Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The present work aims to study the effect of cyclic loading on the tensile behavior of a chemically stabilized sandy soil, whether or not reinforced with polypropylene or sisal fibers. To this end, a series of splitting tensile strength tests were carried out by varying the frequency of the cyclic loading. During cyclic loading a substantial decrease in accumulated plastic axial displacement was observed with rising frequency when fibers were incorporated. On average, the reduction was 28% for polypropylene fibers and 14% for sisal fibers. For the polypropylene fibers, this effect is more pronounced because of a greater number of randomly distributed fibers, creating a strong and dense interlocking network. Regarding the load-displacement characteristics, fiber inclusion leads to a more ductile tensile response, which is identified by a secondary peak strength and residual strength. The cyclic loading frequency does not show a distinct trend concerning the post-cyclic tensile strength behavior; this behavior is dependent on the mechanical properties of materials (cemented matrix and fibers). Nevertheless, the cyclic stage resulted in an increased post-cyclic tensile strength for sisal fibers (ranging from 23% to 51%), although no clear trend was observed with respect to frequency variation. In contrast, for polypropylene fibers, the cyclic stage resulted in a more ductile tensile mechanical response, with post-cyclic tensile strength increasing from 1% to 16% as the frequency decreased.
Source: Applied Sciences
DOI: 10.3390/app15168825
Institution: University of Coimbra
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
Awards: G1516346500, G1763632427, G1950518557, G2347100549, Instituto para a Sustentabilidade e Inovação em Estruturas de Engenharia, G3507939551, G3840324753, G4110978932, CERES - Chemical Engineering and Renewable Resources for Sustainability, G5224927334, G5455618937, G5616186871, G6997658380, G7289280728, CERES - Chemical Engineering and Renewable Resources for Sustainability, Produção Avançada e Sistemas Inteligentes
OpenAlex ID: W4413208016