Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Laboratory characterization of soft clay mixed with EPS, lime, fly ash, and sodium silicate

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The influence of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) and sodium silicate content on the density and mechanical properties of soft clay mixed with EPS, lime, fly ash, and sodium silicate is investigated in this study using unconfined compressive strength (UCS), cyclic load (CL), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests. It was found that EPS can efficiently decrease the density of mixed soil, whereas sodium silicate has no influence on the density. The UCS, elastic modulus, resilient modulus, and maximum dynamic stress first increased and then decreased with increasing sodium silicate content and decreased with increasing EPS content. When the sodium silicate and EPS contents were 6% and in the range 0.5 to 1%, respectively, the density of the mixed soil could be reduced efficiently, and the mechanical properties could be maintained. Based on this, an EPS content of 0.5 to 1% and a sodium silicate content of 6% can be considered optimal. Subsequently, an empirical model between the UCS, EPS content, and silicate content is proposed, which can provide theoretical support for mixed soil engineering applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data, models, and codes generated or used during the study appear in the published articles.

References  

  • Adhikari B, Khattak MJ, Adhikari S (2021) Mechanical and durability characteristics of flyash-based soil-geopolymer mixtures for pavement base and subbase layers. Int J Pavement Eng 22(9):1193–1212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai DG, Wei SW, Ye YS, Zhang QL, Li ZG, Li S (2021) Mechanical properties of lightweight foam concrete filler for roadbed of high-speed railway. Arab J Geosci 14(10):902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chenari RJ, Fard MK, Maghfarati SP, Pishgar F, Machado SL (2016) An investigation on the geotechnical properties of sand–EPS mixture using large oedometer apparatus. Constr Build Mater 113:773–782

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chenari RJ, Fatahi B, Ghorbani A, Alamoti MN (2018) Evaluation of strength properties of cement stabilized sand mixed with EPS beads and fly ash. Geomech Eng 14(6):533–544

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng YM, Li N (2017) Equivalence between bearing-capacity, lateral earth-pressure, and slope-stability problems by slip-line and extremum limit equilibrium methods. Int J Geomech 17(12):04017113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chindaprasirt P, Jaturapitakkul C, Chalee W, Rattanasak U (2009) Comparative study on the characteristics of fly ash and bottom ash geopolymers. Waste Manag 29(2):539–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho YK, Yoo SW, Jung SH, Lee KM, Kwon SJ (2017) Effect of Na2O content, SiO2/Na2O molar ratio, and curing conditions on the compressive strength of FA-based geopolymer. Constr Build Mater 145:253–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corrêa-Silva M, Araújo N, Cristelo N, Miranda T, Gomes AT, Coelho J (2018) Improvement of a clayey soil with alkali activated low-calcium fly ash for transport infrastructures applications. Road Mater Pavement 20(8):1912–1926

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng A, Xiao Y (2010) Measuring and modeling proportion-dependent stress-strain behavior of EPS-sand mixture”. Int J Geomech 10(6):214–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding M, Zhang F, Ling X, Lin B (2018) Effects of freeze-thaw cycles on mechanical properties of polypropylene fiber and cement stabilized clay. Cold Reg Sci Technol 15:155–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dueramae S, Sanboonsiri S, Suntadyon T, Aoudta B, Tangchirapat W, Jongpradist P, Pulngern T, Jitsangiam P, Jaturapitakkul C (2021) Properties of lightweight alkali activated controlled low-strength material using calcium carbide residue–fly ash mixture and containing EPS beads. Constr Build Mater 297:123769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edinçliler A, Özer AT (2014) Effects of EPS bead inclusions on stress–strain behaviour of sand. Geosynth Int 21(2):89–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fansuri H, Prasetyoko D, Zhang Z, Zhang D (2012) The effect of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide on the strength of aggregates made from coal fly ash using the geopolymerisation method. Asia-Pac J Chem Eng 7(1):73–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng Y (2015) Test on affecting factors of the density for EPS silt lightweight soil material. J Comput Theor Nanos 12(9):2797–2801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GBT 50123–2019 (2019) Standard for geotechnical testing method. National Standards of the People’s Republic of China: Beijing, China

  • Görhan G (2015) The evaluation with anova of the effect of lime admixture and thermal cure time on fly ash paste activated with sodium silicate solution. Constr Build Mater 94:228–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gu L, Lv QF, Wang SH, Xiang JR, Guo LX, Jiang JH (2021) Effect of sodium silicate on the properties of loess stabilized with alkali-activated fly ash-based. Constr Build Mater 280:122515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou TS (2012) Influence of expanded polystyrene size on deformation characteristics of light weight soil. J Cent South Univ 19(11):3320–3328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim C, Erol Y, Ali Osman Y (2021) Sodium silicate effect on setting properties, strength behavior and microstructure of cemented coal fly ash backfill. Powder Technol 384:17–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang P, Chen YW, Li N, Zhou L, Pu SY, Wang W (2022) Strength properties and microscopic mechanism of lime and fly ash modified expandable poly styrene lightweight soil reinforced by polypropylene fiber. Case Stud Constr Mat 17:e01250

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang P, Chen YW, Song XJ, Li N, Wang W, Wu EL (2022b) Study on compressive properties and dynamic characteristics of polypropylene-fiber-and-cement- modified iron-ore tailing under traffic load. Polymers 14:1995

  • JTGT F20-2015 (2015) Technical guidelines for construction of highway roadbases. Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China

  • Kang SH, Jeong Y, Kim MO, Moon J (2019) Pozzolanic reaction on alkali-activated Class F fly ash for ambient condition curable structural materials. Constr Build Mater 218:235–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khajeh A, Jamshidi Chenari R, Payan M (2020) A review of the studies on soil-EPS composites: beads and blocks. Geotech Geol Eng 38(4):3363–3383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khajeh A, Ebrahimi SA, MolaAbasi H, Chenari RJ, Payan M (2021) Effect of EPS beads in lightening a typical zeolite and cement-treated sand. B Eng Geol Environ 80(11):8615–8632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li MD, Wen KJ, Li L, Tian AG (2017) Mechanical properties of expanded polystyrene beads stabilized lightweight soil. Geomech Eng 13(3):459–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Lv QF, Yu JJ, Ji FL, Gu LY, Chen Y, Shan XK (2021) Mechanical property and microstructure of fly ash-based geopolymer activated by sodium silicate. Ksce J Civ Eng 25(5):1765–1777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miao LC, Wang F, Han J, Lv W, Li J (2013) Properties and applications of cement-treated sand-expanded polystyrene bead lightweight fill. J Mater Civil Eng 25(1):86–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohajerani A, Ashdown M, Abdihashi L, Nazem M (2017) Expanded polystyrene geofoam in pavement construction. Constr Build Mater 157:438–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro PJM, Miller SA, Horvath A (2017) Towards sustainable concrete. Nat Mater 16(7):698–699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morsy MS, Alsayed SH, Al-Salloum Y, Almusallam T (2014) Effect of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratios on strength and microstructure of fly ash geopolymer binder. Arab J Sci Eng 39(6):4333–4339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nematollahi B, Sanjayan J, Shaikh FUA (2015) Synthesis of heat and ambient cured one-part geopolymer mixes with different grades of sodium silicate. Ceram Int 41(4):5696–5704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Onishi K, Tsukamoto Y, Saito R, Chiyoda T (2010) Strength and small-strain modulus of lightweight geomaterials: cement-stabilised sand mixed with compressible expanded polystyrene beads. Geosynth Int 17(6):380–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padade AH, Mandal JN (2014) Expanded polystyrene-based geomaterial with fly ash. Int J Geomech 14(6):06014013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puri A, Badanoiu A, Voicu G (2008) Eco-friendly binders based on fly ash. Rev Roum Chim 53(11):1069–1076

    Google Scholar 

  • Salimi M, Ghorbani A (2020) Mechanical and compressibility characteristics of a soft clay stabilized by slag-based mixtures and geopolymers. Appl Clay Sci 184:105390

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selvakumar S, Kulanthaivel P, Soundara B (2021) Influence of nano-silica and sodium silicate on the strength characteristics of clay soil. Nanotechnol Environ Eng 6(3):45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silveira MV, Calheiros AV, Casagrande MDT (2018) Applicability of the expanded polystyrene as a soil Improvement tool. J Mater Civil Eng 30(6):06018006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sivapullaiah PV, Moghal AAB (2011) Role of gypsum in the strength development of fly ashes with lime. J Mater Civil Eng 23(2):197–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y, You JJ, Zhou J, Liu XP, Yu LW, Bu CM, Yan ZT, Chen XR (2020) Quantified research on the nonuniform distribution of expanded polystyrene beads in sandwich panels. Constr Build Mater 263:120672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Miao L (2009) A proposed lightweight fill for embankments using cement-treated Yangzi River sand and expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads. B Eng Geol Environ 68(4):517–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Hu B, Soon JH (2019) Physical and mechanical properties of a bulk lightweight concrete with expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads and soft marine clay. Materials 12(10):1662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao R, Ma YT, Jiang X, Zhang MM, Zhang YY, Wang YH, Huang BS, He Q (2020) Strength, microstructure, efflorescence behavior and environmental impacts of waste glass geopolymers cured at ambient temperature. J Clean Prod 252:119610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yaghoobzadeh S, Azizkandi AS, Salehzadeh H, Hasanaklou SH (2021) Effect of EPS beads on the behavior of sand–EPS and slope stability using triaxial and centrifuge tests. Int J Civ Eng 19(11):1269–1282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao ZY, Ai YZ, Shang QS, Li FZ, Yang G (2008) Mixture ratio of Yellow River silty soil stabilized with lime-fly ash. Rock and Soil Mechanics 29(7):1943–1948

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the constructive suggestions from editors and reviewers and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number [LQ20E080005]).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China

    Ping Jiang, Wenqian Zheng, Lin Zhou, Na Li & Wei Wang

  2. Shaoxing Key Laboratory of Interaction Between Soft Soil Foundation and Building Structure, Shaoxing, 312000, China

    Ping Jiang, Wenqian Zheng, Lin Zhou, Na Li & Wei Wang

Authors
  1. Ping Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wenqian Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lin Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Na Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wei Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Writing-original draft preparation: Ping Jiang and Wenqian Zheng. Writing, review, and editing: Na Li and Wei Wang. Data collection and analysis: Lin Zhou and Wenqian Zheng; methodology: Ping Jiang.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Wang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jiang, P., Zheng, W., Zhou, L. et al. Laboratory characterization of soft clay mixed with EPS, lime, fly ash, and sodium silicate. Bull Eng Geol Environ 82, 302 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03297-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03297-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation