Incorporation of Volcanic Ash for Enhanced Treatment of a Cement-Stabilized Clayey Soil
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 2
Abstract
Many techniques, most notably soil stabilization, have been developed to enhance soil characteristics due to the growing trend of constructing structures on clayey soils. Therefore, it is imperative that researchers address clay-related issues utilizing geotechnical engineering achievements. This study evaluated the effect of volcanic ash (tuff) as a natural pozzolan on the improvement of cement performance in the clay stabilization. Various compositions of cement (0%–6% by dry mass) and tuff (0%–20% by dry mass) were added to clay and cured for 7 and 28 days. Then a set of tests, including modified Proctor, Atterberg limits, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, unconstrained compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR), wet-dry durability, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, were performed on the untreated and treated samples. The secant modulus () was measured to evaluate the stiffness of the specimens. The data showed that the incorporation of tuff into the studied cement-stabilized clay considerably enhanced the mixture mechanical properties and substantially reduced the plasticity index of the samples. After a 28-day period, the samples containing 6% cement and 15% tuff, as the optimum mixture, had increases of the UCS and CBR values of approximately twice those containing 6% cement. Moreover, the inclusion of tuff into the cement–soil blends increased the durability of the samples. According to the SEM and XRD analysis, the addition of tuff to the samples containing cement caused the formation of more cementitious compounds and fully changed the soil structure. The findings indicate that the use of tuff can lead to improved cement performance in the stabilization process.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
References
Afrasiabian, A., M. Salimi, M. Movahedrad, and A. H. Vakili. 2019. “Assessing the impact of GBFS on mechanical behaviour and microstructure of soft clay.” Int. J. Geotech. Eng. 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2019.1565393.
Ali, H., and M. Mohamed. 2019. “Assessment of lime treatment of expansive clays with different mineralogy at low and high temperatures.” Constr. Build. Mater. 228 (Dec): 116955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.116955.
Al-Mukhtar, M., S. Khattab, and J. F. Alcover. 2012. “Microstructure and geotechnical properties of lime-treated expansive clayey soil.” Eng. Geol. 139–140 (Jun): 17–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2012.04.004.
Al-Mukhtar, M., A. Lasledj, and J. F. Alcover. 2010. “Behaviour and mineralogy changes in lime-treated expansive soil at 20°C.” Appl. Clay Sci. 50 (2): 191–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2010.07.023.
Amith, K. S., and V. R. Murthy. 2019. “Numerical analysis of stone columns in soft clay with geotextile encasement and lime stabilization.” In Soil dynamics and earthquake geotechnical engineering, 169–176. New York: Springer.
Arulrajah, A., A. Mohammadinia, A. D’Amico, and S. Horpibulsuk. 2017. “Cement kiln dust and fly ash blends as an alternative binder for the stabilization of demolition aggregates.” Constr. Build. Mater. 145 (Aug): 218–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.04.007.
ASTM. 1992. Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (unified soil classification system). ASTM D2487-17e1. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2005. Standard test method for liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of soils. ASTM D4318. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2012a. Standard test methods for laboratory compaction characteristics of soil using modified effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft3 (2,700 kN-m/m3)). ASTM D1557-12e1. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2012b. Standard test methods for laboratory compaction characteristics of soil using standard effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3)). ASTM D698-12e2. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2014. Standard test methods for specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer. ASTM D854-14. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2015. Standard test methods for wetting and drying compacted soil-cement mixtures. ASTM D559. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2016. Standard test method for unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soil. ASTM D2166. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Bahadori, H., A. Hasheminezhad, and F. Taghizadeh. 2019. “Experimental study on marl soil stabilization using natural pozzolans.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 31 (2): 04018363. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002577.
Bowles, J. E. 1992. Engineering properties of soils and their measurement. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Cokca, E., V. Yazici, and V. Ozaydin. 2009. “Stabilization of expansive clays using granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and GBFS-cement.” Geotech. Geol. Eng. 27 (4): 489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-008-9250-z.
Dash, S. K., and M. Hussain. 2012. “Lime stabilization of soils: Reappraisal.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 24 (6): 707–714. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000431.
Goodarzi, A. R., H. R. Akbari, and M. Salimi. 2016. “Enhanced stabilization of highly expansive clays by mixing cement and silica fume.” Appl. Clay Sci. 132–133 (Nov): 675–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2016.08.023.
Goodarzi, A. R., and M. Movahedrad. 2017. “Stabilization/solidification of zinc-contaminated kaolin clay using ground granulated blast-furnace slag and different types of activators.” Appl. Geochem. 81 (Sep): 155–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2017.04.014.
Goodarzi, A. R., and M. Salimi. 2015a. “Effect of iron industry slags on the geotechnical properties and mineralogy characteristics of expansive clayey soils.” Modares J. Civ. Eng. 15 (2): 161–203.
Goodarzi, A. R., and M. Salimi. 2015b. “Stabilization treatment of a dispersive clayey soil using granulated blast furnace slag and basic oxygen furnace slag.” Appl. Clay Sci. 108 (May): 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2015.02.024.
Guo, X., H. Shi, and W. A. Dick. 2010. “Compressive strength and microstructural characteristics of class C fly ash geopolymer.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 32 (2): 142–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2009.11.003.
Hastuty, I. P., and G. Ramadhany. 2017. “The stability of clay using volcanic ash of Mount Sinabung North Sumatera and sugarcane bagasse ash with CBR and UCT value.” In Proc., MATEC Web of Conf., 4011. Les Ulis, France: Edition Diffusion Presse Sciences.
Hastuty, I. P., I. S. Sembiring, and M. I. Abidin. 2017. “The utilization of volcanic ash and high rusk ash as material stabilization in clay by unconfined compression test (UCT) and California bearing ratio (CBR).” In Proc., IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 12141. Bristol, UK: IOP Publishing.
Hoy, M., S. Horpibulsuk, and A. Arulrajah. 2016. “Strength development of recycled asphalt pavement—Fly ash geopolymer as a road construction material.” Constr. Build. Mater. 117 (Aug): 209–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.04.136.
Jafer, H., W. Atherton, M. Sadique, F. Ruddock, and E. Loffill. 2018. “Stabilisation of soft soil using binary blending of high calcium fly ash and palm oil fuel ash.” Appl. Clay Sci. 152 (Feb): 323–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2017.11.030.
Jayapal, J., and K. Rajagopal. 2019. “A short review of geosynthetic granular column treatment of soft clay soils.” In Ground improvement techniques and geosynthetics, 373–380. New York: Springer.
Kalkan, E., and S. Akbulut. 2004. “The positive effects of silica fume on the permeability, swelling pressure and compressive strength of natural clay liners.” Eng. Geol. 73 (1–2): 145–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2004.01.001.
Kavak, A., and A. Akyarli. 2007. “A field application for lime stabilization.” Environ. Geol. 51 (6): 987–997. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0368-0.
Khajeh, A., H. Mola-Abasi, and S. Naderi Semsani. 2017. “Parameters controlling tensile strength of zeolite-cemented sands.” Sci. Iranica 26 (1): 213–223. https://doi.org/10.24200/sci.2017.4585.
Kherad, M. K., A. H. Vakili, M. R. bin Selamat, M. Salimi, M. S. Farhadi, and M. Dezh. 2020. “An experimental evaluation of electroosmosis treatment effect on the mechanical and chemical behavior of expansive soils.” Arabian J. Geosci. 13 (6): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-5266-3.
Koohpeyma, H. R., A. H. Vakili, H. Moayedi, A. Panjsetooni, and R. Nazir. 2013. “Investigating the effect of lignosulfonate on erosion rate of the embankments constructed with clayey sand.” Sci. World J. 2013: 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/587462.
Kumar Sharma, A., and P. V. Sivapullaiah. 2012. “Improvement of strength of expansive soil with waste granulated blast furnace slag.” In GeoCongress 2012: State of the Art and Practice in Geotechnical Engineering, Geotechnical Special Publication 225, edited by R. D. Hryciw, A. Athanasopoulos-Zekkos, and N. Yesiller, 3920–3928. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Latifi, N., F. Vahedifard, S. Siddiqua, and S. Horpibulsuk. 2018. “Solidification–stabilization of heavy metal-contaminated clays using gypsum: Multiscale assessment.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (11): 04018150. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001283.
Li, M., S. Chai, H. Du, and C. Wang. 2016. “Effect of chlorine salt on the physical and mechanical properties of inshore saline soil treated with lime.” Soils Found. 56 (3): 327–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.04.001.
Liu, L., A. Zhou, Y. Deng, Y. Cui, Z. Yu, and C. Yu. 2019. “Strength performance of cement/slag-based stabilized soft clays.” Constr. Build. Mater. 211 (Jun): 909–918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.256.
Liu, S.-Y., G.-H. Cai, J.-J. Cao, and F. Wang. 2017. “Influence of soil type on strength and microstructure of carbonated reactive magnesia-treated soil.” Eur. J. Environ. Civ. Eng. 24 (2): 248–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2017.1378925.
Mola-Abasi, H., A. Khajeh, and S. Naderi Semsani. 2018a. “Effect of the ratio between porosity and and on tensile strength of zeolite-cemented sands.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 30 (4): 04018028. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002197.
Mola-Abasi, H., A. Khajeh, S. N. Semsani, and A. Kordnaeij. 2019. “Prediction of zeolite-cemented sand tensile strength by GMDH type neural network.” J. Adhes. Sci. Technol. 33 (15): 1611–1625. https://doi.org/10.1080/01694243.2018.1493020.
Mola-Abasi, H., A. Khajeh, and S. N. S. Semsani. 2018b. “Porosity/( and particles) ratio controlling compressive strength of zeolite-cemented sands.” Geotech. Geol. Eng. 36 (2): 949–958. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0367-9.
Mola-Abasi, H., M. Saberian, S. N. Semsani, J. Li, and A. Khajeh. 2018c. “Triaxial behaviour of zeolite-cemented sand.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Ground Improv. 173 (2): 82–92. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgrim.18.00009.
Mola-Abasi, H., and I. Shooshpasha. 2016. “Prediction of zeolite-cement-sand unconfined compressive strength using polynomial neural network.” Eur. Phys. J. Plus 131 (4): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2016-16108-5.
Mujtaba, H., T. Aziz, K. Farooq, N. Sivakugan, and B. M. Das. 2018. “Improvement in engineering properties of expansive soils using ground granulated blast furnace slag.” J. Geol. Soc. India 92 (3): 357–362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-018-1019-2.
Onyelowe, K. C. 2019. “Review on the role of solid waste materials in soft soils reengineering.” Mater. Sci. Energy Technol. 2 (1): 46–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mset.2018.10.004.
Ouhadi, V. R., R. N. Yong, M. Amiri, and M. H. Ouhadi. 2014. “Pozzolanic consolidation of stabilized soft clays.” Appl. Clay Sci. 95 (Jun): 111–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2014.03.020.
Ouhadi, V. R., R. N. Yong, and M. Sedighi. 2006. “Desorption response and degradation of buffering capability of bentonite, subjected to heavy metal contaminants.” Eng. Geol. 85 (1–2): 102–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2005.09.031.
Phanikumar, B. R., and T. V. Nagaraju. 2018. “Effect of fly ash and rice husk ash on index and engineering properties of expansive clays.” Geotech. Geol. Eng. 36 (6): 3425–3436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0544-5.
Phetchuay, C., S. Horpibulsuk, A. Arulrajah, C. Suksiripattanapong, and A. Udomchai. 2016. “Strength development in soft marine clay stabilized by fly ash and calcium carbide residue based geopolymer.” Appl. Clay Sci. 127–128 (Jul): 134–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2016.04.005.
Riaz, S., N. Aadil, and U. Waseem. 2014. “Stabilization of subgrade soils using cement and lime: A case study of Kala Shah Kaku, Lahore, Pakistan.” Pak. J. Sci. 66 (1): 39.
Salimi, M., M. Ilkhani, and A. H. Vakili. 2018. “Stabilization treatment of Na-montmorillonite with binary mixtures of lime and steelmaking slag.” Int. J. Geotech. Eng. 14 (3): 295–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2018.1439294.
Sharma, A. K., and P. V. Sivapullaiah. 2016. “Ground granulated blast furnace slag amended fly ash as an expansive soil stabilizer.” Soils Found. 56 (2): 205–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.02.004.
Sharma, N. K., S. K. Swain, and U. C. Sahoo. 2012. “Stabilization of a clayey soil with fly ash and lime: A micro level investigation.” Geotech. Geol. Eng. 30 (5): 1197–1205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-012-9532-3.
Siddiqua, S., and P. N. M. Barreto. 2018. “Chemical stabilization of rammed earth using calcium carbide residue and fly ash.” Constr. Build. Mater. 169 (Apr): 364–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.02.209.
Soltani, A., A. Deng, A. Taheri, and M. Mirzababaei. 2018. “Rubber powder–polymer combined stabilization of South Australian expansive soils.” Geosynthetics Int. 25 (3): 304–321. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.18.00009.
Suprapto, A. 2017. “The characteristic and activation of mixed andisol soil/bayat clays/rice husk ash as adsorbent of heavy metal chromium (Cr).” In Proc., IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 12022. Bristol, UK: IOP Publishing.
Tao, M., M. Abu-Farsakh, and Z. Zhang. 2008. “Characterization of unbound aggregates revealed through laboratory tests.” Int. J. Pavement Res. Technol. 1 (2): 72–75.
Thomas, A., R. K. Tripathi, and L. K. Yadu. 2018. “A laboratory investigation of soil stabilization using enzyme and alkali-activated ground granulated blast-furnace slag.” Arabian J. Sci. Eng. 43 (10): 5193–5202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-017-3033-x.
Tyagi, A., and D. K. Soni. 2019. “Effects of granulated ground blast furnace slag and fly ash on stabilization of soil.” In Recycled waste materials, 79–90. New York: Springer.
USEPA. 1983. Process design manual: Land application of municipal sludge. EPA-625/1-83-016. Washington, DC: USEPA.
Vakili, A. H., M. R. bin Selamat, M. Salimi, and S. G. Gararei. 2019. “Evaluation of pozzolanic Portland cement as geotechnical stabilizer of a dispersive clay.” Int. J. Geotech. Eng. 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2019.1583515.
Vakili, A. H., J. Ghasemi, M. R. bin Selamat, M. Salimi, and M. S. Farhadi. 2018. “Internal erosional behaviour of dispersive clay stabilized with lignosulfonate and reinforced with polypropylene fiber.” Constr. Build. Mater. 193 (Dec): 405–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.10.213.
Vakili, A. H., S. I. Shojaei, M. Salimi, M. R. bin Selamat, and M. S. Farhadi. 2020. “Contact erosional behaviour of foundation of pavement embankment constructed with nanosilica-treated dispersive soils.” Soils Found. 60 (1): 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2020.02.001.
Yadu, L., and R. K. Tripathi. 2013. “Stabilization of soft soil with granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash.” Int. J. Res. Eng. Technol. 2 (2): 115–119. https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2013.0202005.
Yaghoubi, M., A. Arulrajah, M. M. Disfani, S. Horpibulsuk, M. W. Bo, and S. Darmawan. 2018. “Effects of industrial by-product based geopolymers on the strength development of a soft soil.” Soils Found. 58 (3): 716–728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2018.03.005.
Yao, K., W. Wang, N. Li, C. Zhang, and L. Wang. 2019. “Investigation on strength and microstructure characteristics of nano-MgO admixed with cemented soft soil.” Constr. Build. Mater. 206 (May): 160–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.01.221.
Yi, Y., L. Gu, and S. Liu. 2015a. “Microstructural and mechanical properties of marine soft clay stabilized by lime-activated ground granulated blastfurnace slag.” Appl. Clay Sci. 103 (Jan): 71–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2014.11.005.
Yi, Y., X. Zheng, S. Liu, and A. Al-Tabbaa. 2015b. “Comparison of reactive magnesia- and carbide slag-activated ground granulated blastfurnace slag and Portland cement for stabilisation of a natural soil.” Appl. Clay Sci. 111 (Jul): 21–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2015.03.023.
Zha, F., S. Liu, Y. Du, and K. Cui. 2008. “Behavior of expansive soils stabilized with fly ash.” Nat. Hazards 47 (3): 509–523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-008-9236-4.
Zhang, Z., and M. Tao. 2008. “Durability of cement stabilized low plasticity soils.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 134 (2): 203–213. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2008)134:2(203).
Zheng, G., J. Liu, H. Lei, M. S. Rahman, and Z. Tan. 2017. “Improvement of very soft ground by a high-efficiency vacuum preloading method: A case study.” Mar. Georesour. Geotechnol. 35 (5): 631–642. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2016.1215363.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 2 • February 2021
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 11, 2020
Accepted: Jul 22, 2020
Published online: Nov 30, 2020
Published in print: Feb 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Apr 30, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.