Comparison of the effect of Cement, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), and activated GGBS on stabilization of a clay soil

مهندسی عمران فردوسی

Article 12, Volume 35, Issue 3 - Serial Number 39, December 2022, Pages 89-106   

Document Type: Original Article

DOI: 10.22067/jfcei.2022.74908.1115

Authors

amir jahani^* ; Ali Raeesi Estabragh; hossein khajepour; Mohadeseh Amini

Geotechnical Engineering, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

In this research work, the effect of cement, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), and activated GGBS with MgO on the treatment of a clay soil was studied through conducting the experimental tests. The ratios of 1:3 was considered for making the mixtures GGBS: MgO. The used percentages of additives were 5, 10, and 15%. Various experimental tests such as Atterberg limits, standard compaction, compressive strength (UCS), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) tests were performed on the samples with different percentages of additives. Also, UCS tests were conducted on the compacted samples at curing times of 7, 14, and 28 days. The results of UCS indicated that all used additives are effective in improving the behaviors of soil, and their amount is dependent on the percentage of used additives and curing time. In addition, a comparison of the results showed that in a given percentage of additives and curing time, activated GGBS is more effective than GGBS alone in improving soil samples. Based on the SEM results, it was found that the increasing strength of stabilized soil is resulted from the interaction between soil particles and additives materials. An economical evaluation of soil improvement with used additives was also carried out and the best one was proposed for conducting in the field.

Keywords

Clay soil improvement; Cement; GGBS; MgO; activated GGBS

References

1. Parsons, R. L. and Milburn, J. P., "Engineering behavior of stabilized soils", Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 1837, No. 1, pp. 20-29, (2003).
2. Sherwood, P., "Soil stabilization with cement and lime: State of the Art Review", HMSO, London, (1993).
3. Jones LD. and Jefferson I., "Expansive soils", ICE Publishing, London, pp. 413–441, (2012).
4. Al-Rawas, A. A., Hago, A. W. and Al-Sarmi, H., "Effect of lime, cement and Sarooj (artificial pozzolan) on the swelling potential of an expansive soil from Oman", Building and Environment, Vol. 40, No. 5, pp. 681–687, (2005).
5. Khemissa, M. and Mahamedi, A., "Cement and lime mixture stabilization of an expansive over consolidated clay", Applied Clay Science, Vol. 95, pp. 104–110, (2014).
6. Little, D.N. and Nair, S., "Recommended practice for stabilization of subgrade soils and base materials", The National Academies Press, Washington, DC., (2009).
7. Abu-Farsakh, M., Dhakal, S. and Chen, Q., "Laboratory characterization of cementitiously treated/stabilized very weak subgrade soil under cyclic loading", Soils and Foundations, Vol. 55, No. 3, pp. 504–516, (2015).
8. Higgins, D., "Briefing: GGBS and sustainability", Construction Materials, Vol. 160, No. 3, pp. 99–101, (2015).
9. Yi, Y., Liska, M. and Al-Tabbaa, A., "Properties of Two Model Soils Stabilized with Different Blends and Contents of GGBS, MgO, Lime, and PC", Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 267–274, (2014).
10. Makarchian, M. and Naderi, H., "Effect of moisture on the CBR resistance of stabilized soil with lime and Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) in the vicinity of sulfate", Proceedings of the 5th National Congress on Civil Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran, (2010).
11. Lee, A. R., "Blastfurnace and Steel Slag. Production properties and uses", Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd., London, (1974).
12. Wild, S., Kinuthia, J. M., Jones, G. I. and Higgins, D., "Effects of partial substitution of lime with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on the strength properties of lime-stabilised sulphate-bearing clay soils", Engineering Geology, Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 37-53, (1998).
13. Yadu, L. and Tripathi, R. K., "Effects of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag in the Engineering Behaviour of Stabilized Soft Soil", Procedia Engineering, Vol. 51, pp. 125–131, (2013).
14. Pathak, A. K., Pandey, V., Murari, K. and Singh, J. P., "Soil stabilisation using ground granulated blast furnace slag", Int. Journal of Engineering Research and Applications, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 164-171, (2014).
15. Shalabi, F. I., Asi, I. M. and Qasrawi, H. Y., "Effect of by-product steel slag on the engineering properties of clay soils", Journal of King Saud University - Engineering Sciences, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 394–399, (2017).
16. Shi, C., Krivenko, P.V. and Roy, D., "Alkali-activated cements and concretes", Taylor and Francis, London, (2006).
17. Yi, Y., Liska, M. and Al-Tabbaa, A., "Properties and microstructure of GGBS-MgO pastes", Advances in Cement Research, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 114–122, (2014).
18. Jegandan, S., Liska, M., Osman, A. A-M. and Al-Tabbaa, A., "Sustainable binders for soil stabilization", Proceeding of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Ground Improvement, Vol. 163, No. 1, pp. 53–61, (2010).
19. Yi, Y., Liska, M. and Al-Tabbaa, A., "Initial Investigation into the Use of GGBS-MgO in Soil Stabilisation", Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Grouting and Deep Mixing, New Orleans, pp. 444–453, (2012).
20. Taylor, A. W., "Physico-Chemical Properties of Soils: Ion Exchange Phenomena", Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, Vol. 85, No. 2, pp. 19–30, (1959).
21. Dash, S. K. and Hussain, M., "Lime Stabilization of Soils: Reappraisal", Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 24, No. 6, pp. 707–714, (2012).
22. Wild, S., Kinuthia, J. M., Robinson, R. B. and Humphreys, I., "Effects of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on the strength and swelling properties of lime-stabilized kaolinite in the presence of sulphates", Clay Minerals, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 423–433, (1996).
23. Akinmusuru, J. O., "Potential beneficial uses of steel slag wastes for civil engineering purposes", Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 73–80, (1991).
24. Kézdi, A., "Stabilized earth roads (development in geotechnical engineering)", Elsevier Scientific, New York, (1979).
25. Deng, S. P. and Tabatabai, M. A., "Effect of tillage and residue management on enzyme activities in soils: III. Phosphatases and arylsulfatase", Biology and Fertility of Soils, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 141–146, (1997).
26. Estabragh, A. R., Beytolahpour, I. and Javadi, A. A., "Effect of Resin on the Strength of Soil-Cement Mixture", Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 23, No. 7, pp. 969-976, (2011).
27. Estabragh, A. R., Khatibi, M. and Javadi, A. A., "Effect of Cement on Treatment of a Clay Soil Contaminated with Glycerol", Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 04015157-10, (2016).
28. Oti, J. E., Kinuthia, J. M. and Bai, J., "Using slag for unfired-clay masonry-bricks", Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers -Construction Materials, Vol. 161, No. 4, pp. 147–155, (2008).
29. Oti, J. E., Kinuthia, J. M. and Bai, J., "Developing unfired stabilised building materials in the UK", Proceeding of the Institution of Civil Engineers- Engineering Sustainability, Vol. 161, No. 4, pp. 211–218, (2008).
30. Nidzam, R. M. and Kinuthia, J. M., "Sustainable soil stabilisation with blastfurnace slag – a review", Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Construction Materials, Vol. 163, No. 3, pp. 157–165, (2010).
31. Kinuthia, J.M., "Property changes and mechanisms in lime-stabilised kaolinite in the presence of metal sulphates", PhD thesis, University of Glamorgan, UK, (1997).
32. Shi, C. and Day, R. L., "Chemical activation of blended cements made with lime and natural pozzolans", Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 23, No. 6, pp. 1389–1396, (1993).
33. Richardson, I. G., Brough, A. R., Groves, G. W. and Dobson, C. M., "The characterization of hardened alkali-activated blast-furnace slag pastes and the nature of the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) phase", Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 813–829, (1994).
34. Jin, F., Gu, K. and Al-Tabbaa, A., "Strength and hydration properties of reactive MgO-activated ground granulated blastfurnace slag paste", Cement & Concrete Composites, Vol. 57, pp. 8–16, (2015).
35. Gu, K., Jin, F., Al-Tabbaa, A., Shi, B., Liu, C. and Gao L., "Incorporation of reactive magnesia and quicklime in sustainable binders for soil stabilization", Engineering Geology, Vol. 195, pp. 53–62, (2015).