• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.409-422
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• 2022

The use of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement as a rapid-hardening cement admixture or eco-friendly alternate for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) has been attempted over the years, but the cost of CSA cement and availability of suitable aluminium resource prevent its wide practical application. To propose an effective ground improvement design in sandy soil, this study aims at blending a certain percentage of CSA with OPC to find an optimum blend that would have fast-setting behavior with a lower carbon footprint than OPC without compromising the mechanical properties of the cemented sand. Compared to the 100% CSA case, initial speed of strength development of blended cement is relatively low as it is mixed with OPC. It is found that 80% OPC and 20% CSA blend has low initial strength but eventually produces equivalent ultimate strength (28 days curing) to that of CSA treated sand. The specific OPC-CSA blend (80:20) exhibits significantly higher strength gain than using pure OPC, thus allowing effective geotechnical designs for sustainable and controlled ground improvement. Further parametric studies were conducted for the blended cement under various curing conditions, cement contents, and curing times. Wet-cured cement treated sand had 33% lower strength than that of dry-cured samples, while the stiffness of wet-cured samples was 25% lower than that of dry-cured samples.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.323-337
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• 2011

Israel's coastal region consists, mainly, of Pleistocene and Holocene sands with varying degrees of calcareous cementation, known locally as "kurkar". Previous studies of these materials emphasized the difficulty in their geotechnical characterization, due to their extreme variability. Consequently, it is difficult to estimate construction stability, displacements and deformations on, or within these soils. It is suggested that SPT and Menard pressuremeter tests may be used to characterize the properties of these materials. Values of elastic modulus obtained from pressuremeter tests may be used for displacement analyses at different strain levels, while accounting for the geometric dimensions (length/diameter ratio) of the test probe. A relationship was obtained between pressuremeter modulus and SPT blow count, consistent with published data for footing settlements on granular soils. Cohesion values, for a known friction angle, are estimated, by comparing field pressuremeter curves to curves from numerical (finite element or finite difference) analyses. The material analyzed in the paper is shown to be strain-softening, with the initial cohesion degrading to zero on development of plastic shear strains.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2018

In this study, the EMI (electro-mechanical impedance) of a small piezoelectric sensor was applied for measuring a unit weight and cementation (strength) of sand. Three different sizes of uncemented Nakdong River sand were filled loosely or densely into a compaction mold. A piezoelectric sensor with 20 mm in diameter was installed within sand for impedance measurement. A small Nakdong River sand was mixed with cement ratios of 4, 8 12, 16% and then compacted into a specimen with 50 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height. The specimen consisted of 6 layers with a sensor at the third layer. The impedance signals for 3 days and unconfined compressive strength at the 3rd day were measured. As the unit weight of uncemented sand increased, the resonant frequency increased slightly from 102 to 105 kHz but a conductance at resonant frequency decreased. For cemented sands, as the curing time and cement ratio increased, the resonant frequency increased significantly from 129 to 266 kHz but the conductance at resonant frequency decreased. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of cemented sands was between 289 and 1,390 kPa for different cement ratios. The relationship of UCS and resonant frequency linearly increased but one with a conductance at resonant frequency was in inverse proportion.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.6C
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• pp.213-220
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• 2011

Fines such as silt or clay are usually mixed with granular particles in natural or reclaimed soils which are slightly cemented. Such fines contained within weakly cemented soils may influence permeability and also mechanical behavior of the soils. In this study, a series of unconfined compression tests on weakly cemented sands with fines are carried out in order to evaluate the effect of fines on unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of cemented soils. Two different cement ratios and fine types were used and fine contents varied by 5, 10, and 15%. Two types of specimens were prepared in this testing. One is the specimen with the same compaction energy applied. The other is the one with the same dry density by varying compaction energy. When the same amount of compaction energy was applied to a specimen, its density increased as a fine content increased. As a result, the UCS of cemented soils with fines increased up to 2.6 times that of one without fines as an amount of fines increased. However, when the specimen was prepared to have the same density, its UCS slightly decreased and then increased a little as a fine content increased. Under the same conditions, a UCS of the specimen with silt was stronger than the one with kaolin. As a cement ratio increased, a UCS increased regardless of fine type and content.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.33-45
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• 2019

In this study, in order to recycle a large amount of rocks and weathered mudstones produced by civil engineering projects such as railways and highways, as materials for roadbeds or embankment materials, circumferential specimens with a diameter of 5 cm and a height of 10 cm were made. A mudstone that weathered rapidly during rainfall was collected from Pohang construction sites. The weathered mudstone passed through a 2 mm sieve. It was prepared with the cement ratio, the sand ratio, curing condition and curing days. Three specimens were prepared according to each condition and then the unconfined compressive test, durability test and SEM analysis were performed to evaluate the engineering properties of the cemented soil. In the case of 28 days cured specimen, the strength of under-water cured specimens was 32-55% and the durability index was about 15% higher than air cured specimens. In addition, when the CR increased from 8% to 16%, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of pure mudstone cemented soil under water increased by about 1.6 times and the durability index increased by about 1.9 times. When the SR increased from 0% to 50%, the UCS of the specimen with SR = 10% was slightly less than or equal to specimen with SR = 0%. Then, as the SR became 30-50%, the UCS increased up to 51%. Unlike the UCS, the durability index increased continuously as the SR increased. As a result of SEM analysis, when SR was 50% rather than SR = 0%, the contact between sand particles increased and they were connected to each other. Such contact between these particles resulted in the increase of strength.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.5-13
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• 2016

A calcium source is necessary for calcite precipitation within soil particles by microbial decomposition of urea and a calcium chloride is usually used. The harmful environmental impact of calcium chloride on road, ground and plants is severe. In this study, an eggshell with vinegar is investigated for an environmental-friendly calcium source. Urea-decomposing microorganism and eggshell or calcium chloride as a calcium source are mixed with Ottawa sand to precipitate calcite. Then, the cemented sand with calcite is tested for calcite precipitation, permeability and unconfined compressive strength. A specimen is prepared by loose Ottawa sand in a size of 5 cm in diameter and 10 cm in height. A urea solution with Sporosarcina pasteurii and two different calcium sources is injected into the specimen once a day for 30 days. Calcite precipitated at average of 7.2% on the specimen with eggshell as a calcium source, which was 1.2 times more than that with calcium chloride. The permeability of a specimen with eggshell was at average of 3.82E-5 cm/s, which was 7.7 times lower than that with calcium chloride. Unconfined compressive strength of a specimen with eggshell was at average of 387 kPa, which was 1.2 times higher than that with calcium chloride. As more calcite precipitated, the strength increased while the permeability decreased, regardless of calcium sources.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.33-45
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• 2006

C.S.G is a material made by adding cement and water to rock-like material such as riverbed gravel or excavation muck that can be obtained easily near dam si. Recently, the use of C.S.G is gradually increasing as the construction material for dam, road, revement and so on. Commonly, the strength characteristics of C.S.G is affected by various influence factors such as grade, unit cement, age and water contents. In this study, a series of compaction test and unconfined compressive strength test were performed to investigate the relationship between a strength and influence factors such as three kinds of gradation, age, unit cement and water contents with riverbed gravel in Hwa Buk dam. The results show that strength Properties of C.S.G is variously affected by these influence factors. Especially, gradation and water contents are found to be very important factors fur determining the strength of C.S.G material. And, from the results of experimental study, the correlation equations between uncompressive strength and these factors are proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.45-56
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• 2013

In this study, a blast furnace slag with latent hydraulic property is used to cement granular soils without using Portland cement. When the blast furnace slag reacts with an alkaline activator, it can cement soils. The effect of amounts of blast furnace slag and types of alkaline activator on soil strength was investigated for resource recycling. Four different amounts of slag and six different activators (two naturals and four chemicals) were used for preparing specimens. The specimens were air-cured for 3 or 7 days and then tested for unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The UCS of cemented sand with slag increased, in the order of specimens mixed with potassium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Chemical alkaline activator was better than natural alkaline activator. The maximum UCS of 3-days cured specimens was 3 MPa for 16% of slag with potassium hydroxide, which corresponded to 37% of one with 16% of high-early strength portland cement. As the amount of slag increased, the UCS and dry density of a specimen increased for all alkaline activator cases. As the curing time increased from 3 days to 7 days, the UCS increased up to 97%. C-S-H hydrates were found in the cemented specimens from XRD analyses. Cement hydrates were more generated with increasing amount of slag and they surrounded sand particles, which resulted in higher density.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.717-733
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• 2016

Trapezoidal Cemented Sand and Gravel Dam, namely Trapezoid CSG, is a new type of dam. Due to lack of dynamic studies in the field of CSG dam, this research was performed to analyze Trapezoidal CSG dam using dynamic Finite element method with ABAQUS Software. To investigate possible earthquake-induced damages, fragility curves are plotted based on damage index, the length of the cracks created at the dam base and the area of cracked elements in the dam. The seismic analysis indicated that minimum and maximum tensions are generated in the heel and toe of the dam, respectively. According to the fragility curves, with increase in PGA, the possibility of the exceeding the defined limit state is increased. However, the rate of increment is significantly reduced after PGA=0.4 g. Also, the same result is achieved for the second limit state. The "area of cracked elements" is more conservative criterion than the "crack length at the dam base", especially at PGA<0.4 g. As conclusion, CSG dams, despite of being made of poor materials in comparison with concrete dams, show good resistance, and even in some situations, better performance than the weighted concrete dams.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.613-624
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• 2022

A study of the evolution of overburden fractures under the solid-fluid coupling state was conducted based on the geological and mining characteristics of the coal seam depth, weak strata cementation, and high-intensity mining in the mining areas of West China. These mining characteristics are key to achieving water conservation during mining or establishing groundwater reservoirs in coal mines. Based on the engineering background of the Daliuta Coal Mine, a non-hydrophilic simulation material suitable for simulating the weakly cemented rock masses in this area was developed, and a physical simulation test was carried out using a water-sand gushing test system. The study explored the spatial distribution and dynamic evolution of the fractured zone in the mining overburden under the coupling of stress and seepage. The experimental results show that the mining overburden can be vertically divided into the overall migration zone, the fracture extension zone and the collapse zone; additionally, in the horizontal direction, the mining overburden can be divided into the primary fracture zone, periodic fracture zone, and stop-fracture zone. The scope of groundwater flow in the overburden gradually expands with the mining of coal seams. When a stable water inrush channel is formed, other areas no longer generate new channels, and the unstable water inrush channels gradually close. Finally, the primary fracture area becomes the main water inrush channel for coal mines. The numerical simulation results indicate that the overlying rock breaking above the middle of the mined-out area allows the formation of the water-conducting channel. The water body will flow into the fracture extension zone with the shortest path, resulting in the occurrence of water bursting accidents in the mining face. The experimental research results provide a theoretical basis for the implementation of water conservation mining or the establishment of groundwater reservoirs in western mining areas, and this theoretical basis has considerable application and promotion value.