Mechanical performance of lime kiln dust, silica fume, and recycled carpet fiber mixtures for clay stabilization compared to cement under freeze-thaw cycles

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Civil Engineering, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Mining Engineering, Amirkabir University of technology, Tehran, Iran.

10.22124/jcr.2026.33714.1741

Abstract

Due to the high energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with cement production, finding alternative mixtures with mechanical performance comparable or superior to that of cement under harsh environmental conditions such as freeze-thaw cycles has become a necessity. This study investigates the mechanical performance of mixtures containing industrial wastes, including lime kiln dust, silica fume, and waste carpet fibers, in comparison with a cement sample under freeze-thaw cycle conditions. The main objective is to achieve a stable and durable mixture with suitable replaceability for cement in geotechnical applications in cold regions. For this purpose, the effects of lime kiln dust (up to 10%), silica fume (up to 100% as a replacement for lime kiln dust), and carpet fibers (up to 2%), along with cement-containing mixtures (up to 10% cement), were evaluated. The results indicated that the optimal mixture, consisting of 5% lime kiln dust, 50% silica fume, and 1% carpet fibers, achieved a compressive strength exceeding 7000 kPa and a tensile strength of 600 kPa, demonstrating significantly superior performance compared to the reference cement sample. After 8 freeze-thaw cycles, this mixture retained over 97% of its initial strength, indicating its superior resistance compared to the cement sample under successive freeze-thaw conditions. Carpet fibers, by providing bridging across microcracks, significantly enhanced the tensile strength of this mixture. Overall, the introduced optimal mixture exhibits considerable superiority in terms of mechanical performance and durability compared to the cement sample and can be considered an environmentally friendly and efficient alternative.

Keywords

References

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