Strength and Rheological Behavior of Fiber-Reinforced Loess Treated with Guar Gum Biopolymer

To improve engineering properties, eliminate structural defects and enhance the stability of loess. The eco-friendly materials biopolymer and basalt fiber are used as soil stabilizers to treat loess. Microstructural characterization and mechanical evaluations were conducted to assess the viability and reinforcement efficacy of biopolymer-fiber composites in loess stabilization. Guar gum (GG) exerts a notable influence on the stress-strain response of fiber-reinforced loess, whereas the compressive strength demonstrates a progressive enhancement with prolonged curing duration and elevated GG content. When GG = 2.0 %, the settlement of treated loess was the smallest, showing a strong compressive resistance. The rheological properties of GG-modified loess were evaluated through dynamic and static rheological tests, revealing a significant increase in shear stress, viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus with elevated GG content. When the shear strain is 10−4∼102 %, the dynamic shear stress changes in the range of 0∼10 kPa. Microstructure analysis shows that the hydrogel produced by GG and fibers combine to form a more tightly "gel-fiber network" system, which maximizes the restriction on the relative displacement of soil particles, thereby enhancing the loess matrix’s mechanical properties and overall structural integrity.