Some engineering characteristics of a compacted lateritic residual soil

Summary In many parts of the world, particularly in humid tropical regions, residual soils are abundant. In this paper the suitability of a residual lateritic soil as a construction material is investigated, with respect to its strength and compaction characteristics. In comparison with other typical construction fills available in Southeast Asia, compacted lateritic soils produce excellent shear strengths and CBR values. However, the brittleness and tensile cracking of this compacted material become enhanced on the dry side of the optimum moisture content, or if excessive compaction is imparted. Nevertheless, at a moisture content of 2% wetter than the optimum, the tensile mode of failure is suppressed and the lateritic fills become ideally suited for the construction of high embankments and impervious dam cores.     

Evaluation of bagasse ash treated lateritic soil as a potential barrier material in waste containment application

Laboratory tests were conducted on a reddish-brown lateritic soil treated with up to 12 % bagasse ash to assess its suitability in waste containment barriers applications. Soil samples were prepared using four compaction energies (i.e. reduced Proctor, standard Proctor, West African Standard or ‘intermediate’ and modified Proctor) at ?2, 0, 2 and 4 % moulding water content of the optimum moisture content (OMC). Index properties, hydraulic conductivity (k), volumetric shrinkage and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were performed. Overall acceptable zones under which the material is suitable as a barrier material were obtained. Results recorded showed improved index properties; hydraulic conductivity and UCS with bagasse ash treatment up to 8 % at the OMC. Volumetric shrinkage strain increased with higher bagasse ash treatment. Based on the overall acceptable zone obtained, an 8 % optimal bagasse ash treatment of the natural lateritic soil makes it suitable for use in waste containment barrier application.     

Potential Application of Lateritic Soil Stabilized with Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) as Liner in Waste Containment Structures

This study evaluates the applicability of residually derived lateritic soil stabilized with cement kiln dust (CKD), a waste product from the cement manufacturing process as liner in waste repositories. Lateritic soil sample mixed with 0–16 % CKD (by dry weight of the soil) was compacted with the British Standard Light, West African Standard and British Standard Heavy compaction efforts at water contents ranging from the dry to wet of optimum moistures. Geotechnical parameters such as Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, hydraulic conductivity, unconfined compressive strength and volumetric shrinkage strain were determined. Results indicate that the plasticity index, the maximum dry unit weight and hydraulic conductivity together with the volumetric shrinkage decreased with increased amount of CKD while the optimum moisture content and unconfined compressive strength increased with higher CKD content for all the efforts. When measured properties were compared with standard specifications adopted by most environmental regulatory agencies for the construction of barrier systems in waste containment structures, the resulting values showed substantial compliance. Besides developing an economically sustainable liner material, the present study demonstrated effective utilization of an industrial by-product otherwise considered as waste by the producers, in addition to a systematic expansion in the use of the lateritic soil for geotechnical works.     

四川茂县周场坪深层滑坡滑带土环剪试验强度研究

位于四川省茂县岷江左岸的周场坪滑坡为一大型深层蠕滑型古滑坡,其曾于1982年发生大规模快速复活并堰塞岷江。根据现场地质调查和工程地质钻探资料分析,该滑坡目前正处于深层蠕滑变形中,且降雨对滑坡变形速率具有重要影响。滑坡滑动速率和含水率对滑带土的力学强度特性,以及滑坡的变形和进一步破坏具有极大影响,为研究含水率和滑坡滑动速率对周场坪滑坡滑带土力学强度的影响,本文在滑带土基本物性测试分析基础上,开展了不同含水率(8%、15%和25%)和不同剪切速率(0.1 mm·min-1、5 mm·min-1和100 mm·min-1)的滑带土环剪试验。试验结果表明:在长距离剪切条件下,滑带土的抗剪强度随着含水率的增加而降低,且高含水率条件下强度降低幅度更大;随着剪切速率的增加,试样应变软化现象更加明显,其峰值强度和残余强度一般先增大后减小;由峰值强度和残余强度线性拟合的强度参数内摩擦角随剪切速率的增加则先增大后减小。研究认为在强降雨条件下,高含水率的条件使滑带土抗剪强度显著降低,易导致周场坪滑坡蠕滑加速,加快的滑动速率会再次降低滑带土的抗剪强度,从而导致滑坡发生周期性蠕滑,并可能再次发生整体复活堵塞岷江。     

广西红粘土击实样强度特性与胀缩性能

通过对广西贵港红粘土重型击实样的室内试验研究,探讨了其力学特性、胀缩性能、孔径分布特征与含水量之间的关系。结果表明：干密度指标总体上能反映红粘土击实样的强度规律,但非饱和击实样强度峰值对应的含水量因基质吸力作用而偏小,饱和后土体由于吸水膨胀与基质吸力的消失,使得强度峰值对应含水量较饱和前明显增大,红粘土在最优含水量下压实,虽可获得很高的压实度,但饱和后的强度并非最大;红粘土击实样的胀缩性能主要由含水量决定,同时,受到干密度的影响;孔隙主要以孔径在0.01～0.05μm范围内的小孔隙为主,为进一步掌握红粘土的工程力学特性提供了帮助。     

分散性土动剪切模量影响因素的试验研究

分散性土耐冲蚀性低、抗渗性能差,在纯水中具有很高的分散性,严重威胁水利工程的安全。在分散性土的鉴别和改性方面已有很多成果,但分散性土动力特性的研究见诸报端的还很少。利用日本诚研社生产的DTC-199型电液伺服加荷往复扭剪三轴仪,对取自宁夏某碾压均质土坝的分散性土的动剪切模量进行了探索。通过改变试样的含水率、干密度和围压等初始条件,研究分散性土在不同试验条件下的动力特性及剪切模量的变化规律,并进行对比分析。得出：分散性土的动剪应力-应变关系符合Hardin-Drnevich双曲线模型;控制初始条件,当其他条件相同时,含水率越低,动剪切模量越大;干密度越大,试样动剪切模量越大;围压越高,其动剪切模量越大;初始剪切模量及最大动剪应力的变化规律与之相似。动剪切模量随动剪切应变的增大普遍呈衰减趋势。     

分散性土的抗剪强度特性试验研究

分散性土是一种具有特殊工程性质的土,其典型的性质为抗渗性能差,耐冲蚀能力低,在纯水中具有很高的分散性。目前,人们对于分散性土的研究主要集中在鉴定、抗渗和改良等方面,而对其抗剪强度特性的研究很少。采用三轴CU试验研究不同初始条件下分散性土的抗剪强度特性。结果表明:分散性土的应力-应变曲线在小围压、低含水率和高干密度的状态下呈应变软化型,在围压较大、含水率较高的情况下呈弱硬化型或硬化型;黏聚力和内摩擦角均随含水率的增大而减小,并且干密度越大受水分影响越强烈;黏聚力随干密度的增大而增大,在低含水条件下,黏聚力的增幅较大,而在高含水条件下,黏聚力的增幅则较小;内摩擦角随干密度的增大有少量增大。     

Geotechnical characterisation of lateritic soils from south-western Nigeria as materials for cost-effective and energy-efficient building bricks

Lateritic soils which have been described as highly weathered tropical or subtropical residual soils were studied with an attempt to establish its suitability or otherwise as sustainable material in building bricks and housing development that will meet the present challenge of sustaining the environment without costing too much and maintaining a high standard of strength, durability and aesthetics. Index properties of the tested lateritic soils revealed them as mostly well graded, comprising both cohesive (silt and clay) and cohesionless (sand and gravel) soil fraction. The geotechnical analyses on the studied lateritic soil revealed a strong compressive strength with a relatively sound dry density which could guarantee a good durability in resulting bricks made from these soil materials. Further test on the strength and durability of the compressed earth bricks (CEBs) made from these lateritic soils revealed a brick with compressive strength ranging between 6.33 and 15.57 MPa which is considered to be of good strength coupled with its sound durability strength established over a period of more than one year under a complete cycle of weather and seasonal conditions. In conclusion, lateritic soils from the study area were found to be suitable as materials for bricks (CEB) with good compressive and durability strength which qualifies them as sustainable and cost-effective materials for low-cost housing development.     

Study in laboratory of treatment with cement of silty material: improvement of the mechanical properties

The addition of the agent of treatment allows to obtain a better traficability and improves the capacity of the soil to compaction while assuring a correct implementation. Besides, the binder provides to the soil a direct, maintained, or increasing lift at the same time. The choice of the agent of treatment and its dosage is determined by the type of soil, its moisture content at the time of the treatment, and by the aimed characteristics. The technique of treatment of soil in place in the hydraulic binders consists in valuing the natural soil (existing at the site of construction) by mixing them with a hydraulic binder and some water. It allows to avoid the transport and implies their stabilization in very interesting costs before the implementation of the superficial layers. In this context, this paper presents the results of the shear strength parameters of a study in laboratory with the aim of using the fine soil, in particular an Algerian western resulting silt, after a treatment with the cement by dry mixing method. Our goal is to realize pavement structures (base layer and subgrade layer) with this material. This type of treatment requires to know well the material which we wish to treat. A geotechnical complete characterization before treatment is approached on samples compacted in different water content, followed by the study of the influence of the addition of 2, 4, and 6 % cement on the characteristics of portance and of strength to shearing. Shear test was performed after curing the samples for 24 h to evaluate the shear strength parameters. The obtained results highlight a clearly better and marked improvement of the characteristics such as the lift and the strength to shearing.     

冻融条件TG固化剂石灰土基层性能研究

为了进一步研究TG固化剂石灰土在冻融条件下的各项性能, 分别对TG固化剂石灰土进行冻融作用前后的无侧限抗压强度试验和劈裂试验以及干缩试验. 结果表明: 随着冻融循环次数的增加, 无侧限抗压强度以及劈裂强度逐渐减小, 经历8次冻融循环以后强度衰减达到最大值. 经过冻融循环作用后试件的无侧限抗压强度以及劈裂强度残留值随着含水率和压实度的增加而增加, 通过冻融试验得到的抗冻性能指标BDR值在51%以上, 与未饱水冻融循环得到的最终残留强度值保持一致. 经冻融循环作用后TG固化剂石灰土的干缩应变和干缩系数减小, 干缩性能有所提高. 冻融循环条件下TG固化剂石灰土抗冻性能良好, 可以应用于路面基层.     

考虑干湿循环路径的石灰改性红黏土路用性能试验研究

红黏土是一种对环境湿、热变化敏感的高塑性黏土,用作路基填料时,为改善其路用性能,并延长路基使用寿命,工程中通常掺入一定剂量的石灰对其进行改性。在地下水、降雨入渗和蒸发等自然营力作用下,运营期间路基土的含水率反复变动会对其工程特性产生一定影响。采用两种与实际工况接近的典型干湿路径,开展红黏土及其石灰改性土的强度和变形特性对比试验研究。试验结果表明：均匀干湿循环作用下,石灰改性土的黏聚力减小,内摩擦角小幅度增大,抗剪强度略高于红黏土,改性效果不明显;定向干湿循环作用下,石灰改性土的收缩裂缝较少,强度和变形参数均显著提高,路用性能得到明显改善。     

Effect of Cement and Quarry Dust on Shear Strength and Hydraulic Characteristics of Lithomargic Clay

The lithomargic clay constitutes an important group of residual soils existing under lateritic soils. This soil is found on the western and eastern coasts of India over large areas. This soil is a problematic one and is very sensitive to water and loses a greater part of its strength when becomes saturated. These high silt deposits have invited many problems such as slope failures, foundation failures, embankment failures, uneven settlements etc. In this investigation an attempt is made to study the effect of cement and quarry dust on shear strength and hydraulic characteristics of the lithomargic clay after the stabilization. Microfabric and mineralogical studies were carried out to find out the reason for the strength development of the stabilized soil using SEM and XRD analysis. The results indicated that there is an improvement in the properties of the lithomargic clay with the addition of cement and quarry dust. The XRD results indicated the formation of CSH and CAH, which are responsible for strength development in the stabilized soil.     

浙西饱和红黏土的物理力学特性试验研究

本文在分析浙西红黏土矿物成分与化学成分的基础上,分别用单向固结仪和三轴仪对饱和红黏土原状样进行了一系列的压缩、剪切、蠕变试验,得到其压缩曲线、应力-应变曲线和蠕变曲线。根据测得的压缩曲线,确定了该土的压缩指数Cc、回弹指数Cs,对原状样压缩曲线的归一化整理后判断出原状饱和红黏土的结构性不强;根据三轴排水剪切试验结果,得出原状饱和红黏土在不同围压下因结构性的存在土体具有不同的破坏应力比,计算得到该土的临界状态应力比和黏聚力;根据原状饱和红黏土在不同固结压力下的蠕变试验结果,得到了该土的次固结系数Cα与固结压力关系,并确定了该土的Cα/Cc约为0.0124,本试验结果为浙西地区的工程建设提供了基本参数。     

常德-张家界高速公路慈利东互通段膨胀土工程特性及改性研究

在对常德张家界高速公路慈利东互通段工程地质综合测试、补充勘探的基础上 ,通过对膨胀土及其改良土进行了系统的试验研究 ,如自由膨胀率、有荷膨胀量、收缩、胀缩总率、颗粒分析、压缩、抗剪强度、承载比试验 ,评价了该段膨胀土的工程特性 ,对于指导膨胀土路基的设计与施工 ,具有重要的意义     

Stabilization of a Clayey Soil with Fly Ash and Lime: A Micro Level Investigation

Pavement structures on poor soil sub grades show early distresses causing the premature failure of the pavement. Clayey soils usually have the potential to demonstrate undesirable engineering behavior, such as low bearing capacity, high shrinkage and swell characteristics and high moisture susceptibility. Stabilization of these soils is a usual practice for improving the strength. This study reports the improvement in the strength of a locally available cohesive soil by addition of both fly ash and lime. Analysis using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, zeta potential and pH value test was carried out in order to elucidate the stabilization mechanism. The micro level analysis confirmed the breaking of montmorrillonite structure present in the untreated clay after stabilization. In the analysis, it was also confirmed that in the stabilization process, pozzolanic reaction dominated over the cation exchange capacity.     

Study on soil–cement grout interface shear strength of soil nailing by direct shear box testing method

An important design parameter in cement-grouted soil nailed structures is the shear strength at the interface between the grouted nail and the surrounding soil. Both field and laboratory pull-out tests are normally used to investigate this interface shear strength. However, these tests have some limitations. In this study, direct shear box tests are adopted to investigate the interface shear strength behaviour between a completely decomposed granite (CDG) soil and a cement grout plate. Tests were carried out in a large direct shear test apparatus over a range of constant normal stress, soil moisture content, and soil–cement grout interface surface waviness. The laboratory test procedures are briefly described and the main test results are presented, followed by a discussion of the shear behaviour of the soil–cement grout interface. The interface shear behaviour is compared with the shear strength behaviour of the same soil tested under comparable conditions. It is shown that the shear stress–displacement behaviour of the soil–cement grout interface is similar to that of the soil alone. The test results indicate that the interface shear strength of the CDG and cement grout material depends on the normal stress level, the soil moisture content, and the interface surface waviness.     

Desiccation-induced Shrinkage in Compacted Lateritic Soils

Specimens prepared from three lateritic soil samples were subjected to drying under laboratory conditions. Volumetric shrinkage strains were measured at the end of the drying period. Results of this study indicate that, for the lateritic soils tested, volumetric shrinkage strains are influenced by soil composition and compaction conditions. Volumetric shrinkage strain increased with higher compaction water content. The influence of compaction water content on measured volumetric shrinkage strain was more pronounced in specimens with higher fines content. A regression equation was developed from the data to estimate volumetric shrinkage strain given the compaction water content relative to optimum, plasticity index, fines content and compactive effort.     

Geotechnical properties of the Ptolemais lignite

Summary The paper describes an investigation of the geotechnical properties of the Ptolemais lignite (brown coal) and shows that the soil mechanics principles used in the study of natural and cemented soils are applicable. The material has a high and variable void ratio incompatible with its preconsolidation pressure, which may be attributed to the existence of structure (chemical bonding). Bond strength and degradation have been studied and are found to be isotropic, while the stress-strain response in the prevield domain is intensely cross-anisotropic. The shear strength determined from triaxial CU and CD tests is variable but strongly dependent on the in situ moisture content. Tests on high quality intact specimens having a wide range of moisture contents (100–150%) verify a hypothesis that the magnitude of bond strength (expressed by the peak shear strength) is inversely proportional to the moisture content. A Hvorslev-type normalization process shows that the peak shear strength of the material can be estimated from the in situ moisture content with reasonable accuracy, thus facilitating preliminary stability calculations of production cuts in lignite mines. The properties of the Ptolemais lignite are compared with the properties of a lignite from another location in Greece (Megalopolis) and an Australian lignite (Morwell). It is shown that the shear strength characteristics of the lignite types studied are similar and strongly dependent on the in situ moisture content, which seems to be a measure of the magnitude of inter-particle bonding.     

Role of smectite-rich shales in frequent foundation failures in southeast Nigeria

This paper investigated the geotechnical properties of smectite-rich shale, and its implications as foundation material. Ten expansive shale samples were collected from foundation materials at Akpugo in Nkanu West L.G.A. of Enugu State, southeast Nigeria. Samples were subjected to grading, Atterberg limits-cum-compaction tests, slake durability, specific gravity, permeability, undrained triaxial tests and x-ray diffraction scan. Fines and sand contents of the soil samples range from 51–97% and 3–49% respectively. Liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index have average values of 60.7, 19.1 and 43.3% respectively. Linear shrinkage and free swell showed average of 16.3% and 76%. These results are indicative of predominant clay soil with high plasticity, compressibility and water holding capacity. XRD scan established presence of smectite and illite clay minerals, confirming soil high plasticity, capable of causing instability in foundation soil. The shale achieved maximum dry density range between 1.79 and 1.94 kg/m³ at optimum moisture content range of 6.9–12.8%, indicating poor to fair foundation materials. The shale cohesion ranges from 15 to 30 kPa while the angle of friction ranges between 10° and 18°, signifying an average strength soil material. Samples slake durability index and specific gravity fall within 24–55% and 2.50–2.58 respectively, suggesting non-durable and weak soil. Permeability of the samples ranges between 7.36 ×10^?6 and 4.77 ×10^?8 cm/s which suggested low drainage capable of causing water-log at sites. Therefore, the shale could be generally classified as poor to fair foundation material, which on moisture influx experience reduction in strength due to deterioration of its constituent minerals, especially clay and cement materials during the lifespan of engineering structures. Authors therefore recommend modification of foundation soil, appropriate foundation design and good drainage control as ways of improving stability of engineering structures underlain by expansive shale.     

基于超微型贯入试验的黏性土干燥过程中结构强度演化规律研究

研究土体结构强度对了解土体开裂破坏过程和预防相关工程地质问题有重要意义。以南京地区下蜀土为对象,采用超微型贯入试验方法,分析了试样在干燥过程中的结构强度演化特征。结果表明:所采用的超微型贯入试验方法为定量研究土体在干燥过程中结构强度的演化规律提供了可行的途径,该方法具有操作简单、精度高和含水率适应范围大等优点; 在干燥过程中,当试样处于高含水率阶段时(w24.27%),剖面上的结构强度基本保持一致,空间差异性较小; 在低含水率阶段(w24.27%),试样结构强度空间差异性显著增强,随深度的增加,结构强度呈递减趋势并逐渐趋于稳定; 总体上,土体的结构强度在干燥过程中随平均含水率的减小呈指数递增趋势,这主要是由于土体水分蒸发导致吸力增加,土颗粒之间的作用力增强。此外,由于土体发生收缩变形,土体孔隙比减小,土颗粒间联接点增加,也会对结构强度产生贡献。