Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Cemented Silty Sand: Laboratory Tests, Statistical Analysis and Microscopic Mechanism
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Journal: Applied Sciences_MDPI
Manuscript ID: -
Manuscript Type: Research Article
Manuscript name: Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Cemented Silty Sand: Laboratory Tests, Statistical Analysis and Microscopic Mechanism
The authors investigated the mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforcing cemented silty sand. It was performed laboratory tests, statistical analysis, and microscopic mechanisms. The unconfined compressive strength tests, splitting tests, and scanning environmental microscope tests were carried out for BF-reinforced subgrade cemented silty sand with different fiber contents and curing times. According to the analysis result, the UCS, STS of BFUSM, and BFCSM both increased after curing for 28 days. It was seen that the UCS and STS of BFCSM test results were higher than BFUSM or cemented silty sand. The optimum fiber ratio was obtained as 0.2%. IT was seen as a good linear correlation between UCS and STS of BFUSM and BFCSM. In terms of microscopic mechanism, the fiber-cement-soil skeleton structure provided a better bonding capacity and strength.
Considering the above-aforementioned manuscript, the following query should be considered for the manuscript to be comprehensible by the authors.
Query and advise
1- It should be explained in which regions and in which areas the materials were used before, and information should be given about their economic life.
2- Where were the materials used in the experimental study obtained, and where were the experimental studies carried out? The necessary explanation should be given.
3- How was mixing done to ensure homogeneity? (a top, middle, bottom).
4- A flowchart must be demonstrated in the manuscript.
5- An explanation of the abbreviations should be given.
6- Future work should be included.
7- Figure 1 should be rearranged and lower and upper limits should be given. The y-axis must be renamed.
8- Why are the initial water contents of the soil before and after the cement additive in Table 1 the same? Clarification should be made.
9- Table 1 title should be rearranged because of not only the given cemented silty.
10- The test types applied and the number of test repetitions should be given as tables.
11- It should be appropriate to give the consolidation values of the silty sand before and after the additive use.
12- It should be given water absorption rates.
13- In laboratory studies, the swelling potential of the silty sand before and after the additive should be given.
14- For example, it would be better to perform a three-axis pressure test to demonstrate the actual behavior of the soil.
15- Line spacing between table 3 and note should be removed.
16- Doesn't the use of cement additive in Table 1 decrease the plastic limit value?
17- Page 7-line 205-214 should be simplified.
18- The 3-day cure results in Figure 5a should be reviewed for the basalt fiber content of %0.0 and %0.1.
19- Figure 6a should be reviewed again for %0.0-0.1
20- The value with the larger deviation in Figure 7 a should be removed from the figure.
21- Figure 6b y-axis name should be the same as in Figure 6a.
22- Table 2 should be given with a reference to where the values were taken from.
23- What are the standards used in experimental studies? (ıt should be given Table 1 and Table 2).
24- Repeated sentences should be avoided.
25- What is the chemical property of the materials?
26- Test studies and devices used should be given as a table.
The manuscript should be rearranged considering the above query and recommendation. A 3-axis compression test is recommended to reflect the actual property of the material. Therefore, the article needs minor corrections.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper focuses on the mechanical properties and microstructure mechanism of Basalt fiber (BF) reinforced cemented silty sand with different fiver contents and curing time. The topic addressed is interesting and deserves a constructive discussion for fiber strengthening mechanism on BF reinforced cemented silty sand. However, several points as indicated below need to be addressed by authors to improve the quality of the articles.
1. p.3, Line108-109
Please provide the details of previous research. The reason of 2% dosage of the optimal cement content is unknown.
2. p.4, Line134-135
Please provide the reason the authors selected 12mm of fiber length.
3. p.6, Line199-200 and p.7, Line209-210
Why did the UCS show maximum value at the fiber content of 0.2%? Please add your discussion on this point.
4. p.6, Line202-203
The definition of “increasing amplitude between adjacent curing time” is unclear. Please explain the definition clearly.
5. p.7, Line233-234
Why did the STS of BFUSM and BFCSM decrease at the fiber content of 0.3% or more? Please add your discussion on this point.
6. p.12, Figure10
Please indicate the curing time of the specimens in SEM images.
7. p.12, caption of Figure10
“(d) local marked…” replace by “(f) local marked…”.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
This work has investigated Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Cemented 2 Silty Sand. The findings in this work have potential to extend the application natural fiber reinforced composites.
However, the novelty needs to be re-condensed to make it clear to readers.And detailed comments are below:
1 . The abstract should includes – introduction, problem statement, method, objective, results, and conclusion. Please include the numerical values in the abstract and significant findings.
2. in introduction it is better to add figure information on the sample for better understanding
3. for line 220 – please elaborate the finding with supported references, at least 3 reference needed to support the disucssuion in this section.
4. line 224 – why it behave like the mention finding after 14 days of curing.
5. in section line 226. Please add ref to support your findings.
6. 28 days of curing looks have better mechanical properties compred to others , how about the increase of curing time, is it will increase the mechanical properties too?
The statistical analysis looks good and well define.
The conclusions is well explained n conclude.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
The paper can be accepted. It is immense practical importance.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report
The manuscript "Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Cemented Silty Sand" deals with important material issues.
The first part of the manuscript shows material and testing methods. The particle size distribution curve of strength sand was obtained from the research and the basic physical properties of cemented strength sand were tabulated. The study shows the specimen preparation method and experimental procedure. Among other tests, unconfined compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and scanning environmental microscope tests were carried out.
The test results showed quantitative values of unconfined compressive strength of reinforced silty sand at varying basalt fiber contents and curing time and splitting tensile strength of reinforced silty sand at varying basalt fiber contents and curing time. The correlation between unconfined compressive strength and splitting tensile strength was also shown.
The most important conclusions from the research are presented as final conclusions.
Positive remarks:
The research program is combined with the analysis of current research in the world.
The manuscript shows the aim of the research and the range of values for which the research was carried out.
Test methods are clearly shown.
SEM (scanning environmental microscope)
Statistical analysis of multiple factors.
The presented results can be the basis for discussion and extension of this research.
Critical remarks:
I have no significant critical remarks
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Thank you for your appropriate response to the peer review comments. I recommend that it be accepted for publication.
