Mechanical Behavior of a Granular Soil Stabilized with Alkali-Activated Waste
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 1
Abstract
The lack of bearing capacity of geotechnical materials is a recurrent problem that can be solved through chemical admixtures and densification methods. However, traditional materials/techniques are normally associated with energy-intensive processes and the extraction of natural resources and gaseous emissions. As a result, interest in more ecologically friendly solutions is rising. This paper evaluated the influence of several factors on the mechanical behavior of granular soil stabilized with an alternative alkali-activated cement produced from ceramic waste and carbide lime. Mixtures were tested for unconfined compressive strength, stiffness, durability, and strength parameters on simple shear equipment. The porosity/binder content index was applied to correlate all outcomes. Results showed that a lower silica modulus () resulted in lower strength and stiffness due to excessive alkalis presence; Lower silica modulus, however, also led to a smaller loss of mass under durability circumstances, indicating that the test conditions diluted any excessive alkalis. It has been demonstrated that the porosity/binder index is a useful tool for predicting mechanical behavior in terms of strength, stiffness, and durability. Finally, the monotonic shear response showed that the inclusion of the alkali-activated cement positively influenced the internal friction angle of the material and the cohesion intercept when compared to the natural granular soil.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to explicit their appreciation to the Brazilian Research Council CNPq for supporting the research group (Grants Nos. 307289/2018-4 and 402572/2021-1).
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Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 1 • January 2024
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© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Sep 17, 2022
Accepted: May 26, 2023
Published online: Oct 17, 2023
Published in print: Jan 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Mar 17, 2024
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