Abstract
In general, the prescription of the amount of water used in soil–cement mixtures is done to define the optimal compaction conditions for bases and sub-bases, or to ensure the fluidity necessary for a good mixture by injection. A better knowledge about the hydraulic behaviour of the resulting mixtures may be useful in service conditions, when permeability is important or when the layers are exposed to wetting and drying cycles. The relationship between saturated hydraulic permeability, coefficient of water absorption by capillarity and water retention properties were investigated for an artificially cemented sand prepared with different and realistic cement dosages, and with different water–cement ratios for each dosage. The water–cement ratio was considered in the analysis because it affects porosity and pore size distribution of the cement paste, and consequently tortuosity. Low values of this ratio mimic compacted sand–cement mixtures and large values simulate grouted sands. The dosages adopted simulate those used in pavement layers and obtained in grouted bodies. The results of an extensive set of experimental tests, performed to determine the hydraulic properties mentioned, are interpreted in the paper considering the presence and structure of the hardened cement paste. The materials prepared with low water–cement ratio have higher permeability and different water retention properties from those prepared with high ratios. Nevertheless, the water used in the hydration of the cement also affects the porosity and tortuosity of the hardened paste and may increase porosity if grout is very fluid. This study contributes to increase the knowledge about the effects of design parameters cement dosage and water–cement ratio on the hydraulic behaviour of the mixtures, which may be relevant when evaluating water retention and percolation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ACI (1990) American Concrete Institute. State-of-the-Art Report on Soil-Cement, ACI 230.1 R-90, Committee 230, Farmington Hills, MI
Arroyo M, Amaral MF, Romero E, Viana da Fonseca A (2013) Isotropic yielding of unsaturated cemented silty sand. Can Geotech J 50(8):807–819
ASTM D1632-07 (2007) Standard practice for making and curing soil-cement compression and flexure test specimens in the laboratory. American Standard for Testing Materials, EUA
Bell G (1993) Engineering treatment of soils. Taylor and Francis, Routledge
Bell A (2012) Geotechnical grouting and soil mixing. Chapter 90. ICE Manual of Geotechnical Engineering. Institution of Civil Engineers, UK
Cardoso R (2016) Porosity and tortuosity influence on geophysical properties of an artificially cemented sand. Eng Geol 211(23):198–207
Consoli N, Foppa D (2014) Porosity/cement ratio controlling initial bulk modulus and incremental yield stress of an artificially cemented soil cured under stress. Geotech Lett 4:22–26
Consoli NC, Cruz RC, Floss MF, Festugato L (2010) Parameters controlling tensile and compressive strength of artificially cemented sand. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 136:759–763
Consoli N, Rosa D, Cruz R, Rosa A (2011) Water content, porosity and cement content as parameters controlling strength of artificially cemented silty soil. Eng Geol 122:328–333
Cook RA, Hover KC (1999) Mercury porosimetry of hardened cement pastes. Cem Concr Res 29:933–943
Diamond S (2000) Mercury porosimetry, an inappropriate method for the measurement of pore size distributions in cement-based materials. Cem Concr Res 30(10):1517–1525
EN 1015-18 (2002) EN 1015-10: methods of test for mortar for masonry Part 18: determination of water-absorption coefficient due to capillary action of hardened mortar. European norm
Fang Y, Chung Y, Yu F, Chen T (2001) Properties of soil-cement stabilized with deep mixing method. In: Proceedings of the ICE—ground improvement 5(2), pp 69–74
Fredlund DG, Rahardjo H (1993) Soil mechanics for unsaturated soils. Wiley, New York
Fridjonsson EO, Hasan A, Fourie AB, Johns ML (2013) Pore structure in a gold mine cemented paste backfill. Miner Eng 53:144–151
Garboczi EJ (1990) Permeability, diffusivity, microstructural parameters: a critical review. Cem Concr Res 20(4):591–601
Horpibulsuk S, Miura N, Nagaraj TS (2003) Assessment of strength development in cement-admixed high water content clays with Abrams’ law as a basis. Geotechnique 53(4):439–444
Horpibulsuk S, Rachan R, Suddeepong A (2012) State of the art in strength development of soil-cement columns. In: Proceedings of the ICE—ground improvement 165(4), pp 201–215
Kenai S, Bahar R, Benazzoug M (2012) Experimental analysis of the effect of some compaction methods on mechanical properties and durability of cement stabilized soil. J Mater Sci 41(21):6956–6964
Kosmatka SH, Panarese WC (1988) Design and control of concrete mixtures. Portland Cement Association, Skokie, pp 17, 42, 70, 184. ISBN 0-89312-087-1
Mitchell J, Soga K (2005) Fundamentals of soil behavior, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York
O’Farrell M, Wild S, Sabir BB (2001) Pore size distribution and compressive strength of waste clay brick mortar. Cem Concr Compos 23(1):81–91
OIML R 121 (1996) Organisation Internationale de Métrologie Légale. International Recommendation. The scale of relative humidity of air certified against saturated salt solutions. Grande Imprimerie de Troyes, Troyes
Porbaha A, Shibuya S, Kishida T (2000) State of the art in deep mixing technology. Part III: geomaterial characterization. In: Proceedings of the ICE—ground improvement 4(3), pp 91–100
Ribeiro D, Néri R, Cardoso R (2016) Influence of water content in the UCS of soil-cement mixtures for different cement dosages. Proc Eng 143C:59–66
Rios S, Viana da Fonseca A, Baudet B (2012) The effect of the porosity/cement ratio on the compression of cemented soil. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 138(11):1422–1426
Romero E, Della Vecchia G, Jommi C (2011) An insight into the water retention properties of compacted clayey soils. Geotechnique 61:313–328
van Genuchten MT (1980) A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44:892–898
Warner P (2004) Practical handbook of grouting: soil, rock and structures. Wiley, New York
Xuan D, Houben L, Molenaar A, Shui Z (2012) Mechanical properties of cement-treated aggregate material—a review. Mater Des 33:496–502
Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the total funding provided by Parque Escolar, E.P.E, for the research presented, under Project CCP – Proj.IDI Empreitada no. 13,229 with OPWAY. Acknowledgement is also due to Eng. Raquel Néri and Mr. José Alberto Reis for their help in the experimental work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cardoso, R. Influence of Water–Cement Ratio on the Hydraulic Behavior of an Artificially Cemented Sand. Geotech Geol Eng 35, 1513–1527 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0190-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0190-3