Micropore Structure of Aggregates in Treated Soils
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 1
Abstract
For the purpose of understanding the influence of stabilizing agents on the internal structure of aggregates in treated soils, seven soil samples were prepared for tests according to type and quantity of stabilization agents, as well as sampling location. In nitrogen adsorption and desorption tests, HK and BJH methods are, respectively, adopted to analyze the diameter distributions of micropores and mesopores within aggregates in samples with diverse treatment. The results indicate that: (1) micropores with the diameter of approximately in aggregates are prominent in both untreated and treated expansive soil samples; (2) mesopores with the diameter of greater than are mainly distributed in four ranges of 30–40, 70–75, 90–95, and , and the stabilization agent has significant effect on the structure of mesopores with the diameter of greater than ; and (3) both lime and cement are able to decrease the volumes of micropores while increasing those of mesopores and macropores in expansive soils. The scanning electron microscope images of the samples were presented to interpret the difference in micropore structure between lime-treated soils and cement-treated soils and further validate the results from adsorption tests. In addition, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) analysis was employed to determine the composition of some points on the individual aggregate and migration of calcium ions in the aggregates in lime treated soils. Through the EDX analysis, it is shown that lime usually concentrates in pores or on the surface of aggregates and has few effects on the inner of aggregates with size ranging from .
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Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. NSFC40172089) and also funded by National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. UNSPECIFIED40225006). Their support is gratefully acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 19 • Issue 1 • January 2007
Pages: 99 - 104
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 21, 2005
Accepted: Jul 29, 2005
Published online: Jan 1, 2007
Published in print: Jan 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Hilary I. Inyang
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