Jie He, Rui Liu, Fangcheng Liu, Mengtao Wu, Qifeng Wen
{"title":"Freeze-thaw resistance mechanisms of rubber-cement soil: insights from a macro- and micro-level perspective.","authors":"Jie He, Rui Liu, Fangcheng Liu, Mengtao Wu, Qifeng Wen","doi":"10.1080/09593330.2025.2505802","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The waste tire rubber may be incorporated with the cement soil to improve its frost resistance. However, it remains a significant challenge to optimise the rubber content between its mechanical strength and durability under freeze-thaw conditions. In this study, the macroscopic mechanical properties of ordinary cement soil and rubber-cement soil (with particle sizes of 30 and 60 mesh) were explored under different freeze-thaw cycles (0, 3, 6, 9, 15) by taking the wave propagation and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. Subsequently, a series of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests were conducted to analyse the microstructure of the specimens, further clarifying the freeze-thaw damage mechanisms in rubber-cement soil. The results show that freeze-thaw cycles cause irreversible internal damage to the cement soil, leading to continuous reductions in both wave velocity and UCS. After 15 freeze-thaw cycles, the wave velocity loss rates are 95%, 72.2%, and 89.7% fo<u>r</u> ordinary cement soil, cement soil mixed with 30-mesh and 60-mesh rubber particles, respectively. The corresponding UCS loss rates are 95.4%, 82.7%, and 89.2%, respectively. The above results suggest that 30-mesh rubber-cement soil exhibits superior frost resistance. From a microstructural perspective, the rubber particles delay and inhibit the propagation of frost heaving cracks, forming a denser spatial structure for calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) gel, thereby improving the freeze-thaw resistance. By integrating macroscopic mechanical testing and microstructural analysis, this study reveals the mechanical properties and damage mechanism of rubber-cement soil under freeze-thaw conditions, providing valuable insights for its engineering applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12009,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology","volume":" ","pages":"4394-4406"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Environmental Technology","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2025.2505802","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/5/18 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The waste tire rubber may be incorporated with the cement soil to improve its frost resistance. However, it remains a significant challenge to optimise the rubber content between its mechanical strength and durability under freeze-thaw conditions. In this study, the macroscopic mechanical properties of ordinary cement soil and rubber-cement soil (with particle sizes of 30 and 60 mesh) were explored under different freeze-thaw cycles (0, 3, 6, 9, 15) by taking the wave propagation and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. Subsequently, a series of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests were conducted to analyse the microstructure of the specimens, further clarifying the freeze-thaw damage mechanisms in rubber-cement soil. The results show that freeze-thaw cycles cause irreversible internal damage to the cement soil, leading to continuous reductions in both wave velocity and UCS. After 15 freeze-thaw cycles, the wave velocity loss rates are 95%, 72.2%, and 89.7% for ordinary cement soil, cement soil mixed with 30-mesh and 60-mesh rubber particles, respectively. The corresponding UCS loss rates are 95.4%, 82.7%, and 89.2%, respectively. The above results suggest that 30-mesh rubber-cement soil exhibits superior frost resistance. From a microstructural perspective, the rubber particles delay and inhibit the propagation of frost heaving cracks, forming a denser spatial structure for calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) gel, thereby improving the freeze-thaw resistance. By integrating macroscopic mechanical testing and microstructural analysis, this study reveals the mechanical properties and damage mechanism of rubber-cement soil under freeze-thaw conditions, providing valuable insights for its engineering applications.
期刊介绍:
Environmental Technology is a leading journal for the rapid publication of science and technology papers on a wide range of topics in applied environmental studies, from environmental engineering to environmental biotechnology, the circular economy, municipal and industrial wastewater management, drinking-water treatment, air- and water-pollution control, solid-waste management, industrial hygiene and associated technologies.
Environmental Technology is intended to provide rapid publication of new developments in environmental technology. The journal has an international readership with a broad scientific base. Contributions will be accepted from scientists and engineers in industry, government and universities. Accepted manuscripts are generally published within four months.
Please note that Environmental Technology does not publish any review papers unless for a specified special issue which is decided by the Editor. Please do submit your review papers to our sister journal Environmental Technology Reviews at http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tetr20/current