Effects of Freeze–Thaw Cycles on Strength and Wave Velocity of Lime-Stabilized Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Loess

Abstract

Basalt fiber is a new environmentally-friendly material with excellent potential for soil reinforcement in geotechnical engineering construction. This study explores the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and P-wave velocity (<i>V_p</i>) of lime-stabilized basalt fiber-reinforced loess. Reinforced loess samples with different proportions of basalt fiber and lime were subjected to 0, 1, 5, and 10 freeze-thaw cycles, and their UCS and <i>V_p</i> were subsequently measured. The test results showed that the addition of basalt fiber and lime to loess could enhance strength and improve resistance against freeze-thaw damage, and the freeze-thaw damage of reinforced loess decreases with the increase of basalt fiber content and length. A relationship between UCS and <i>V_p</i> of the reinforced samples was obtained for the same number of freeze-thaw cycles, and this relationship exhibited linear characteristics. The fitting results indicate that the <i>V_p</i> can be used to estimate the UCS after freeze-thaw damage. The research results not only have important practical significance in the application of basalt fiber in geotechnical engineering but also provide a reference for the non-destructive testing of the strength of loess after freeze-thaw cycles.