Stabilization of Silty Clayey Dredged Material
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 30, Issue 9
Abstract
This paper compares experimental results on the stabilization of clayey dredged material (DM) using quicklime (QL), hydrated lime (HL), portland cement (PC), and Class F fly ash (FA). The DM was a clay, high-plasticity soil, dredged from the US Army Corps of Engineers Port Arthur (USACEPA) facility along the Neches River located in Orange and Jefferson Counties, Texas. The soil consists of a large proportion of clay (66%), has high moisture limits (plasticity index: and liquid limit: ), and is characterized as a fat clay with silt. Physical properties of the untreated DM, such as unconfined compressive strength (UCS), consistency limits, and compaction behavior, were determined. Stabilizing reagents were mixed in various percentages by dry weight of DM. Results indicate that 12% QL, 6% HL, 6% PC, and 7.5% Class F FA by dry soil weight must be used to meet a minimum benchmark criterion of a PI value below 35, which was established based on Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) specifications. Standard compaction tests were carried out in accordance common standards with ASTM D698 to determine the optimum moisture content (OMC) for all mixtures. Stabilized mixtures were prepared at the corresponding OMC, and unconfined compressive tests were run according to common standards. Tests results were compared with the relevant literature, and a linear regression model was developed to predict the PI reduction as a function of initial PI, LL, and stabilizer type and content with good accuracy (). Overall, tests showed that stabilization of clayey DM using lime products, PC, or FA significantly improved the DM physical properties, which could then potentially be used as a local fill construction material that is cost-effective and environmentally friendly and reduces the overall use of cement products.
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Acknowledgments
This study was partly supported by grants from the Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality and from the Welch Foundation (V-0004). The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Clayton Henderson (former executive director) and Larry Fountain, manager of Sabine Neches Navigation District, for granting access to the DM locations and historical data of the designated DM disposal sites to the research team. Tyler Henneke, P.E. (engineering manager), and Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Inc., are thanked for facility support in sample testing. Dr. Jerry Lin provided the funding for the chemical-environmental tests as well as useful comments on the manuscript. The detection of heavy metals using the TCLP method was completed by Earth Analysis Services. Le Short (Operations Manager) at Mason Construction, Ltd. in Beaumont, TX, assisted with the geotechnical testing program and donated the funds necessary for the stabilizing additive mixing.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 30 • Issue 9 • September 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: May 6, 2017
Accepted: Feb 21, 2018
Published online: Jun 19, 2018
Published in print: Sep 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Nov 19, 2018
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