Interface Mechanism and Splitting Characteristics of Fiber-Reinforced Cement-Solidified Aeolian Sand

Abstract

Experimental studies on reinforcing aeolian sand with cement and fiber are lacking, and the interface mechanism and splitting characteristics thus remain unclear. Herein, the interface mechanism and splitting characteristics of fiber-reinforced, cement-solidified, aeolian sand were experimentally assessed to investigate whether glass fiber exhibits better properties as a reinforcing agent than traditional fiber-free cement-solidified aeolian sand, and whether aeolian sand is applicable as a base material in geotechnical engineering. The splitting experiments involved the use of fiber-reinforced, cement-solidified aeolian sand samples that were differentiated based on the mixing schemes used to formulate them. Based on the strengthening control technology effects on the structural performance of the fiber-reinforced, cement aeolian, sand-mixed matrix material, the internal physical and chemical mechanisms of structural performance evolution were revealed and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy images. The experimental results show that the splitting strength of the sample reaches its maximum value at a combination of 6 mm glass fiber, 3‰ fiber, and 10% cement contents. In fiber-reinforced cement-solidified aeolian sand, cement hydrate forms more needle-shaped crystal products. The crystals adhere to the fiber surfaces that interweave with each other to form a porous and dense network. Although this improves the bonding force between the fiber and aeolian sand particles, the fibers are prone to fracture and slippage during the splitting process. The three-dimensional network structure formed by overlapping fibers is critical for the improvement of the splitting strength. The study’s findings will serve as benchmarks to achieve additional improvements in glass fiber-reinforced cement-solidified aeolian sand.

Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Blended Fibers on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Aeolian Sand Concrete

“…In recent years, many scholars have extensively researched the prevention and control of aeolian sand. Aeolian sand has been used as an alternative to river sand to make concrete for the construction of desert railway roadbeds and sand damage prevention projects, which is not only economical but also environmentally friendly and plays a crucial role in the restoration of the ecological environment in the region [9][10][11][12][13][14]. However, due to the loose structure and large porosity of aeolian sand itself, the mechanical properties of aeolian sand concrete (ASC) decline rapidly with an increase in mixing amount, which greatly limits the popularization and application of ASC [15,16].…”