Work

Experimental Study on the Freeze–Thaw Durability of Sustainable Steel–Polypropylene Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Horqin Desert Sand Concrete

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Desertsand concrete (DSC) is a sustainable alternative to natural river sand; however, its application in cold regions is restricted by inadequate crack resistance and freeze–thaw durability. This study investigates the freeze–thaw performance of steel–polypropylene hybrid fiber-reinforced desert sand concrete (SPHF-DSC), with emphasis on durability enhancement and service life prediction. A three-factor, three-level orthogonal experimental design was employed to evaluate the effects of desert sand replacement ratio (DSR), steel fiber (SF) content, and polypropylene fiber (PPF) content on mass loss, relative dynamic elastic modulus, and compressive strength under 25–100 freeze–thaw cycles. The results demonstrate that hybrid fiber reinforcement significantly improves freeze–thaw resistance due to the synergistic interaction between SF and PPF. After 100 cycles, the mass loss of all specimens remained within a narrow range of 0.65% to 0.73%, and the relative dynamic elastic modulus retention stayed above 90%. The optimal mixture (DSR = 30%, SF = 2%, PPF = 0.05%) exhibited superior frost resistance with the lowest deterioration indices among all groups. A freeze–thaw damage model based on damage mechanics was established and validated (R2 > 0.96), enabling prediction of a service life exceeding 38 years under typical cold-region climatic conditions. These findings provide a durability-oriented design reference for the engineering application of DSC in cold-region infrastructure. Furthermore, the utilization of local desert sand reduces transportation energy consumption and promotes the sustainable development of energy infrastructure.

Source: Buildings

DOI: 10.3390/buildings16081574

Authors: Bo Nan, Yang Hou, Zichen Fan, Xinzhe Zhang, Xiaofeng Lu

Institutions: Shenyang Agricultural University, City University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Innovative concrete reinforcement materials

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137