Cement-Stabilized Phosphogypsum Synergistized with Curing Agent as Sustainable Pavement Base Materials
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 9
Abstract
Phosphogypsum (PG) is an industrial solid waste generated during the preparation of phosphoric acid, which is produced in large quantities and stockpiled or discharged into the sea. This study aims to design sustainable pavement base materials constituting significant PG content. The physical and chemical properties of the raw materials were first tested. The optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of specimens were determined by compaction tests. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS), split tensile strength (STS), freeze-thaw cycles, and shrinkage tests were used to evaluate the mechanical performance of phosphogypsum pavement base material (PPBM). Furthermore, the interaction mechanism was investigated by applying scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) tests. The results showed that the 7-day UCS of PPBM with cement content 8%–12% was greater than 3 MPa. The specimens retained 91.3% unconfined compressive strength over five freeze-thaw cycles. Unlike traditional semirigid base materials, the PPBM exhibited no shrinkage strain, which is manifested by the growth of expansion strain with increasing amounts of PG. Through microscopic observation, the PPBM produced ettringite (AFt) and calcium-silicate-hydrate (CSH) with the extension of curing time, which is consistent with the analysis of FTIR spectrums. The crystallized water in the PG participates in the hydration reaction.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Open Fund Project of the State Key Laboratory of Road Engineering Safety and Health in Alpine and High-Altitude Areas (YGY 2017 KYPT-02); Research and Innovation Program for Graduate Students in Chongqing (CYB22231).
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 9 • September 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 2, 2023
Accepted: Nov 29, 2023
Published online: Jun 27, 2024
Published in print: Sep 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Nov 27, 2024
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