Improvement of a clayey soil with alkali activated low-calcium fly ash for transport infrastructures applications

The improvement of geotechnical properties is often achieved by the addition of traditional binders, such as cement or lime. However, the use of such binders implies a considerable financial and environmental cost that needs to be mitigated. An unconventional solution, similar to cement in terms of performance but more environmentally friendly, consists in the use of binders made from alkaline activated industrial residues. The technique consists on the activation of raw materials (such as fly ash or blast furnace slag) rich in Si, Al, or even Ca, with high pH alkaline solutions. The present work was developed aiming the possible stabilisation, using different fly ash contents, of a clayey soil with sand. The activator solution was composed of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. The extended experimental campaign included unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), pulse velocity tests and triaxial tests to assess the geomechanical improvement induced by the new binder. As a mean of comparison, the experimental campaign included also the stabilisation of the same soil with either cement or lime. The obtained data indicates that the use of alkaline activation as a soil stabilisation technique provides competitive geomechanical results, when compared with those obtained with traditional binders.(undefined

Soil stabilization with lime for the construction of forest roads

The mechanical performance of soil stabilization using lime to improve forest roads was assessed. This study was conducted with lateritic soil (LVAd30) using lime content of 2% in the municipality of Niquelândia, Goiás state, Brazil. Geotechnical tests of soil characterization, compaction, and mechanical strength were performed applying different compaction efforts and curing periods. The results showed that lime content significantly changed the mechanical performance of natural soil, increasing its mechanical strength and load-carrying capacity. Compaction effort and curing time provided different responses in the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests. The best UCS value (786.59 kPa) for the soil-lime mixture was achieved with modified compaction effort and curing time of 28 days. In the CBR test, soil-lime mixtures compacted at intermediate and modified efforts and cured for 28 days were considered for application as subbase material of flexible road pavements, being a promising alternative for use in layers of forest roads

Effet de la combinaison de la chaux et de la pouzzolane naturelle sur le compactage et la résistance des sols mous argileux

La stabilisation des sols mous a été pratiquée longtemps en mélangeant des ajouts, tels que le ciment, la chaux et les cendres volantes au sol pour augmenter sa résistance. Cependant, il y a un manque d’investigations sur l’utilisation de la pouzzolane naturelle seule ou combinée avec la chaux pour les applications d’amélioration des sols. Un programme expérimental a été entrepris pour étudier l’effet de la chaux, la pouzzolane naturelle ou leur combinaison sur les caractéristiques géotechniques des sols mous. La chaux ou la pouzzolane naturelle ont été ajoutées aux sols par des teneurs de 0-10% et 0-20% respectivement. Les échantillons préparés ont été soumis aux essais de compactage et de résistance à la compression non confinée. Les échantillons ont subis des périodes de cure de 1, 7, 28 et 90 jours après quoi ils ont été soumis aux essais de la résistance à la compression non confinée. Basé sur les résultats favorables obtenus, ilpeut être conclu que les sols mous argileux peuvent être stabilisés avec succès par l’action combinée de la chaux et de la pouzzolane naturelle. Puisque la pouzzolane naturelle est beaucoup moins chère que la chaux, l’addition de la pouzzolane naturelle dans le mélange chaux-sol peut en particulier devenir attirante et avoir comme conséquence une réduction des coûts de la construction