Performance Evaluation of Clay Plastic Concrete of Cement and Epoxy Resin Composite as a Sustainable Construction Material in the Durability Process

Abstract

In this research, bentonite soil was stabilized with cement and epoxy resin additives by gradually increasing the ratio of epoxy resin to water to withstand six successive wetting/drying (W/D) cycles. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were performed on the stabilized samples after curing and 24 h of soaking in the third and sixth cycles. The swelling–shrinkage potential of bentonite soil was evaluated indirectly by analyzing its stress–strain behavior. The results showed that for different amounts of cement, the minimum ratio of epoxy resin to water added to bentonite soil to last up to six cycles was equal to 1:1. Also, by stabilizing the bentonite soil so that the total weight of the optimum moisture content was replaced with epoxy resin, the strength and rigidity attained the level of normal concrete, with the difference that the ductility was much more significant. The failure strain value increased by 32 times, and the plastic region of the stress–strain curve expanded over the wide strain interval with a length of about 5%. Clay plastic concrete design consisting of cement and epoxy resin develops sustainable ground improvement methods.