Experimental Studies on Ettringite-Induced Heaving in Soils
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 3
Abstract
Sulfate-induced heaving in soils is primarily attributed to ettringite formation from the reactions between calcium of a lime or cement stabilizer, reactive alumina in soils, and sulfates in soils. Ettringite formation and subsequent heaving in soils are complex topics that are not well understood. This research is an attempt to advance the state of the knowledge on these topics. Ettringite was successfully synthesized in the laboratory by simulating conditions close to those in chemically treated sulfate-bearing soils. Soils spiked and compacted with the synthesized ettringite did not undergo heaving in one-dimensional free swell tests. However, heaving was observed when ettringite was formed inside the lime-treated soil specimen by including ionic reactions. Mineralogical studies including x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope studies were used to evaluate the presence of ettringite. Experimental investigations showed that the ettringite or sulfate-induced heaving was higher in clays than in sands under similar chemistry and environmental conditions. This is attributed to the void sizes of soil types and crystalline ettringite formation in the voids. Also, the effects of soil type, lime and sulfate amounts on this type of heaving, and hypothesized threshold levels of chemical ions to form ettringite mineral in treated soils, are addressed.
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Acknowledgments
The contents of this paper reflect the views of the writers, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented. They would like to acknowledge the National Science Foundation (Program Director: Dr. Richard J. Fragaszy) for supporting this research under NSF Grant No. 0100255. The writers would also like to acknowledge the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of UT Arlington for providing student support to this research and acknowledge both the Materials Science Department of UTA and the Chemistry Department of Southern Methodist University (SMU) for providing SEM and XRD equipment access to the present research.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 3 • March 2005
Pages: 325 - 337
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 1, 2003
Accepted: Jul 23, 2004
Published online: Mar 1, 2005
Published in print: Mar 2005
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