Engineering properties investigation of lightweight cement soil incorporating steel fibers from waste tires for application as a bridge approach filled material

Abstract

This study presents an approach to improving the properties of lightweight cemented soil for use as an embankment material at bridge approaches in soft clay areas by incorporating steel waste fiber (SW) recycled from used tires. The objective is to enhance the material's strength and ductility. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) is carried out. Key parameters were varied, including the unit weight of the lightweight cemented soil (6, 8, and 10 kN/m³), steel fiber content (1%, 2%, and 3% by weight), and cement content (150, 200, and 250 kg/m³), with curing periods of 7 and 28 days. The results demonstrate that the addition of SW fibres significantly improves the deformation behaviour of the material, particularly in terms of increased toughness and residual strength after peak load. Furthermore, incorporating fibers effectively reduces the post-peak stress loss, indicating enhanced ductility and crack resistance. These findings suggest that the developed material has strong potential for structural applications, especially as a lightweight backfill material for bridge approaches in soft ground conditions.