Exploring the effect of adding nano-silica and cement on the unconfined compressive strength of soft clay

Masihpour, Khaeroallah; Lajevardi, Sayed Hamid; Mirhosseini, S.Mohammad; Jamali-Sheini, Farid

doi:10.22065/jsce.2024.410143.3189

Exploring the effect of adding nano-silica and cement on the unconfined compressive strength of soft clay

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Khaeroallah Masihpour ¹

Sayed Hamid lajevardi ²

S.Mohammad Mirhosseini ²

Farid Jamali-Sheini ³

¹ PhD Candidate,Department of Civil Engineering, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran.

³ Professor, Advanced Surface Engineering and Nanomaterials Research Center, Department of Physics, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

10.22065/jsce.2024.410143.3189

Abstract

Clay soils with a water content of more than 35% or close to the liquid limit are known as soft clay. These soils have an unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of less than 25 kilopascals. In order to improve the strength of these soils, additives such as cement and nanoparticles are added to them. These additives are combined with soil, which is called cemented mixed soil. Therefore, this research investigated the effect of the simultaneous addition of Nano-silica with cement on changes in UCS of soft clays with low plasticity (cl). The research considers soil with a constant water content of 40%, exceeding its liquid limit, for all samples. The changes in three factors, the cement and Nano-silica content consumed and the curing time of the specimens, were investigated as effective factors. For cement, 8%, 10%, and 12% relative to the weight of dry soil were considered. Nano-silica at eight levels from zero to 1.4% relative to the weight of dry soil and three curing times 7, 14, and 28 days were considered. A total of 72 series of specimens were made, and the unconfined compressive strength was measured. The results indicate that using nano-silica up to 1.2% in combination with cement increases the UCS by an average of about 170% after seven days, 120% after 14 days, and 48% after 28 days compared to using cement alone. Additionally, adding nano-silica led to a reduction of up to 4% in cement usage. Equations were derived based on the consumption rates of cement and nano-silica, along with the curing period, to estimate the uniaxial strength of the samples. The average difference between the estimated and measured values for all samples ranged from 1% to 3%.

Keywords

Soft clay

Cemented mixed soil

Nano silica

UCS

Curing time

Subjects

Geotechnical Engineering

[1] Chen, C., Zhang, G., Zornberg, JG., Morsy, AM., Zhu, S., Zhao, H. (2018). Interface Behavior of Tensioned Bars Embedded in Cement-Soil Mixtures. Construction and Building Materials, 186, (840-853). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.07.211.

[2] Hosseinpour, I., Rezvani, R., Kavoshmelli, M. (2023). Experimental investigation of the behavior of cemented-clay specimen reinforced with geotextile layers. Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering(JSCE), Available at: https://doi.org/10.22065/jsce.2023.365452.2949.

[3] Kitazume, M., Terashi, M. (2013). The Deep Mixing Method, CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida: Taylor & Francis Group.

[4] Kirsch, K., Bell, A. (2013). Ground Improvement, third ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida: Taylor & Francis Group.

[5] Zhang, G., Chen, C., Sun, J., Li, K., Xiao, F., Wang, Y., Chen, M., Huang, J, Wang, X. (2022). Mixture optimization for cement-soil mixtures with embedded GFRP tendons. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 18, 611-628. Available at: https://doi. org/10. 1016/j. jmrt. 2022. 02. 076.

[6] Mitchell, J.K., Freitag, D.R. (1961). Review and evaluation of soil-cement pavements. Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers (AM. ASCE), 126(1), (1123-1144). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1061/TACEAT.0008105

[7] Wang, Y., Wang, W., Zhao, Y., Li, N., Luo, J., Belete, A. M., Ping, J. (2022). Modification Effect of Nano-Clay on Mechanical Behavior of Composite Geomaterials: Cement, Nano-Silica and Coastal Soft Soil. Materials, 15, 8735. Available at: https://doi. org/10. 3390/ ma15248735

[8] Basha, E. A., Hashim, R., Mahmud, H. B., Muntohar, A. S. (2005). Stabilization of residual soil with rice husk ash and cement. Construction and Building Materials. 19(6), 448–453. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2004.08.001

[9] Ali, F. H., Adnan, A., Choy, C. K. (1992). Geotechnical properties of a chemically stabilized soil from Malaysia with rice husk ash as an additive. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. 10, 117–134. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00881147.

[10] Fang, J., Wang, Y., Wang, K., Dai, W., Yu, Y., Li, C. (2022). Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties of Diatomite-Modified Coastal Cement Soil. Materials, 15, 7857. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217857.

[11] Bahmani, S., Huat, B., Asadi, A., Farzadnia, N. (2014). Stabilization of residual soil using SiO2 nanoparticles and cement. Construction and Building Materials, 64, 350–359. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.04.086.

[12] Siswosoebrotho, B., Hossain, M., Alias, A., Huat, B., Sew, G., Ali, F. (2004). Stabilization of tropical residual soils. Trop Residual Soils Eng,145–167. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1201/9780203024621.ch9.

[13] Burland, J. (1990). On the compressibility and shear strength of natural clays. Geotechnique, 40(3), 329–378. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.3.329.

[14] Chen, C., Zhang, G., Zornberg, J., Morsy, A., Huang, J. (2020). Interface bond behavior of tensioned glass fiberreinforced polymer (GFRP) tendons embedded in cemented soils. Construction and Building Materials, 263, 120132. Available at:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120132.

[15] Xu, D-s., Huang, M., Zhou, Y. (2020). One-dimensional compression behavior of calcareous sand and marine clay mixtures. International Journal of Geomechanics, 20(9), 04020137. Available at:https://doi. org/10. 1061/(ASCE) GM. 1943-5622. 0001763.

[16] Han, J. (2015). Principles and practice of ground improvement. John Wiley & Sons.

[17] Li, J., Qin, Q., Sun, J., Ma, Y., Li, Q. (2022). Mechanical and conductive performance of electrically conductive cementitious composite using graphite, steel slag, and GGBS. Structural Concrete, 23(1),533-547. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/suco.202000617

[18] Jafari, S. H., Lajevardi, S. H., Sharifipour, M. et al. (2021). Evaluation of small strain stiffness characteristics of soft clay treated with lime and Nano-silica and correlation with UCS (q_u). Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment ,80, 3163–3175. Available at: https://doi. org/10. 1007/s10064-021-02115-7

[19] Thomas, G., Rangaswamya, K. (2020). Strengthening of cement blended soft clay with nano-silica particles. Geomechanics and Engineering, 20(6), 505-516. Available at: https://doi. org/10. 12989/gae. 2020. 20. 6. 505

[20] Sadrjamali, M., Athar, S. M., Negahdar, A. (2015). Modifying soil shear strength parameters using additives in laboratory condition. Current World Environment, 10(1) ,120-130. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.10.Special-Issue1.17

[21] Shush Pasha, I., A., Abbasi, M., Najafnia, H. (2018). Study of the combined effect of cement and Nano silica on shear strength of Babolsar sand. Amirkabir Journal of Civil Engineering, 50, 179-188.

[22] Sobolev, K., Flores, I., Hermosillo, R., Torres-Martínez, L. M. (2006). Nanomaterials and nanotechnology for high-performance cement composites. Proceedings of ACI session on nanotechnology of concrete: recent developments and future perspectives, 7, 93-120.

[23] Farzadnia, N., Ali, A., Demirboga, R. (2012). Development of nanotechnology in high performance concrete. Advnced Materials Research, 364,115–118. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.364.115

[24] Sobolev, K., Flores, I., Torres-Martinez, L.M., Valdez, P.L., Zarazua, E., Cuellar, E.L. (2009). Engineering of SiO₂Nanoparticles for Optimal Performance in Nano Cement-Based Materials. In: Bittnar, Z., Bartos, P.J.M., Němeček, J., Šmilauer, V., Zeman, J. (eds) Nanotechnology in Construction 3. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer,139-148. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00980-8_18

[25] Kuo, W., Lin, K., Chang, W., Luo, H. (2006). Effects of nano-materials on properties of waterworks sludge ash cement paste. J Indust Eng Chem – Seou,12(5),702-709.

[26] Hou, P., Wang, K., Qian, J., Kawashima, S., Kong, D., Shah, S.P. (2012). Effects of colloidal nanoSiO2 on fly ash hydration. Cement and Concrete Composites, 34(10), 1095-1103. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2012.06.013.

[27] Lin, K., Chang, W., Lin, D., Luo, H., Tsai, M. (2008). Effects of nano-SiO2 and different ash particle sizes on sludge ash–cement mortar. Journal of Environmental and Management, 88(4), 708–714. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.03.036.

[28] Ltifi, M., Guefrech, A., Mounanga, P., Khelidj, A. (2011). Experimental study of the effect of addition of nano-silica on the behaviour of cement mortars. Procedia Engineering, 10,900–905. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.04.148.

[29] Gaitero, J., Campillo, I., Guerrero, A. (2008). Reduction of the calcium leaching rate of cement paste by addition of silica nanoparticles. Cement and Concrete Research, 38(8), 1112–1118. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2008.03.021.

[30] Stefanidou, M., Papayianni, I. (2012). Influence of nano-SiO2 on the Portland cement pastes. Composites Part B: Eng ineering, 43(6), 2706–2710. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2011.12.015.

[31] Eissa, A., Bassuoni, M, A. Ghazy, A., Alfaro, M. (2022). Improving the Properties of Soft Clay Using Cement, Slag, and Nano-silica: Experimental and Statistical Modeling. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 34(4), 04022031. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0004172

[32] Govindarajan, K., Ramani, S.E. (2022). Geotechnical behaviour of nano-silica stabilized organic soil. Geomechanics and Engineering, 28(3), 239-253.

[33] Veena Vijayan, L., Prakash Arul Jose, J. (2022). STABILITY STUDIES OF COHESIVE SOIL WITH NANO MAGNESIUM AND ZINC OXIDE. Materials and technology, 56(2), 187–191. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17222/mit.2021.329

[34] Taha, M.R. (2009). Geotechnical properties of soil–ball milled soil mixtures, in: Proc. 3rd Symp Nanotechnology in Construction, Springer-Verlag, 377–382.

[35] Changizi, F., Haddad, A. (2015). Strength properties of soft clay treated with mixture of nano-SiO2 and recycled polyester ﬁber. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 7(4), 367-378. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2015.03.013.

[36] Mohamadzadeh Sani, A., Arabani, M., Haghi, A. K., Chenari, R. J. (2010). Effect of nanoclay additive on the geotechnical propertiesof silty sands. in: Proc. of 4th International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Mechanics, Tehran, 2–3November 2010, (in Persian).

[37] Persoff, P., Apps, J., Moridis, G., Whang, J. M. (1999). Effect of dilution and contaminants on strength and hydraulic conductivity ofsand grouted with colloidal silica gel. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenviromental Engineering ASCE ,125(6), 461-469.

[38] Meeravali, K., Ruben, N., Rangaswamy, K. (2020). Stabilization of soft-clay using nanomaterial: Terrasil. Materials Today: Proceedings, 27, 1030-1037. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.01.384.

[39] Seifollahi, F., Mohammadi, F. (2023). Experimental Study of Mechanical Properties and Relationships between Strengths of Pure and Nano-silica-Steel fiber-contained Roller Compacted Concrete at Different Curing Days. Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering (JSCE), Available at:

[40] Minitab,Inc. Product