Influence of PET fibres on the tensile characteristics of cemented sand treated with silica fume

Reinforcement materials are employed to strengthen cementitious composites for better tensile strength particularly under repeated loading (such as highways). This research evaluates the effects of silica fume (SF) and randomly distributed discrete waste plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres on the tensile and microstructural characteristics of cemented sand. Laboratory tests were conducted on specimens with varying cement, SF, and PET fibre contents. The samples were cured for different durations and analyzed for tensile strength, microstructure, and other characteristics. Based on the results, the sample with 0.5% SF and 0.75% PET fibres had the highest tensile strength after 42 days. The stiffness of the cemented sand increased with SF inclusion but decreased with PET fibre incorporation. Energy absorption capacity also improved with SF and PET fibre addition. The findings were confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests, suggesting the potential for utilizing SF and PET in engineering applications.