• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.103-113
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• 2020

Gypsiferous soils classified as problematic soils due to the dissolution of gypsum. Presence of gypsum in the soils texture subjected to steady flow can cause serious damages for the buildings, roads and water transmission canals. Therefore, researchers have conducted a series of physical, mechanical and microstructural laboratory tests to study the effect of gypsum leaching on the geotechnical properties of a lean clay containing 0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, and 15% raw gypsum. In addition, a combination of two nano-chemical stabilizers named Terrasil and Zycobond was used in equal proportions to stabilize the gypsiferous clayey samples. The results indicated that gypsum leaching considerably changed the physical and mechanical properties of gypsiferous soils. Further, adding the combination of Terrasil and Zycobond nano-polymeric stabilizers to the gypsiferous soil led to a remarkable reduction in the settlement drop, compressibility, and electrical conductivity (EC) of the water passing through the specimens, resulting in improving the engineering properties of the soil samples. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that stabilization by terrasil and zycobond causes formation of new peaks such as CSH and alteration of pure soil structure by adding raw gypsum. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show the denser texture of the soil samples due to chemical stabilization and decrease of Si/Al ratio which indicates by Energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) interpretation, proved the enhance of shear strength in stabilized samples.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.195-206
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• 2019

The gypsiferous soils are significantly sensitive to moisture and the water has a severe destructive effect on them. Therefore, the effect of lime and silica fume addition on their mechanical properties, when subjected to water, is investigated. Gypsiferous soil specimens were mixed with 1, 2 and 3% lime and 1, 3, 5 and 7% silica fume, in terms of the dry weight of soil. The specimens were mixed at optimum moisture content and cured for 24 hours, 7 and 28 days. 86 specimens in the sizes of unconfined compression strength test mold were prepared to perform unconfined compressive strength and durability tests. The results proved that adding even 1% of each of these additives can lead to a 15 times increase in unconfined compressive strength, compared with untreated specimen, and this increases as the curing time is prolonged. Also, after soaking, the compressive strength of the specimens stabilized with 2 and 3% lime plus different percentages of silica fume was considerably higher than before soaking. The durability of the treated specimens increased significantly after soaking. Direct shear tests showed that lime treatment is more efficient than silica fume treatment. Moreover, it is concluded that the initial tangent modulus and the strain at failure increased as the normal stress of the test was increased. Also, the higher lime contents, up to certain limits, increase the shear strength. Therefore, simultaneous use of lime and silica fume is recommended to improve the geotechnical properties of gypsiferous soils.