Enhancing interfacial bond performance of waste textile-reinforced geopolymer mortar for masonry retrofitting

The dual challenge of textile waste accumulation and the carbon footprint of cementitious binders demand sustainable construction solutions. This study evaluates the enhancement of masonry structural performance through the incorporation of resin-treated waste textile reinforcement within cement mortar and geopolymer mortar matrices prepared at 8 M, 10 M, and 12 M molarity levels. The objective of the research is to evaluate the mechanical compatibility between geopolymer binders and resin-impregnated textiles and to quantify their influence on tensile capacity, bond behaviour, and overall stress transfer efficiency of masonry composites. The performance of resin-treated textiles was systematically compared with untreated textile reinforcements to assess the effectiveness of resin impregnation. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in both tensile and bond performance for resin-treated textiles. The tensile stress capacity increased from 130 to 144 MPa for untreated textiles to 192-214 MPa for resin-treated textiles, while slip values reduced from 9.2 to 9.5 mm to 4.3-4.8 mm, indicating enhanced interfacial adhesion and anchorage behaviour. Among the investigated mixes, the 10 M geopolymer mortar exhibited the most favourable performance, indicating optimal compatibility between matrix strength and workability for efficient textile impregnation and bonding. All tested specimens exhibited an E2 failure mode, characterized by textile rupture with intact matrix-substrate integrity and controlled deformation behaviour. Overall, the findings establish resin-treated waste textile reinforcement as a high-performance and sustainable strengthening technique for masonry structures, providing both environmental benefits through textile waste valorization and structural improvements in terms of durability and load-carrying efficiency.