Microstructure and Reinforcement Mechanisms of Fiber-Reinforced Clay
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 141
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Clayey soils are widely encountered in geotechnical engineering practice; however, their unfavorable characteristics, such as low shear strength, high plasticity, high settlement potential, and strong sensitivity to water content, often limit their direct use in engineering applications. In projects where bearing capacity, stability, and deformation control are critical, clayey soils generally require improvement before construction. Consequently, the development and assessment of effective soil improvement techniques have long been a major focus of geotechnical research.
Conventional soil improvement methods, including chemical stabilization, drainage, and preloading, may involve economic, environmental, and practical limitations. In recent years, fiber reinforcement has emerged as an effective and alternative technique that enhances the mechanical behavior of soils while largely preserving their natural structure. Various types of fibers, including both artificial fibers (e.g., polypropylene, polyester, and glass fibers) and natural or semi-natural fibers (e.g., jute, coir, sisal, and basalt fiber), have been widely investigated for this purpose. The distinct properties of different fibers lead to varied reinforcement effects, interaction mechanisms, and microstructural alterations within the clay matrix. Understanding these differences and the underlying principles is key to optimizing fiber-reinforced clay composites.
This Special Issue will bring together original and high-quality research papers that advance our understanding of fiber-reinforced clayey soils, with particular emphasis on interaction mechanisms and microstructural evolution across different fiber types. Experimental, analytical, and numerical studies employing state-of-the-art methods, such as mechanical testing, chemical and microstructural analysis (SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR), and advanced modeling approaches, are particularly encouraged.
Topics of Interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Effects of fiber reinforcement on the geotechnical properties of clayey soils;
- Interaction mechanisms between fibers and clay;
- Microstructural changes in fiber-reinforced clays;
- Relationships between microstructure and macroscopic mechanical behavior;
- Experimental, numerical, and multi-scale approaches to fiber-reinforced clay behavior.
We believe that this Special Issue will provide a valuable scientific platform and contribute to the establishment of a comprehensive knowledge base on fiber–clay interaction and microstructural modification, supporting both research advancements and practical geotechnical applications.
Prof. Dr. Zülfü Gürocak
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- fiber-reinforced clay
- clayey soils
- reinforcement mechanisms
- fiber–soil interaction
- microstructural changes and analysis
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