Freeze–Thaw Cycle Characteristics of Solidified Sludge with Composite Rapid Soil Stabilizer
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 35, Issue 11
Abstract
A composite rapid soil stabilizer (CRSS) is used to rapidly solidify sludge, endowing it with characteristics of fast setting, fast hardening, and high strength. The effects of freeze–thaw (FT) cycles, CRSS content, and moisture condition of the sample on physical and mechanical properties of the solidified sludge were studied through FT cycle tests, and the microscopic evolution mechanism during FT cycles was analyzed. The research results showed that with the increase of FT cycles, the mass of solidified sludge gradually increased, and the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) first increased and then decreased. With the increase in CRSS content, the appearance of the sample was more complete, and final losses in the mass and strength were smaller. After 25 FT cycles, the DR20 sample lost only 0.33% in mass and only 6% in strength. The moisture condition of the samples before FT cycles had a significant effect on the durability against FT cycles, and increasing the content of CRSS could offset the FT erosion caused by high moisture content. After 25 FT cycles, the number of pores in the sample, the most probable pore size, and the cumulative pore volume increased. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses revealed the microscopic evolution mechanism, especially the strength evolution mechanism, of the solidified sludge resistance to FT cycles. Thus, CRSS-solidified sludge exhibits good durability against FT cycles, which lays a theoretical foundation for its application.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
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
This work was supported by Chongqing Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Demonstration Team Project, Science and Technology Innovation Project (No. 20-163-13-ZT-007-060-01), and Special Key Project of Technological Innovation and Application Development of Chongqing (No. JG2021072).
References
ASTM. 2016. Standard test methods for freezing and thawing compacted soil-cement mixtures. ASTM-D560/D560M-16. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Chamberlain, E. J., and A. J. Gow. 1979. “Effect of freezing and thawing on the permeability and structure of soils.” Eng. Geol. 13 (1–4): 73–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(79)90022-X.
Du, J., B. Li, Y. Wang, and W. H. Ma. 2020. “Study on resistance to dry-wet cycles of air-foam treated light soil under sodium sulfate environment.” J. Disaster Prev. Mitigation Eng. 40 (4): 581–588. https://doi.org/10.13409/j.cnki.jdpme.2020.04.012.
Fang, X. W., Y. He, K. Q. Long, M. M. Wang, and C. N. Shen. 2022. “Mechanism of rapid solidification sludge with soil stabilizer based on calcium sulfoaluminate cement.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 35 (7): 04023160. https://doi.org/10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-14956.
Fang, X. W., Y. Yang, Z. Chen, H. L. Liu, Y. Xiao, and C. N. Shen. 2020. “Influence of fiber content and length on engineering properties of MICP-treated coral sand.” Geomicrobiol. J. 37 (6): 582–594. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2020.1743392.
Horpibulsuk, S., R. Rachan, A. Chinkulkijniwat, Y. Raksachon, and A. Suddeepong. 2010. “Analysis of strength development in cement-stabilized silty clay from microstructural considerations.” Constr. Build. Mater. 24 (10): 2011–2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.03.011.
Horpibulsuk, S., C. Suksiripattanapong, W. Samingthon, R. Rachan, and A. Arulrajah. 2015. “Durability against wetting-drying cycles of water treatment sludge-fly ash geopolymer and water treatment sludge-cement and silty clay-cement systems.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 28 (1): 04015078. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001351.
Hou, S. W., H. Zhang, Z. J. Yang, Y. Z. Zhang, Y. L. Zhang, and Z. Y. Ding. 2020. “Study on freeze-thaw stability of Cu-contaminated soil solidified by magnesium phosphate cement.” Supplement, Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng. 39 (S1): 3123–3129. https://doi.org/10.13722/j.cnki.jrme.2019.0720.
Huang, Y. H., C. Dong, C. L. Zhang, and K. Xu. 2017. “A dredged material solidification treatment for fill soils in East China: A case history.” Mar. Georesour. Geotechnol. 35 (6): 865–872. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2016.1257669.
Kamei, T., A. Ahmed, and T. Shibi. 2012. “Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on durability and strength of very soft clay soil stabilized with recycled Bassanite.” Cold Reg. Sci. Technol. 82 (Oct): 124–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2012.05.016.
Ke, R., H. X. Wang, Y. Z. Tan, J. Wu, and L. B. Huang. 2019. “Effect of freeze-thaw cycle on mechanical properties of solidified silt.” J. Yangtze River Sci. Res. Inst. 36 (8): 136–139. https://doi.org/10.11988/ckyyb.20180046.
Lang, L., N. Liu, and B. Chen. 2020. “Strength development of solidified dredged sludge containing humic acid with cement, lime and nano-SiO2.” Constr. Build. Mater. 230 (Jan): 116971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.116971.
Liu, H., J. Chu, and E. Kavazanjian. 2023. “Biogeotechnics: A new frontier in geotechnical engineering for sustainability.” Biogeotechnics 1 (1): 100001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bgtech.2023.100001.
Liu, H. B., H. Z. Zhang, and J. Wang. 2018. “Effect of freeze-thaw and water content on mechanical properties of compacted clayey soil.” Rock Soil Mech. 39 (1): 158–164. https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2017.0546.
Maherzi, W., and F. B. Abdelghani. 2014. “Dredged marine raw sediments geotechnical characterization for their reuse in road construction.” Eng. J. 18 (4): 27–37. https://doi.org/10.4186/ej.2014.18.4.27.
Niu, M. D., G. X. Li, Y. Wang, Q. Q. Li, L. L. Han, and Z. P. Song. 2018. “Comparative study of immobilization and mechanical properties of sulfoaluminate cement and ordinary Portland cement with different heavy metals.” Constr. Build. Mater. 193 (Dec): 332–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.10.206.
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 (Jul): 134–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2016.04.005.
Sun, X. H., W. Zhu, X. D. Qian, and Z. R. Xu. 2014. “Exploring cementitious additives for pretreatment of high-early-strength sewage sludge from the perspective of the rapid generation of nonevaporable water.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 26 (5): 878–885. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000899.
Wang, D. X., N. E. Abriak, and R. Zentar. 2013. “Strength and deformation properties of Dunkirk marine sediments solidified with cement, lime and fly ash.” Eng. Geol. 166 (Nov): 90–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.09.007.
Wang, D. X., D. Y. Liu, X. Y. Xu, D. Zhao, W. W. Zheng, and Q. Zheng. 2021. “Freeze-thaw cycle and temperature effect of reactive MgO-fly ash stabilized Pb-contaminated soils.” Eng. J. Wuhan Univ. 54 (7): 609–617. https://doi.org/10.14188/j.1671-8844.2021-07-005.
Wang, D. X., H. W. Wang, W. L. Zou, and X. Y. Xu. 2019. “Study of durability of dredged sludge solidified with reactive MgO-fly ash.” Rock Soil Mech. 40 (12): 4675–4684. https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2018.1844.
Wang, D. X., and W. Y. Xu. 2012. “Research on strength and durability of sediments solidified with high volume fly ash.” Rock Soil Mech. 33 (12): 3659–3664. https://doi.org/1000-7598(2012)12-3659-06.
Wei, R., H. Cai, S. Z. Zhang, Z. W. Wang, and J. Z. Xiao. 2020. “Experimental study on compressive strength of cement solidified soft clay by freeze-thaw cycles.” Supplement, Water Resour. Hydropower Eng. 51 (S2): 405–411. https://doi.org/10.13928/j.cnki.wrahe.2020.S2.078.
Yang, K. H., Z. W. Ou, H. B. Xiao, J. C. Mo, and J. M. Liu. 2016. “Mechanism analysis and effect of cementitious capillary crystalline waterproofing materials on sulfur aluminate cement solidified soil.” Rock Soil Mech. 37 (2): 477–486. https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2016.02.021.
Yi, Y., C. Li, S. Liu, and A. Al-Tabbaa. 2014. “Resistance of MgO-GGBS and CS-GGBS stabilised marine soft clays to sodium sulfate attack.” Géotechnique 64 (8): 673–679. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.14.T.012.
Zentar, R., D. X. Wang, N. E. Abriak, M. Benzerzour, and W. Z. Chen. 2012. “Utilization of siliceous–aluminous fly ash and cement for solidification of marine sediments.” Constr. Build. Mater. 35: 856–863. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.04.024.
Zhang, F. 2011. Mechanical properties of Pb/Zn contaminated clay treated by cement-based materials. Nanjing, China: Southeast Univ.
Zhang, R. J., C. Q. Dong, Z. Lu, and H. F. Pu. 2019. “Strength characteristics of hydraulically dredged mud slurry treated by flocculation-solidification combined method.” Constr. Build. Mater. 228 (Dec): 116742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.116742.
Zhang, X. C., X. W. Fang, J. L. Liu, M. M. Wang, C. N. Shen, and K. Q. Long. 2022. “Durability of solidified sludge with composite rapid soil stabilizer under wetting-drying cycles.” Case Stud. Constr. Mater. 17 (Dec): e01374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01374.
Zhang, X. W., L. W. Kong, A. G. Guo, and Y. F. Tuo. 2014. “Experiment study of pore distribution of strong structural clay under different consolidation pressures.” Rock Soil Mech. 35 (10): 2794–2800. https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2014.10.005.
Zheng, X., S. Y. Liu, G. H. Cai, and J. J. Cao. 2015a. “Experimental study on freeze-thaw properties of carbonated reactive MgO-stabilized soils.” J. Southeast Univ. 45 (3): 595–600. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-0505.2015.03.032.
Zheng, Y., W. Ma, and H. Bing. 2015b. “Impact of freezing and thawing cycles on the structures of soil and a quantitative approach.” J. Glaciol. Geocryology 37 (1): 132–137. https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2015.0014.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 35 • Issue 11 • November 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 22, 2022
Accepted: Apr 25, 2023
Published online: Sep 6, 2023
Published in print: Nov 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Feb 6, 2024
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.