Temperature-Accelerated Strength Development in Stabilized Marine Soils as Road Construction Materials

Few studies have been reported about the effect of high curing temperature on the engineering properties of lime/cement-treated marine soils as alternative materials in road construction. Laboratory tests, including the stress-strain relationship, unconfined compressive strength, tensile strength, deformation modulus, and failure strain, have been systematically investigated to fill this gap. Some useful conclusions were developed from the results and discussions. The strength and modulus increase with cement content, curing time, and curing temperature, leading to a decrease in failure strain. Experimental analysis shows an appropriate lime content of about 3% when using a single lime treatment. Further addition has no beneficial effect in producing an improved construction material. Cement seems to be more effective than lime in speeding up the mechanical performance of problematic soils under high curing temperatures. Different from the strength ratio and modulus ratio, relationships such as $\mathrm{UCS}\text{-}{ϵ}_f$, $\mathrm{UCS}\text{-}{R}_t$, and $\mathrm{UCS}\text{-}{E}_{50}$ are insignificantly affected by high curing temperatures at 40 and 60°C. The concept of material classification contributes to prove that the 60°C curing temperature can reach similar solidification effectiveness when combined with a certain quantity of granular materials. The formation of new cementitious phases detected through scanning electron microscope images is the main source in strength gain and microstructural change by the temperature-accelerated pozzolanic reaction and cement hydration. The current study provides a novel methodology to improve the in situ or laboratory solidification/stabilization technology.