Properties of Two Model Soils Stabilized with Different Blends and Contents of GGBS, MgO, Lime, and PC
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper addresses the use of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and reactive magnesia (MgO) blends for soil stabilization, comparing them with GGBS-lime blends and Portland cement (PC) for enhanced technical performance. A range of tests were conducted to investigate the properties of stabilized soils, including unconfined compressive strength (UCS), permeability, and microstructural analyses by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of GGBS:MgO ratio, binder content, soil type, and curing period were addressed. The UCS results revealed that GGBS-MgO was more efficient than GGBS-lime as a binder for soil stabilization, with an optimum MgO content in the range of 5–20% of the blends content, varying with binder content and curing age. The 28-day UCS values of the optimum GGBS-MgO mixes were up to almost four times higher than that of corresponding PC mixes. The microstructural analyses showed the hydrotalcite was produced during the GGBS hydration activated by MgO, although the main hydration products of the GGBS-MgO stabilized soils were similar to those of PC.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The experimental work presented in this paper was carried out at the Geotechnical and Environmental Laboratory, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, in the academic year 2009–2010 when the first author was a visiting researcher there. The funding from CSC, NSFC (51279032), MOST (2012BAJ01B02-01), and JCNSF (BK2011618) of China is gratefully acknowledged.
References
Ali, M., and Mullick, A. (1998). “Volume stabilization of high MgO cement: effect of curing conditions and fly ash addition.” Cem. Concr. Res., 28(11), 1585–1594.
ASTM. (2003). “Standard test methods for measurement of hydraulic conductivity of saturated porous materials using a flexible wall permeameter.” D5084, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2007). “Standard method for compressive strength of molded soil-cement cylinders.” D1633-00, West Conshohocken, PA.
Bell, F. G. (1996). “Lime stabilization of clay minerals and soils.” Eng. Geol., 42(4), 223–237.
Ben Haha, M., Lothenbach, B., Le Saout, G., and Winnefeld, F. (2011). “Influence of slagchemistry on the hydration of alkali-activatedblast-furnaceslag—Part I: Effect of MgO.” Cem. Concr. Res., 41(9), 955–963.
Bergado, D. T., Anderson, L. R., Miura, N., and Balasubramaniam, A. S. (1996). Soft ground improvement in lowland and other environments, ASCE, Reston, VA.
British Standards Institution (BSI). (2000). “Cement-Part 1: Composition, specifications and conformity criteria for common cements.” BS EN 197-1:2000, London.
Bruce, D. A. (2001). “Practitioner’s guide to the deep mixing method.” Ground Improv., 5(3), 95–100.
Chen, W. (2006). “Hydration of slag cement: theory, modeling and application.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands.
Chew, S. H., Kamruzzaman, A. H. M., and Lee, F. H. (2004). “Physicochemical and engineering behavior of cement treated clays.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 696–706.
Dash, S., and Hussain, M. (2012). “Lime stabilization of soils: Reappraisal.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 707–714.
Hakkinen, T. (1993). “The influence of slag content on the microstructure, permeability and mechanical properties of concrete. Part 1: Microstructural studies and basic mechanical properties.” Cem. Concr. Res., 23(2), 407–421.
Higgins, D. D. (2005). “Soil stabilization with ground granulated blast furnace slag, UK Cementitious Slag Makers Association report.” 〈http://www.ecocem.ie/downloads/Soil_Stabilization.pdf?PHPSESSID=5ec729224273596073a6071e4f56075d〉 (Sep. 1, 2012).
Higgins, D. D. (2007). “GGBS and sustainability.” Constr. Mater., 160(3), 99–101.
Holm, G. (2003) “State of practice in dry deep mixing methods.” Proc., 3rd Int. Specialty Conf. on Grouting and Ground Treatment, ASCE, Reston, VA, 145–163.
James, R., Kamruzzaman, A. H. M., Haqueand, A., and Wilkinson, A. (2008). “Behaviour of lime-slag-treated clay.” Ground Improv., 161(4), 207–216.
Jegandan, S., Liska, M., Osman, A., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2010). “Sustainable binders for soil stabilization.” Ground Improv., 163(1), 53–61.
Kamon, M., and Nontananandh, S. (1991). “Combining industrial wastes with lime for soil stabilization.” J. Geotech. Eng., 1–17.
Liska, M. (2009). “Properties and applications of reactive magnesia cements in porous blocks.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Cambridge, U.K.
Moseley, M. P., and Kirsch, K. (2004). Ground improvement, 2nd Ed., Spon press, New York.
Nidzam, R. M., and Kinuthia, J. M. (2010). “Sustainable soil stabilization with blast furnace slag—A review.” Constr. Mater., 163(3), 157–165.
Obuzor, G. N., Kinuthia, J. M., and Robinson, R. B. (2011a). “Enhancing the durability of flooded low-capacity soils by utilizing lime-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS).” Eng. Geol., 123(3), 179–186.
Obuzor, G. N., Kinuthia, J. M., and Robinson, R. B. (2011b). “Utilisation of lime activated GGBS to reduce the deleterious effect of flooding on stabilized road structural materials: A laboratory simulation.” Eng. Geol., 122(3–4), 334–338.
Osinubik, J. (2006). “Influence of compacting efforts on lime-slag treated tropical black clay.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 175–181.
Oti, J. E., Kinuthia, J. M., and Bai, J. (2008a). “Developing unfired stabilized building materials in the UK.” Eng. Sustainability, 161(4), 211–218.
Oti, J. E., Kinuthia, J. M., and Bai, J. (2008b). “Using slag for unfired clay masonry-bricks.” Constr. Mater., 161(4), 147–155.
Oti, J. E., Kinuthia, J. M., and Bai, J. (2009a). “Compressive strength and microstructural analysis of unfired clay masonry bricks.” Eng. Geol., 109(3–4), 230–240.
Oti, J. E., Kinuthia, J. M., and Bai, J. (2009b). “Engineering properties of unfired clay masonry bricks.” Eng. Geol., 107(3–4), 130–139.
Oti, J. E., Kinuthia, J. M., and Bai, J. (2009c). “Unfired clay bricks: from laboratory to industrial production.” Eng. Sustainability, 162(4), 229–237.
Petry, T. M., and Little, D. N. (2002). “Review of stabilization of clays and expansive soils in pavements and lightly loaded structures-history, practice and future.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 447–460.
Porbaha, A., Shibuya, S., and Kishida, T. (2000). “State of the art in deep mixing technology. Part III: Geomaterial characterization.” Ground Improvement, 4(3), 91–100.
Puppala, A. J., Wattanasanticharoen, E., and Hoyos, L. R. (2003). “Ranking of four chemical and mechanical stabilization methods to treat low-volume road subgrades in Texas.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 63–71.
Sherwood, T. P. (1993). Soil stabilization with cement and lime: State of the art review, HMSO Books, London.
Shi, C., Krivenko, P. V., and Roy, D. (2006). Alkali-activated cements and concretes, Taylor & Francis, New York.
Song, S., Sohn, D., Jennings, H. M., and Mason, T. O. (2000). “Hydration of alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag.” Journal of Materials Science, 35(1), 249–257.
Tasong, W. A., Wild, S., and Tilley, R. J. D. (1999). “Mechanism by which ground granulated blast furnace slag prevents sulphate attack of lime-stabilized kaolinite.” Cem. Concr. Res., 29(7), 975–982.
Terashi, M. (2003). “The state of practice in deep mixing methods.” Proc., 3rd Int. Specialty Conf. on Grouting and Ground Treatment, ASCE, Reston, VA, 25–49.
Vandeperre, L. J., Liska, M., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2008b). “Hydration and mechanical properties of mixtures of pulverised fly ash, Portland cement and Magnesium Oxide.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 375–383.
Wang, S. D., and Scrivener, K. L. (1995). “Hydration products of alkali activated slag cement.” Cem. Concr. Res., 25(3), 561–571.
Wild, S., Kinuthia, J. M., Jones, G. I., and Higgins, D. D. (1998). “Effects of partial substitution of lime with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on the strength properties of lime stabilized sulphate-bearing clay soils.” Eng. Geol., 51(1), 37–53.
Wild, S., Kinuthia, J. M., Jones, G. I., and Higgins, D. D. (1999). “Suppression of swelling associated with ettringite formation in lime stabilized sulphate bearing clay soils by partial substitution of lime with granulated blast furnace slag.” Eng. Geol., 51(4), 257–277.
Wild, S., Kinuthia, J. M., Robinson, R. B., and Humphreys, I. (1996). “Effects of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on strength and swelling properties of lime stabilized kaolinite in the presence of sulphates.” Clay Miner., 31(3), 423–433.
Yi, Y. L., Liska, M., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2012). “Initial investigation into the use of GGBS-MgO in soil stabilization.” Proc., 4th Int. Conf. on Grouting and Deep Mixing, ASCE, Reston, VA, 444–453.
Yi, Y. L., Liska, M., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2013). “Properties and microstructure of GGBS-magnesia pastes.” Adv. Cem. Res., in press.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 17, 2012
Accepted: Feb 19, 2013
Published online: Feb 21, 2013
Discussion open until: Jul 21, 2013
Published in print: Feb 1, 2014
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.