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Influence of Drying on the Stiffness and Strength of Cement-Stabilized Soils

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Abstract

Nowadays, improving the strength and deformation properties of soft soils by deep soil mixing is a commonly used technique. There is also an increasing interest in the use of this technique for foundation/structural elements and excavation retaining walls applications. The compressive strength and elastic modulus of the soil mix material are key parameters in the design of these structures. However, there is very limited information available on the impact of exposure to air drying (in the case of retaining wall) on the strength and stiffness of cement stabilized soils. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different curing conditions (immersion in water, cycles of wetting and drying, continuous air drying) on the mechanical properties of soils treated with cement in the laboratory. Free–free resonance tests and unconfined compression tests were performed on specimens of silt and sand treated with blastfurnace slag cement. Strength increases more rapidly than stiffness between 7 and 30 days. The strength of stabilized soils submitted to cyclic wetting and drying before the cement hydration process is complete continues to increase. As long as the periods of drying do not induce microcracks, the stiffness of the treated soil specimens also increases with time. However, the stiffness is lower than for the specimens cured in water indicating a disruptive effect of the imposed wetting–drying cycles on stiffness. Continuous exposure to air drying inhibits strength development due to insufficient water for hydration. Significant stiffness decreases were observed on specimens of stabilized silt and are attributed to microcracking.

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Abbreviations

E50 :

Secant deformation modulus at 50% of maximum stress (MPa)

G0 :

Small-strain shear modulus (MPa)

G0;7 days :

Initial small-strain shear modulus measured after 7 days (MPa)

fs :

Resonant frequency for shear waves (Hz)

L:

Length (m)

m:

Mass of specimen (kg)

mi :

Initial mass of specimen after 7 days of curing in water (kg)

PI:

Plasticity index (%)

qu :

Unconfined compressive strength (MPa)

t:

Curing time (days)

Vs :

Shear wave velocity (m/s)

w:

Moisture content (%)

wi :

Initial moisture content after 7 days of curing in water (%)

wL :

Liquid limit (%)

εf :

Strain at failure (%)

ρ:

Density (kg/m3)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IFSTTAR, Université Paris Est, Boulevard Newton, Champs sur Marne, 77447, Marne la Vallée Cedex 2, France

    Alain Le Kouby & Philippe Reiffsteck

  2. SNCF Réseau, 15 rue Jean-Philippe Rameau, 93212, La Plaine Saint Denis Cedex, France

    Antoine Guimond-Barrett

  3. LOMC, Université du Havre, 53 rue Prony, 76058, Le Havre Cedex, France

    Anne Pantet

Authors
  1. Alain Le Kouby
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  2. Antoine Guimond-Barrett
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  3. Philippe Reiffsteck
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  4. Anne Pantet
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Correspondence to Alain Le Kouby.

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Le Kouby, A., Guimond-Barrett, A., Reiffsteck, P. et al. Influence of Drying on the Stiffness and Strength of Cement-Stabilized Soils. Geotech Geol Eng 36, 1463–1474 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0401-y

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