Advances in Civil Engineering
Volume 2019 (2019), Article ID 5127015, 11 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5127015

Research Article

Analysis on Influence of the Dispersion Degree of PVA Fibers on Pavement Performance of Cement-Stabilized Macadam

Lingqing Yuan,¹ Naixing Liang,¹ and Chunhua Zhao²

¹School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
²Chongqing Institute of Technology, Chongqing 401331, China

Correspondence should be addressed to Naixing Liang; liangnx@cqjtu.edu.cn

Received 12 July 2019; Revised 9 September 2019; Accepted 17 September 2019; Published 13 October 2019

Academic Editor: Claudio Mazzotti

Copyright © 2019 Lingqing Yuan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

In order to study the effect of PVA fiber dispersion on the performance of cement-stabilized macadam as pavement base material, the dispersion factor Fvc is introduced (Fvc = 1 − Cvc, Cvc refers to dispersion coefficient of relative mass fraction proportion coefficient) as a factor to judge the dispersion degrees. Besides, the connections among Fvc and the compressive strength of the splitting strength of cement-stabilized macadam in various curing periods are analyzed. The research conclusions reveal that (1) when the mass ratio of PVA fibers to coal ash is higher than 1 : 50, resulting Fvc > 0.95, it means the PVA fibers can disperse evenly in the cement-stabilized macadam; (2) both the compressive strength and the cleavage strength of cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fibers are proportional to Fvc; moreover, both the compressive strength and the splitting strength of cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fibers are obviously stronger than those in the common macadam; and (3) under the same curing period and with the same Fvc value, both the compressive strength and the splitting strength in the first type of cement-stabilized macadam (volume content: 0.9 kg/m³ of PVA fibers) are stronger than those in the second type of cement-stabilized macadam (volume content: 0.6 kg/m³ of PVA fibers).

1. Introduction

Choosing graded gravel as aggregate, filling the gaps of the aggregate with some amount of cementing material and with enough mortar, the cement-stabilized macadam is employed widely in road base level, since it possesses in itself many merits such as relatively high strength, good antiseepage ability, fine frost resistance ability, and so on. However, its shortcomings such as low flexural strength as well as low crack resistance ability result in early cracks, which constrain its sparking merits, together with its application longevity [1, 2].

Presently, the method [3–6] that adding fibers into cement-based materials to enhance its flexural strength as well as its crack resistance has been popular with many scholars from China, USA, and other developed nations. The fine toughness and relatively high modulus have enabled fibers to improve the properties of cement-based materials effectively during application. Khorami and Ganjian [7] discovered during research that when the mass of added agriculture waste fibers (such as bagasse, wheat, eucalyptus, and so on) is 4% of the cement mass, flexural behavior of the cement-based composite changes relatively obviously, not to mention that the properties of bagasse fibers are better than those of wheat and eucalyptus. Yang et al. [8–11] added polypropylene fiber into the cement-stabilized macadam, the result of which shows that the polypropylene fiber can improve its performance in contraction deformation and in flexural behavior. Yang et al. [12–15] and others added basalt fiber into the cement-stabilized macadam, the result of which shows that the basalt fiber can enhance the crack resistance and the fracture property of the macadam base. Xu et al. [16–18] added PVA fibers into the cement-stabilized macadam, the result of which shows that the PVA fibers bring higher load capacity and more flexible deformation properties, together with a hyperbolic contraction equation that presents precisely the drying shrinkages of super-high toughness cement base complex materials. According the research results [19], the compressive strength as well as the flexural behavior regarding concrete with silica fume and PVA fibers is stronger than that of common concrete; also, adding PVA fibers into the concrete can improve obviously the crack resistance of cement paste and concrete. Bengi et al. [20] studied brick wall painted with concrete to a conclusion that adding PVA fibers into solid, high-strength brick wall can increase around half of shear strength, the increased strength of which is 2.5 times higher than that found in common brick wall. Ghorbani’s research [21, 22] suggests that replacing some cement with rice husk ash (RHA) can increase the unconfined compressive strength of cement-based composites. Jamsawang et al. [23] has found that the surface of steel is more hydrophilic than other synthetic fiber types. And it is denser in the cemented sand and the substrate has no separation interface area, which provides the best overall bending performance. Ma’s studies [24] have shown that the addition of basalt fiber cement soil can increase the plastic behavior of the sample. Nevertheless, all the above examples only covers the content of considering the effect of the amount of fibers mixed on the properties of complex materials, instead of studying farther the effect brought by fiber factors on complex materials properties.

Some Chinese scholars have studied the dispersion of fibers. Cao et al. [25] studied the dispersion of PVA fibers by means of fluorescence microscope, image processing technology, and statistics. Yang et al. [26] researched the influences on carbon fibers' (from carbon fiber cement coating, i.e., CFCC) dispersion resulted from lengths, amounts, mixing processes, dispersant and water-cement ratio and so on, with ways such as fresh pulp method and resistance measurement of hardening specimens. Cao et al. [27, 28] studied dispersion of PVA fibers in cement-stabilized macadam, using image processing technology and statistics. Wang et al. [29] observed the fracture surface of carbon fiber concrete by means of scanning electron microscope, who also analyzed the distribution of factors from fracture surface with energy spectrum, as a dispersion study for carbon fiber distribution. Jie et al. [30] scanned the fracture surface with computerized tomography, and then classified the typical morphology of each component in the micrograph, and verified the distribution of the fiber with the grayscale recognition result of CT image. On the other hand, the above cases applied mainly image processing technology in scanning partial fracture surfaces of complex materials, with fiber (the diameter is very small) congealing with cement paste, thus resulting in a lack of credibility and perfection. As for resistance measurement of hardening specimens, this method can only work if the carbon fiber is conductive, thus not suitable for insulators such as PVA fibers.

PVA fibers possess strong strength and high modulus. Adding the PVA fibers into the cement-stabilized macadam can improve flexural strength as well as crack resistance, plus extending work longevity. Many scholars from China, USA, and other developed nations have achieved a lot in studying PVA fibers in cement-stabilized macadam, but the study on influence brought by the dispersion of PVA fibers requires further steps. In conclusion, this paper aims to study how the dispersion factor Fvc (from PVC fibers) affects the compressive strength as well as splitting strength of cement-stabilized macadam in various curing periods, and then find out the connection in them.

2. Studying Method

2.1. Raw Materials

The marking number of the composite Portland cement employed in the experiment is p.c32.5, manufactured by Zhongshan Cor., Ltd in Xuzhou city, Jiangsu province, China. The testing result meets regulation and requirements, and the indexes are shown in Table 1 below. The aggregate (specifications: 0–5 mm, 5–10 mm, 10–15 mm, 15–25 mm, and 25–30 mm) in the experiment is limestone coming from stone material factory in Chaoyang River, Chongqing city, China. The testing results show that the aggregates meet all mechanical performance requirements.

Table 1: Testing results of cement properties.

Item
Result
Technique requirements

Fineness (%)
4.0
≤10

Water requirement of normal consistency (%)
32.5
Real value tested

Initial setting time (min)
390
≥180

Final setting time (min)
520
360 ≤ h ≤ 600

Stability
Eligible
—

Strength after three days (MPa)
Compressive strength
18.1
≥11

Flexural strength
5.3
≥2.5

Strength after 28 days (MPa)
Compressive strength
39.7
≥32.5

Flexural strength
9.5
≥5.5

Table 2 shows the physical parameters of the PVA fiber taken in the test, and its appearance is shown in Figure 1.

Table 2: Physical parameters of polyvinyl alcohol.

Color
Diameter (μm)
Fine density (g/10000 m)
Hot water resistance (°C)

Silvery white
5
2.0 ± 0.25
100

Figure 1: Polyvinyl alcohol fibers.

The composite proportions in the experiment comply with requirements in Code for Aggregate Test of Highway Engineering JTG E42-2005. For data concerning the proportions, refer to Table 3.

Table 3: Graded proportions of cement-stabilized macadam.

Mesh size (mm)
Graded proportions

Maximum
Minimum
Graded in synthesis

31.5
100
100
100.00

26.5
98
93
98.00

19
86
72
79.00

9.5
58
47
52.52

4.75
32
29
30.01

2.36
19.7
17
17.73

0.6
15
8
8.92

0.075
3.5
0
3.50

2.2. Testing Methods

In this experiment, PVA fibers were treated by dry mixing and dispersing with the mass ratio of PVA fibers to coal ash of 1 : 0, 1 : 25, 1 : 50, and 1 : 75. The treatment equipment used a pure slurry mixer. Quantitative PVA fibers and coal ash were added into the mixing pot. The mixing rate was built-in low-speed mixing, and the mixing time was set to 3 minutes. After one minute of each stirring, the PVA fibers and coal ash in the mixing pot were manually turned over to ensure that the PVA fibers could be fully mixed with coal ash. The above blended PVA fibers were labeled as ①, ②, ③, and ④ PVA fibers in turn, and the coal ash used was first-class fly ash with a fineness of 320 meshes and a density of about 2.4 g/cm³. According to the requirements of Test Methods of Materials Stabilized with Inorganic Binders for Highway Engineering (JTG E51-2009), the optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of cement-stabilized macadam material were determined by compaction test. The test results showed that the optimum moisture content of the cement-stabilized macadam material was 4.8% and the maximum dry density was 2.301 g/cm³ when the cement content was 4%.

The mixing test of ① PVA fibers and cement-stabilized macadam was carried out. Four cement-stabilized macadam samples were selected for each mixing according to gradation design and compaction test results. The length of PVA fiber was 12 mm, and the volume content was 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³. After mixing test, one sample of cement-stabilized macadam was taken to mark and place, and two samples were taken separately after repeating the above test. Finally, three labeled samples with volume doping of 0.6 kg/m³ and three labeled samples with volume doping of 0.9 kg/m³ were obtained. After repeating the above experiments, 18 labeled samples with volume fraction of 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³ of PVA fibers ②, ③, and ④ were obtained. Finally, 18 samples of PVA fibers and coarse aggregates with particle size of 9.5 mm were separated from the samples by water washing method. The separated PVA fibers and coarse aggregates were dried at 150°C in the laboratory oven and weighed at last.

The cement-stabilized macadam samples (samples that with PVA fibers and that without) were moulded into cylinders, as per Test Methods of Materials Stabilized with Inorganic Binders for Highway Engineering (JTG E51-2009). In experiments that study compressive strength and splitting strength, there were four kinds of PVA fibers employed (PVA fibers ①,②,③, and ④), with volume content of 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³. The curing temperature was for 20°C ± 2°C, with relative humidity no lower than 95%. Setting curing period was 7 days, 28 days, and 90 days. Figure 2 was about moulded cement-stabilized macadam sample. As for the 25 specimens dried on the left, they had been used for compressive strength tests.

Figure 2: Formed cement-stabilized macadam specimens.

We conducted compressive strength test and splitting strength test to cement-stabilized macadam samples with electro-hydraulic bending and compression testing machine and universal testing machine. In the tests, the running velocity was kept at 1 mm/min, and the test processes are shown in Figures 3 and 4. There were six parallel samples, and the test result came from the average value of the six result values. We deleted the test values whose variation coefficient Cv was larger than or equal to 15%, and replaced them with new test results using new samples.

Figure 3: Compressive strength test for cement-stabilized macadam.

Figure 4: Splitting test for cement-stabilized macadam.

2.3. Review Methods for PVA Fibers' Dispersion in Cement-Stabilized Macadam

Choose the dispersion factor (which is Fvc) of PVA fibers to review their dispersion. Here, Fvc = 1 − Cvc, Cvc refers to dispersion coefficient of relative mass fraction proportion coefficient. The “relative mass fraction proportion coefficient” [27] refers to ratio of the actual mass of PVA fiber to the corresponding theory mass value in the NO. I sample. The ratio of the actual mass of coarse aggregate to the corresponding theory mass is named as (see formula (1)). The relative coarse aggregate mass fraction proportion coefficient is named as mass fraction proportion coefficient thereinafter (see formula (3)):

where mpi and mgi are actual mass of PVA fibers (unit: g) and coarse aggregate (diameter: 9.5 mm; unit: kg) in the NO. I sample, respectively; mp and mg are theory mass of PVA fibers (unit: g) and coarse aggregate (diameter: 9.5 mm; unit: kg) in every sample, respectively; is the average value of mass fraction proportion coefficient in every sample; and is the dispersion coefficient of mass fraction proportion coefficient.

3. Result Analysis

3.1. Data Analysis regarding the Dispersion of PVA Fibers in Cement-Stabilized Macadam

The data are collected in Table 4.

Table 4: Dispersion of PVA fibers.

1.48
1.60
0.1862
0.1863
0.8138
1.56
1.60
0.1893
0.1621
0.8107

1.5
1.55
1.79
1.59

0.97
1.57
2.29
1.51

1.61
1.61
0.1078
0.1336
0.8922
2.11
1.57
0.1292
0.146
0.8708

1.17
1.52
1.67
1.53

1.32
1.53
1.5
1.51

1.42
1.61
0.0499
0.0986
0.9501
1.89
1.55
0.05
0.1
0.95

1.23
1.51
2.11
1.64

1.12
1.43
1.65
1.45

1.33
1.57
0.017
0.0258
0.983
1.92
1.57
0.025
0.0383
0.975

1.35
1.56
2.03
1.61

1.27
1.53
1.85
1.56

Take the ratio of coal ash mass to PVA fibers mass as the abscissa, and the Fvc as the ordinate; see Figure 5 for their connection.

Figure 5: The connection between the ratio of coal ash mass to PVA fibers mass, with volume content of 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³.

According to the conclusions from Figure 5 [31], when the coal ash is not added, the value Fvc is far larger than 0.5, which means the value Fvc is far smaller than 0.95, with the Cvp between the actual PVA fibers mass and the corresponding theory mass larger than 0.1. Thus, it is concluded that the PVC fibers cannot disperse evenly in the cement-stabilized macadam in the above case. However, when the mass ratio of PVA fibers to coal ash is of 1 : 50, then the Fvc is equal to 0.5, the Fvc is equal to 0.95, the Cvp is equal to 0.1. Hence, it is concluded that the PVA fibers can disperse evenly exactly in the case. On the basis of the above two cases, it is concluded that when the ratio of PVA fiber mass to the coal ash mass is 1 : 25, the PVA fibers cannot disperse evenly. If the very ratio is 1 : 75, the conclusion is that the PVA fibers can disperse evenly. Thereinafter, we set the Fvc of 0.95 as a critical point, where the PVC fibers can disperse evenly exactly. When the value of Fvc is below 0.95, the PVC fibers cannot disperse evenly, and vice versa. In addition, it is considered that there are no PVC fibers when the value of Fvc is of 0.75, so as to facilitate analysis.

3.2. Data Analysis on PVA Fibers Enhancing Mechanical Properties of Cement-Stabilized Macadam

3.2.1. Compressive Experiment

Refer to Table 5 for test result. The results of converting the test results into Fvc and compressive strength are shown in Table 6. The relationship between Fvc and compressive strength is shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Table 5: Compressive strength test on cement-stabilized macadam.

Fiber-adding content
Compressive strength (MPa) (7 d)
Compressive strength (MPa) (28 d)
Compressive strength (MPa) (90 d)

0–0
3.76
3.76
3.76
3.76
5.13
5.13
5.13
5.13
5.66
5.66
5.66
5.66

12–6
4.14
4.18
4.39
4.47
5.72
5.75
5.81
5.97
6.27
6.34
6.45
6.57

12–9
4.17
4.23
4.43
4.49
5.73
5.77
5.91
6.01
6.28
6.34
6.48
6.67

Table 6: Connection between Fvc and compressive strength.

Fiber content (kg/m³)
Fvc
Compressive strength (7 d)
Compressive strength (28 d)
Compressive strength (90 d)

0
0.75
3.76
5.13
5.66

0.6
0.8138
4.14
5.72
6.27

0.8922
4.18
5.75
6.34

0.9501
4.39
5.81
6.45

0.983
4.47
5.97
6.57

0.9
0.8107
4.17
5.73
6.28

0.8708
4.23
5.77
6.34

0.95
4.43
5.91
6.48

0.975
4.49
6.01
6.67

Figure 6: Relationship between Fvc and compressive strength in cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fiber content of 0.6 kg/m³.

Figure 7: Relationship between Fvc and compressive strength in cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fiber content of 0.9 kg/m³.

According to the above Figure 6 (with fiber content as 0.6 kg/m³, curing periods as 7 days, 28 days, and 90 days) and Figure 7, Fvc is positively related to the compressive strength. The situation when the curing period is of 90 days and the fiber content is of 0.6 kg/m³ is the only case studied here. The compressive strength value of the cement-stabilized macadam with evenly dispersed PVA fibers is around 4.8% higher than it in macadam where PVA fibers cannot disperse evenly, and is about 16.1% higher than it is in common cement-stabilized macadam. On the other hand, when the fiber content is of 0.9 kg/m³, the compressive strength value of the cement-stabilized macadam with evenly dispersed PVA fibers is around 6.2% higher than it is in macadam where PVA fibers cannot disperse evenly, and is about 17.8% higher than it is in common cement-stabilized macadam.

When the abscissa value Fvc is of 0.95 (a critical point), the PVA fibers can disperse evenly exactly in cement-stabilized macadam. It is concluded that when the value of Fvc is larger than 0.95, the PVA fivers have dispersed evenly; in the area between 0.75 and 0.95, the PVA fivers unite groups by groups, and the lower the value of Fvc, the more groups it can find, resulting in less dispersion. According to Figures 6 and 7, the compressive strength of cement-stabilized macadam added with PVA fibers is stronger than that of common cement-stabilized macadam, because the base will crack under outside force. According to Material Sheet Interface [32], for cement-stabilized macadam added in fibers, as shown in Figure 8, base cracks happen in several surfaces, together with interface debonding, fiber pull-out, the fracture of base as well as fibers. If the crack penetrates the surface, then the material is damaged. In the process of damage, more energy is absorbed due to the existence of fibers. Thus, the macadam with fibers possesses higher compressive strength.

Figure 8: The damaging process of complex material.

As mentioned in the last paragraph, when the value of Fvc is below 0.95, there are many group-gathered PVA fibers distributed randomly in the macadam; so, the macadam fails to diverse and disperse the stress. The area with fiber groups becomes the point to cause or even start the crack. As the crack extends around, the macadam sample is damaged. When the value of Fvc is above 0.95, according to Material Sheet Surface, the interface of composites contains three-dimensional interfacial phases in the transition zone between two phases with only a few microns. The interfacial phase is very thin but has very complex structure. The chemical composition, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of the interfacial phase change gradiently. The interface microstructure together with its properties resulted from heat stress, interracial crystallization effect, and interface chemical effect during transition period will affect the macroscopic properties, enhancing properties of the complex materials. As a consequence, the more the PVA fibers disperse, the more the three-dimensional interface phrase will be, and the strength of the macadam will be higher.

We employ the software MATLAB to fit the Fvc (PVC fiber contents are of 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³, with curing period of 90 days) with the compressive strength, and we get linear functions as follows:

We use MATLAB to draw the two functions of the fit in the same picture, as shown in Figure 9. In Figure 9, when the curing period is of 90 days and the same Fvc value is chosen, the compressive strength of cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fiber of 0.9 kg/m³ is stronger than that of cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fiber of 0.6 kg/m³. Thus, the content of PVA fibers can affect the compressive strength in the macadam, and in due scope they are positively related.

Figure 9: Relationship between Fvc and compressive strength under the curing age of 90 d and fiber volume of 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³, respectively.

3.2.2. Splitting Experiment

The test results are listed in Table 7, and the corresponding connection between Fvc and splitting strength is in Table 8. See Figures 10 and 11 for the connection between Fvc and splitting strength.

Table 7: Test results of splitting strength in cement-stabilized macadam.

Fiber content
Splitting strength (MPa) (7 d)
Splitting strength (MPa) (28 d)
Splitting strength (MPa) (90 d)

0
1 : 25
1 : 50
1 : 75
0
1 : 25
1 : 50
1 : 75
0
1 : 25
1 : 50
1 : 75

0–0
0.26
0.26
0.26
0.26
0.46
0.46
0.46
0.46
0.62
0.62
0.62
0.62

12–6
0.31
0.31
0.33
0.34
0.53
0.54
0.58
0.58
0.72
0.72
0.74
0.76

12–9
0.31
0.33
0.33
0.34
0.54
0.56
0.58
0.59
0.74
0.74
0.76
0.78

Table 8: Connection between Fvc and splitting strength.

Fiber content (kg/m³)
Fvc
Splitting strength (MPa) (7 d)
Splitting strength (MPa) (28 d)
Splitting strength (MPa) (90 d)

0
0.75
0.26
0.46
0.62

0.6
0.8138
0.31
0.53
0.72

0.8922
0.31
0.54
0.72

0.9501
0.33
0.58
0.74

0.983
0.34
0.58
0.76

0.9
0.8107
0.31
0.54
0.74

0.8708
0.33
0.56
0.74

0.95
0.33
0.58
0.76

0.975
0.34
0.59
0.78

Figure 10: Relationship between Fvc and splitting strength in cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fiber content of 0.6 kg/m³.

Figure 11: Relationship between Fvc and splitting strength in cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fiber content of 0.9 kg/m³.

The connection trends between splitting strength and dispersion factor Fvc are illustrated in Figure 10 (fiber content: 0.6 kg/m³; curing periods of seven days, 28 days, and 90 days), and Figure 11 (fiber content: 0.9 kg/m³; curing periods of seven days, 28 days, and 90 days). According to the two figures, Fvc is positively related to the splitting strength.

The situation when the curing period is of 90 days and the fiber content is of 0.6 kg/m³ is the only case study here. The splitting strength value of the cement-stabilized macadam with evenly dispersed PVA fibers is around 5.6% higher than it in macadam where PVA fibers cannot disperse evenly, and is about 22.6% higher than it in common cement-stabilized macadam. On the other hand, when the fiber content is of 0.9 kg/m³, the splitting strength value of the cement-stabilized macadam with evenly dispersed PVA fibers is around 5.4% higher than it in macadam where PVA fibers cannot disperse evenly, and is about 25.8% higher than it in common cement-stabilized macadam.

When the abscissa value Fvc is of 0.95 (a critical point), the PVA fibers can disperse evenly exactly in cement-stabilized macadam. The cement-stabilized macadam with fibers possesses higher splitting strength than that without fibers. Because the failure of cement-stabilized macadam without fibers is brittle failure, it is known from concrete fracture mechanics [33] that the fracture failure of brittle materials is the result of crack propagation that already exists. In another word, fracture degrees depend on the value stress force that widens the existing cracks. When the work created by outside force (i.e. strain energy) is more than the surface work that creates new surfaces during cracking, the existing cracks will extend automatically to fracture. Since PVA fibers enhance toughness, the splitting strength of cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fibers depends not only on the hydration intensity but also on the acting force between the fibers and the cement. The force between the PVA fibers and the cement includes the bite force between the fiber and the cement and the bonding between the fiber and the cement hydration product. As a result, the cleavage damage is a comprehensive result, and the splitting strength of cement-stabilized macadam with fibers will be obviously higher than that of cement-stabilized macadam without fibers.

For cement-stabilized macadam with fibers, when the value of Fvc is larger than 0.95 (in this condition, the PVA fibers have dispersed evenly), the cleavage damages cause the cracks inside the macadam to expand, together with the total system energy to decrease. The decreased energy is used for creating new free surfaces. The critical condition for cracks to expand is that the expanding force (i.e. strain energy release rate) is equal to the extension resistance (the extension resistance refers to the resistance created when the cracks are expanding to make free surfaces). The polymer-hydration product three-dimensional net structure (created from reaction between PVA fibers and cement hydration product) enhances the extension resistance.

There are mainly three basic types of crack gap expansion under various loads according to fracture mechanics (Figure 12).

Figure 12: Basic types of crack expansion. (a) Split type I. (b) Staggerring type II. (c) Tearing type III.

When the cement-stabilized macadam is damaged by splitting, the crack propagation type belongs to the type III outer shear type, and the stress field strength factor is as follows:

where KI refers to intensity factor that reflects the intensity of crack stress field and Y refers to geometric shape factor, which is related to crack types and geometric shapes of samples.

The crack will be a key to KI when the cement-stabilized macadam and the stress remain the same to one another. When the value of Fvc is larger than 0.95, the PVA fibers disperse evenly. Group gatherings will occur to PVA fibers if the value of Fvc decreases; so, more holes will appear in the cement-stabilized macadam, increasing the value of c. As a consequence, under same stress, the higher the dispersion degree of PVA fibers, the smaller the gaps as well as KI will be. According to fracture principles, brittle fracture happens when KI > KIc (the second parameter refers to fracture toughness). Thus, the larger the value of Fvc, the smaller the value of KI will be, resulting higher splitting strength, and vice versa.

We employ the software MATLAB to fit the Fvc (PVC fiber contents are of 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³, with curing period of 90 days) with the splitting strength, and we get linear functions as follows:

The above two liner functions were drawn in the same drawing by MATLAB, as is shown in Figure 13. In Figure 13, when curing period is of 90 days, the splitting strength of cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fiber of 0.9 kg/m³ is stronger than that of cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fiber of 0.6 kg/m³. Thus, the content of PVA fibers can affect the splitting strength in the macadam, and in due scope they are positively related. Splitting strength has been one of the main indicators in road structure design, and the actual road surfaces are of aged period. In this case, the larger the value of Fvc is (i.e. the higher the dispersion degree is), the better it will be.

Figure 13: Relationship between Fvc and splitting strength under the age of 90 d and the volume of fiber volume of 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³, respectively.

4. Conclusions

(1)The content of coal ash affects Fvc greatly. Fvc is positively related to the content ratios of coal ash. When the mass ratio of PVA fibers to coal ash is larger than 1 : 50, then Fvc is larger than 0.95. In this case, the PVA fibers can disperse evenly in the cement-stabilized macadam.(2)Adding PVA fibers can improve the compressive strength of cement-stabilized macadam. When the fiber content is of 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³, the compressive strength value of the cement-stabilized macadam with evenly dispersed PVA fibers is around 4.8% and 6.2% higher, respectively, than it is in macadam where PVA fibers cannot disperse evenly. On the other hand, the compressive strength value of the cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fibers is around 16.1% and 17.8% higher than it is in common cement-stabilized macadam (where PVA fibers do not exist). Moreover, under the same curing period, the compressive strength of the cement-stabilized macadam with 0.9 kg/m³ of PVA fiber content is stronger than that in cement-stabilized macadam with 0.6 kg/m³ of PVA fiber content.(3)Adding PVA fibers can improve the splitting strength of cement-stabilized macadam. When the fiber content is of 0.6 kg/m³ and 0.9 kg/m³, the splitting strength value of the cement-stabilized macadam with evenly dispersed PVA fibers is around 5.4% and 5.6% higher, respectively, than it is in macadam where PVA fibers cannot disperse evenly. On the other hand, the splitting strength value of the cement-stabilized macadam with PVA fibers is around 22.6% and 25.8% higher than it is in common cement-stabilized macadam (where PVA fibers do not exist). Moreover, under the same curing period and with the same Fvc, the splitting strength of the cement-stabilized macadam with 0.9 kg/m³ of PVA fiber content is stronger than that in cement-stabilized macadam with 0.6 kg/m³ of PVA fiber content.

Data Availability

The float data used to support the findings of this study are included in the article. All the data of this experiment are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Yunnan Transportation Technology Fund Project (2017 (A) 15) and the Yunnan Provincial Transportation Technology Fund Project (2018).

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