Utilization of Blast-Furnace Slag as a Standalone Stabilizer for High Sulfate-Bearing Soils
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 10
Abstract
This paper presents experimental results and analysis of sulfate-bearing soils treated with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS). The experiments involve the unconfined compression strength test, shrinkage, free swelling, suction measurements, and microstructural examination. Short- and long-term swelling tests were conducted to inspect the durability of GGBS stabilization against the sulfate-induced heave. The concept of the shrinkage curve was employed to elucidate how GGBS stabilization alleviates soil shrinkage behavior and alters the pore size distribution. The results manifested that 7% GGBS was sufficiently adequate to improve the 28-day strength of the tested sulfate-bearing soils about five times. The GGBS treatment mainly results in the decline of calcium sulfate content and the formation of calcium silicate hydrate, ettringite, and calcite. The results of long-term swelling tests indicated a delayed sulfate-induced heave that started beyond a month from the time of exposing the treated soils to water. The delayed heave was still not significant as compared with that of the untreated control soil specimens. Accordingly, it is recommended that the treated sulfate-bearing soils are tested with the selected GGBS content for any delayed swelling before application in the field. The GGBS treatment has significantly escalated suction magnitude during curing mainly due to the consumption of water in the hydration process and the formation of ettringite.
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Data Availability Statement
All data and models that support the findings of this study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank and acknowledge the fund provided by the ODOT for this research. We thank Mr. Corey Zollinger from CEMEX Company for providing the GGBS used in this study. We also thank the Nebraska Nanoscale Facility (NNF) for providing the X-ray fluorescence test for GGBS and soils.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 10 • October 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 16, 2020
Accepted: Feb 9, 2021
Published online: Jul 19, 2021
Published in print: Oct 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 19, 2021
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