Effect of Freezing and Thawing on the Strength and Durability of Sandy Subgrade Containing Fibrillating Network Fiber for Pavement

Abstract

One of the challenges of road construction is encountering soils with lack of required strength and durability. Nowadays, various stabilization techniques are applicable for improving the engineering properties of soils. In the present study, dune sand, as subgrade of pavements, was treated using various contents of fibrillating network (FN) fiber and cement. Dune sand has low bearing capacity that makes it unsuitable for construction activities such as pavement applications. The common solution is improving the strength properties of dune sand so that it can be used for civil engineering projects. Stability of subgrade is very important since the layer provides the stability for the whole pavement structure and the upper layers, namely subbase, base, and asphalt layers. In this regard, compression strength and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were carried out. Freezing-thawing cycle is one of the most important factors affecting the mechanical properties of soils. Several researchers reported that freezing-thawing cycle could change the physical and mechanical behaviours of soils. The influence of freezing and thawing (up to 18 cycles) on the properties of samples was also studied. Based on the results, the inclusion of FN-fiber to the sand led to increasing the ductility and compressive strength. Also, the addition of cement reduced the ductility, and increased the compressive strength. By increasing the freezing-thawing cycles, the soil strength significantly decreased. Results showed that the stabilized sand soil as subgrade layer led to reducing the compressive strain under the applied wheel load, and therefore reduced the possibility of rutting failure of subgrade.