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Time-dependent physicochemical characteristics of Malaysian residual soil stabilized with magnesium chloride solution

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Abstract

The effects of non-traditional additives on the geotechnical properties of tropical soils have been the subject of investigation in recent years. This study investigates the strength development and micro-structural characteristics of tropical residual soil stabilized with magnesium chloride (MgCl2) solution. Unconfined compression strength (UCS) and standard direct shear tests were used to assess the strength and shear properties of the stabilized soil. In addition, the micro-structural characteristics of untreated and stabilized soil were discussed using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques such as X-ray diffractometry (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDAX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area analysis. From the engineering point of view, the results indicated that the strength of MgCl2-stabilized soil improved noticeably. The degree of improvement was approximately two times stronger than natural soil after a 7-day curing period. The results also concluded the use of 5 % of MgCl2 by dry weight of soil as the optimum amount for stabilization of the selected soil. In addition, the micro-structural study revealed that the stabilization process modified the porous network of the soil. The pores of the soils had been filled by the newly formed crystalline compounds known as magnesium aluminate hydrate (M-A-H).

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Acknowledgments

The authors wished to acknowledge the financial supports given by the Ministry of Education Malaysia under the Fundamental Research Grant (FRGS), R.J130000.7822.4F658, and the supports from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Construction Research Centre UTM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotechnic & Transportation Department, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    Nima Latifi, Ahmad Safuan A. Rashid & Aminaton Marto

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, 35430, Urla, Izmir, Turkey

    Nurhan Ecemis

  3. Construction Research Centre (CRC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    Mahmood Md Tahir

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  1. Nima Latifi
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  2. Ahmad Safuan A. Rashid
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Correspondence to Ahmad Safuan A. Rashid.

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Latifi, N., Rashid, A.S.A., Ecemis, N. et al. Time-dependent physicochemical characteristics of Malaysian residual soil stabilized with magnesium chloride solution. Arab J Geosci 9, 58 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2100-4

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