Mechanical properties and microstructure of plant fiber reinforced BFS-MS geopolymer: an orthogonal design approach
Foundation pit engineering usually encounters the problems of foundation reinforcement and mud soil (MS) disposal. This study proposes a solidification technology utilizing blast furnace slag (BFS)-MS based geopolymer, enhanced by renewable plant fibers, to achieve resource utilization of MS. The ke...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1605929/full |
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| author | Zunquan Zhu Zunquan Zhu Dongming Chang Dongming Chang Yong Zhu Jie Li Kai Zhang Haifeng Lu |
| author_facet | Zunquan Zhu Zunquan Zhu Dongming Chang Dongming Chang Yong Zhu Jie Li Kai Zhang Haifeng Lu |
| author_sort | Zunquan Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Foundation pit engineering usually encounters the problems of foundation reinforcement and mud soil (MS) disposal. This study proposes a solidification technology utilizing blast furnace slag (BFS)-MS based geopolymer, enhanced by renewable plant fibers, to achieve resource utilization of MS. The key parameters including activator modulus, alkali content, water-to-solid ratio, and MS replacement rate were systematically optimized through orthogonal experimental design. Based on considering the mechanical properties and economy, the pretreated wood (WF), jute (JF) and bamboo (BF) fibers were incorporated respectively to study the influence of plant fiber type and content on the mechanical properties of geopolymer. The results demonstrated that the optimal parameters for BFS-MS precursors were activator modulus 1.7 and alkali content 0.2. The BFS-MS geopolymer under the optimal ratio of 28 days can reach 43.56 MPa, maintaining excellent potential for engineering application even at 30% MS replacement. At 1.0% dosage, WF, JF and BF enhanced the 28-day compressive strength by 27.80%, 12.35% and 29.05% respectively. The microstructural analysis revealed that geopolymer gels derived from BFS hydration dominated early strength development, while potentially active minerals in MS contributed to later stage strength enhancement. This study provides theoretical and technical foundations for MS utilization and fiber-reinforced geopolymer design in sustainable construction practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2a577b74072432ab9026e034a52c641 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-e2a577b74072432ab9026e034a52c6412025-08-20T03:22:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632025-06-011310.3389/feart.2025.16059291605929Mechanical properties and microstructure of plant fiber reinforced BFS-MS geopolymer: an orthogonal design approachZunquan Zhu0Zunquan Zhu1Dongming Chang2Dongming Chang3Yong Zhu4Jie Li5Kai Zhang6Haifeng Lu7China Communications Third Shipping Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., Shanghai, ChinaNinth Engineering Company, CCCC Third Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai, ChinaChina Communications Third Shipping Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., Shanghai, ChinaNinth Engineering Company, CCCC Third Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai, ChinaCcid Urban Construction (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., Chongqing, ChinaCcid Urban Construction (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., Chongqing, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaFoundation pit engineering usually encounters the problems of foundation reinforcement and mud soil (MS) disposal. This study proposes a solidification technology utilizing blast furnace slag (BFS)-MS based geopolymer, enhanced by renewable plant fibers, to achieve resource utilization of MS. The key parameters including activator modulus, alkali content, water-to-solid ratio, and MS replacement rate were systematically optimized through orthogonal experimental design. Based on considering the mechanical properties and economy, the pretreated wood (WF), jute (JF) and bamboo (BF) fibers were incorporated respectively to study the influence of plant fiber type and content on the mechanical properties of geopolymer. The results demonstrated that the optimal parameters for BFS-MS precursors were activator modulus 1.7 and alkali content 0.2. The BFS-MS geopolymer under the optimal ratio of 28 days can reach 43.56 MPa, maintaining excellent potential for engineering application even at 30% MS replacement. At 1.0% dosage, WF, JF and BF enhanced the 28-day compressive strength by 27.80%, 12.35% and 29.05% respectively. The microstructural analysis revealed that geopolymer gels derived from BFS hydration dominated early strength development, while potentially active minerals in MS contributed to later stage strength enhancement. This study provides theoretical and technical foundations for MS utilization and fiber-reinforced geopolymer design in sustainable construction practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1605929/fullmud soilblast furnace slagplant fibersorthogonal experimental designuniaxial compressive strengthgeopolymer |
| spellingShingle | Zunquan Zhu Zunquan Zhu Dongming Chang Dongming Chang Yong Zhu Jie Li Kai Zhang Haifeng Lu Mechanical properties and microstructure of plant fiber reinforced BFS-MS geopolymer: an orthogonal design approach Frontiers in Earth Science mud soil blast furnace slag plant fibers orthogonal experimental design uniaxial compressive strength geopolymer |
| title | Mechanical properties and microstructure of plant fiber reinforced BFS-MS geopolymer: an orthogonal design approach |
| title_full | Mechanical properties and microstructure of plant fiber reinforced BFS-MS geopolymer: an orthogonal design approach |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical properties and microstructure of plant fiber reinforced BFS-MS geopolymer: an orthogonal design approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical properties and microstructure of plant fiber reinforced BFS-MS geopolymer: an orthogonal design approach |
| title_short | Mechanical properties and microstructure of plant fiber reinforced BFS-MS geopolymer: an orthogonal design approach |
| title_sort | mechanical properties and microstructure of plant fiber reinforced bfs ms geopolymer an orthogonal design approach |
| topic | mud soil blast furnace slag plant fibers orthogonal experimental design uniaxial compressive strength geopolymer |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1605929/full |
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