] At step 302, the collected soil 100 may be pulverized to break into the small sized particles having the size less than 2 Millimeters (mm).
[0076] At step 304, the pulverized soil 100 may be dried at the pre-defined temperature by using the drying method. The pre-defined temperature may be 65 degrees Celsius.
[0077] At step 306, the lumps and foreign materials may be removed from the dried soil 100 by using the mallet.
[0078] At step 308, the fibres 102 may be treated by immersing the fibres 102 into the alkali solution for the first pre-defined amount of time and further the fibres 102 may be dried in the sunlight.
[0079] At step 310, the dried fibres 102 may be crushed into the fine grain sizes fibres.
[0080] At step 312, the pre-defined level of water content may be added from the pre-defined height into the soil 100 filled in the tray 104 by using the pour dropping method. The pre-defined height may be 10 Centimeters (cm).
[0081] At step 314, the water, the soil 100 and the pre-defined percentage of the treated fibres 102 may be mixed by using the hand mixer for the second pre-defined amount of time by leaving one minute gap between the mixing process after every four minutes. The second pre-defined amount of time may be 14 minutes.
[0082] At step 316, the mixed soil 106 may be tilted multiple times for the third pre-defined amount of time by using the machine mixer to increase the mixing of water. The third pre-defined amount of time may be 10 minutes.
[0083] At step 318, the mixed soil 106 may be cured under three conditions such as, in the open-air condition, in the plastic sheet, and in the controlled desiccation for 12 days to determine the soil stress strain characteristics under the varying moisture content.
[0084] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0085] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
, Claims:I/We Claim:
1. A method (300) for producing good quality engineered soil (106), the method (300) comprising steps of:
pulverizing soil (100) collected from a depth ranging from 20 Centimeters (cm) to 25 Centimeters (cm) by using a ball mill;
drying the pulverized soil (100) at a pre-defined temperature;
removing lumps and foreign materials from the dried soil (100) by using a wooden mallet;
treating fibres (102) by immersing the fibres (102) in an alkali solution for a first pre-defined amount of time;
crushing the fibres (102) into fine grain sized fibres upon drying out the wet fibres (102) in sunlight;
adding a pre-defined level of water content into the soil (100) from a pre-defined height by using a pour dropping method such that the pre-defined height is 10 Centimetres (cm);
mixing the added water, the soil (100), and a pre-defined percentage of the treated fibres (102) by using a hand mixer for a second pre-defined amount of time by leaving one minute gap between a mixing process after every four minutes such that the pre-defined percentage of the treated fibres (102) is added slowly upon allowing one full minute of rotation of the hand mixer to prepare the engineered soil (106);
curing the engineered soil (106) under three conditions selected from an open-air condition, in plastic sheet, and in controlled desiccation for 12 days for determining soil stress strain characteristics under varying moisture content.
2. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-defined temperature is 65 degrees Celsius.
3. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkali solution is 3M Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution.
4. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pre-defined amount of time is 24 hours.
5. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein different levels of water content are added in the soil (100) to achieve an optimum moisture content in the soil (100).
6. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand mixer is rotated at a pre-defined speed of 400 rotations per minute to thoroughly mix the water, the soil (100) and the treated fibres (102).
7. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein different percentages of the treated fibres (102) are added to the wet soil (100).
8. The method (300) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the different percentages of the treated fibres (102) are 0.1% and 0.2%.
9. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second pre-defined amount of time is 14 minutes.
10. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the varying moisture contents are selected from 11% moisture content, 12% moisture content or 13% moisture content.

Date: 27 July, 2022
Place: Noida
Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant