Dynamic Properties of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Clay Soil

Abstract

To study the dynamic characteristics of carbon-fiber-reinforced soil, carbon fiber was uniformly dispersed into clay soil. A series of resonant column tests was carried out at constant soil dry density. Samples prepared with fiber contents of 0%, 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.15% and water contents of 12%, 16% and 20% were studied. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the carbon-fiber-reinforced clay soil at the microscopic level. The results show that the maximum dynamic shear modulus increases and the damping ratio decreases with decreasing soil water content. With increasing fiber content, the maximum dynamic shear modulus increases at first and then decreases; the optimal carbon fiber content was 0.10%. The damping ratio increases with increasing soil fiber content. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated two reinforcement mechanisms: friction effect and limiting lateral deformation. Results of this study indicate that carbon fiber is conducive to the dissipation of vibration energy.