Abstract

This study explores whether the polyethylene terephthalate bottle shreds (PETBS), could be a viable alternative additive in order to reduce the usage of traditional cement in geotechnical and transportation projects. Through a comprehensive study, clayey soil was stabilized with varying quantities (0.1–1% of solid mass) of PETBS of two different size ranges. Optimal dosages were chosen, followed by additional tests incorporating small amounts of (5, 7 and 10% of solid mass) cement enhancement. After curing periods of 7 and 28 days, California bearing ratio (CBR) tests and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test results revealed that the addition of PETBS enhanced CBR values and initial shear modulus (G₀) in both plain and cement treated samples. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images also affirmed the improvement of strength at the microstructural level. Notably, PETBS of size 2–4.75 mm exhibited superior performance compared to size 0.42–0.841 mm, with an optimal content range of 0.6–0.8%. It was observed that the addition of PETBS to artificially cemented soil improved CBR values by up to 35%, while also modifying stiffness and brittleness, rendering the soil more ductile. Ultimately, a regression model was proposed to facilitate estimates of CBR and G₀ in PETBS-reinforced cemented clay, to accommodate varying PETBS grading and content. The suggested approach promotes cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions by reducing pavement thickness and enhancing soil stability, demonstrating the potential of repurposing PET waste as a sustainable strategy in various engineering projects.

中文翻译：

---

人工胶结废 PET 碎增强粘土的刚度和强度

摘要

本研究探讨聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯瓶片 (PETBS) 是否可以作为一种可行的替代添加剂，以减少岩土工程和运输项目中传统水泥的使用。通过一项综合研究，使用不同数量（固体质量的 0.1-1%）的两种不同尺寸范围的 PETBS 来稳定粘土。选择最佳剂量，然后进行包含少量（固体质量的 5%、7% 和 10%）水泥增强剂的附加测试。经过 7 天和 28 天的养护期后，加州承载比 (CBR) 测试和超声波脉冲速度 (UPV) 测试结果表明，添加 PETBS 提高了普通和水泥处理样品的CBR 值和初始剪切模量 (G ₀ )。扫描电子显微镜（SEM）图像也证实了微观结构水平上强度的提高。值得注意的是，与尺寸 0.42-0.841 mm 相比，尺寸 2-4.75 mm 的 PETBS 表现出优越的性能，最佳含量范围为 0.6-0.8%。据观察，在人工胶结土中添加 PETBS 可将 CBR 值提高高达 35%，同时还可以改变刚度和脆性，使土壤更具延展性。最终，提出了一个回归模型来促进PETBS 增强胶结粘土中CBR 和 G ₀的估计，以适应不同的 PETBS 级配和含量。建议的方法通过减少路面厚度和增强土壤稳定性来推广具有成本效益和生态友好的解决方案，展示了将 PET 废物重新利用作为各种工程项目中可持续战略的潜力。