Effectiveness of Ionic Stabilization in the Mitigation of Soil Volume Change Behavior

2021 ◽  
pp. 100573
Author(s):  
Hussein Al-Dakheeli ◽  
Sharif Arefin ◽  
Rifat Bulut ◽  
Dallas Little
Author(s):  
Rinu Samuel ◽  
Anand J. Puppala ◽  
Aritra Banerjee ◽  
Oscar Huang ◽  
Miladin Radovic ◽  
...  

Expansive soils are conventionally treated with chemical stabilizers manufactured by energy-intensive processes that significantly contribute to carbon dioxide emissions globally. Geopolymers, which are synthesized from industrial byproducts rich in aluminosilicates, are a viable alternative to conventional treatments, as they are eco-friendly and sustainable. In this study, a metakaolin-based geopolymer was synthesized, and its effects on the strength and volume-change behavior of two native expansive soils from Texas, with a plasticity index over 20 were investigated. This paper elaborates on the geopolymerization process, synthesis of the metakaolin-based geopolymer, specimen preparation, and geopolymer treatment of soils. Comprehensive material testing revealed two clays with a plasticity index over 20. They were each treated with three dosages of the metakaolin-based geopolymer and cured in 100% relative humidity for three different curing periods. The efficiency of geopolymer treatment was determined by testing the control and geopolymer-treated soils for unconfined compressive strength (UCS), one-dimensional swell, and linear shrinkage. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) imaging was performed on the synthesized geopolymer, as well as on the control and geopolymer-treated soils, to detect microstructural changes caused by geopolymerization. A significant increase in UCS and reduction in swelling and shrinkage were observed for both geopolymer-treated soils, within a curing period of only 7 days. The FESEM imaging provided new insights on the structure of geopolymers and evidence of geopolymer formation in treated soils. In conclusion, the metakaolin-based geopolymer has strong potential as a lower-carbon-footprint alternative to conventional stabilizers for expansive soils.


Langmuir ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 7126-7130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeo Sasaki ◽  
Yasuhiro Yamazoe ◽  
Hiroshi Maeda

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 1148-1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Kishigawa ◽  
Yasunobu Tagami ◽  
Takayuki Narita ◽  
Yushi Oishi

1989 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian M. Norman‐Gregory ◽  
Ernest T. Selig

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