Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering

Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering

Effect of Wet-Dry Cycles on the Compressive Strength of Soil Improved with Fibers, Cement, and Tree Gum

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD student, Department of Civil Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
2 Associate professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Najafabad branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
3 Assistant professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Gonbad Kavoos Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gonbad Kavoos, Iran
4 Professor, Department of Geology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Numerous studies have explored the mechanical properties of soils enhanced with various materials, including natural and synthetic fibers, either alone or combined with traditional stabilizers such as cement and lime. However, limited research has compared the performance of different natural and synthetic fibers—such as hemp, glass, cotton, and virgin fibers—under similar conditions. This study investigates the effects of these fibers at varying cement percentages, along with the partial replacement of cement by Persian gum, on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of soil. Experiments were conducted on samples containing cement and Persian gum after 28 days of curing under moisture-retention conditions. The results revealed that fiber inclusion significantly enhanced the UCS of the soil. Cement, as a stabilizer, yielded the highest UCS improvement, with a maximum increase of 414%. However, partially replacing cement with Persian gum led to a reduction in UCS, highlighting the limitations of Persian gum as a standalone or complementary stabilizing agent under the conditions tested. The optimal gum content was determined to be 2.75%, achieving an improvement of approximately 69% in UCS compared to untreated soil. Wet-dry cycle tests showed poor performance of fiber- and gum-reinforced specimens, with complete failure observed during the cycles. In contrast, cement-stabilized specimens exhibited better durability under these conditions.
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Subjects


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  • Receive Date 18 January 2025
  • Revise Date 14 June 2025
  • Accept Date 09 July 2025