Mechanical Behavior of Self-Compacting Soil-Cement-Sisal Fiber Composites

Abstract:

The aim of this research is the development and mechanical characterization of self-compacting soil cement composites with the incorporation of fly ash, metakaolin and sisal fibers. The mentioned composites, based on natural raw materials (raw earth and vegetable fibers), which are abundant in nature and have low cost and low environmental impact could be used as a more sustainable alternative than conventional industrialized materials for applications that don ́t require high structural performance (minimum strength equals to 2 MPa). A residual soil, constituted by 35% of fines and 65% of granular material was selected and the matrix was designed using a computational routine, based on the compressible packing model (CPM). The rheology of the matrix was adjusted by the slump flow test having as a target the spreading value of 600 mm. The matrix presented uniaxial compression strength of about 3.3 MPa after 28 days of curing. After 240 days of curing it was noticed an increase in the compressive strength to 7.5 MPa. This can be traced back to the pozzolanic reactions that takes place in the system. The soil cement composites were produced with three different sisal fiber contents: 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% (in relation to the weight of dry soil) and a fiber length (L_e) of 20 mm. Under compression, the incorporation of fibers has significantly influenced the post-peak behavior, increasing the toughness and the strain capacity. Under four point bending loading, the presence of fibers have contributed to increase the peak strength and the residual strength with expressive gains of toughness. The composites presented strength values as high as 1.8 MPa (1.0% of fibers) when they were subjected to bending loads. The use of sisal fibers as reinforcement modified the fracture mechanisms of the composites, changing it from a brittle to a ductile behavior.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 634)
• Pages: 421-432
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.634.421
• Online since: December 2014
• Authors: A.P.S. Martins*, F.A. Silva, Romildo Dias Toledo Filho
• Keywords: Compressible Packing Model, Mechanical Behavior, Self-Compacting Matrix, Sisal Fibers, Soil Cement Composites

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