Unlocking the Potential of RFA and Stabilizers in High Moisture Geotechnical Applications

In recent decades, rapid urbanization has generated a large amount of waste soft soil and construction debris, resulting in severe environmental pollution and posing significant challenges to engineering construction. To address this issue, this study explores an innovative approach that synergistically applies recycled fine aggregate (RFA) and soil stabilizers to improve the mechanical properties of soft soil. Through laboratory experiments, the study systematically examines the effects of different mixing ratios of RFA (20%, 40%, 60%) and soil stabilizers (10%, 15%, 20%) with red clay. After standard curing, the samples underwent water immersion maintenance for varying durations (1, 5, 20, and 40 days). Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of the samples, and the mechanisms were further analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size distribution (PSD) analysis. The results indicate that the optimal performance is achieved with 20% RFA and 20% stabilizer, reaching the highest UCS value after 40 days of water immersion. This improvement is primarily attributed to the formation of a dense reticulated structure, where RFA particles are effectively encapsulated by clay particles and stabilized by hydration products from the stabilizer, forming a robust structural system. Unconsolidated undrained (UU) tests reveal that peak deviatoric stress increases with confining pressure and stabilizer content but decreases when excessive RFA is added. Shear strength parameter analysis demonstrates that both the internal friction angle (φ) and cohesion (c) are closely related to the content ratios, with the best performance observed at 20% stabilizer and 20% RFA. PSD analysis further confirms that increasing stabilizer content enhances particle aggregation, while SEM observations visually illustrate a denser microstructure. These findings provide a feasible solution for waste soft soil treatment and resource utilization of construction debris, as well as critical technical support and theoretical guidance for geotechnical engineering practices in high-moisture environments.