Investigation of Desiccation Cracking Behavior of Waste Carbon Fiber–Reinforced Clay Material

Abstract

Carbon fiber is a common waste building material, but its effect on the drying and cracking properties of clay materials is unknown. In this paper, crack rate and fractal dimension are used to characterize the influence of waste carbon fiber materials on the development of soil cracking. With the rise in carbon fiber content to 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%, the crack rate of soil cracking decreased by 7.9%, 17.3% and 23.3%, respectively, while the fractal dimension of soil cracking decreased by 2.4%, 8.7% and 21.2%, respectively. Accordingly, the critical moisture content of the soil samples increased by 33.2%, 110% and 151%, and the time of the soil constant evaporation stage decreased by 5.1%, 13.8% and 34.5%, respectively. When carbon fiber is combined with soil, carbon fiber will increase the interface bonding strength, friction and interlocking force, effectively inhibiting the cracking of soil, and it provides a channel for water transport in the soil in the early stage.