Effect of Discarded Geotextile Fiber on Mechanical Properties and Durability of Cement-Stabilized Diabase Waste Residue

Abstract

To address the issue of resource utilization regarding discarded geotextile, this study innovatively mixed discarded geotextile fibers (DGFs) uniformly into cement-stabilized diabase waste residue as a base filler for road construction. The effect of DGF content on the mechanical properties (MPs) of DGF-reinforced cement-stabilized diabase waste residue was examined via unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and splitting tensile strength (STS) tests. Dry shrinkage (DS), temperature shrinkage (TS), and freeze-thaw cycle (FTC) tests were conducted to investigate the durability change rule of the material under complex environmental conditions. The “anchoring” mechanism of DGFs in cement-stabilized diabase waste residue was analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that for a DGF content of 0.2%, the UCS and STS of the specimen reach their peak values. At this moment, with the coefficients of DS and TS minimized, optimal resistance to shrinkage is achieved. Incorporating DGFs significantly enhanced the FTC residual strength ratio of cement-stabilized diabase waste residue specimens compared to those without DGFs. Furthermore, the SEM results further reveal that the DGFs were gradually wrapped with cement hydrates, and their two ends were embedded in the matrix of the cement-stabilized diabase waste residue, acting as “bridges”. Embracing the environmental protection concept of “treating waste with waste”, this study highlights the potential of DGFs as reinforcement materials for cement-stabilized diabase waste residue, introducing a novel approach to the resource utilization of discarded geotextiles.