Effects of lime treatment on the geotechnical properties of dredged mud

Abstract

The preloading method has been widely applied in land reclamation as a green and economical approach to ground improvement. To improve the consolidation behavior, the addition of lime generally improves soil performance. In this article, a modified oedometer equipped with a tactile pressure sensor and a bender–extender element is employed. The effects of lime treatment on the geotechnical properties of dredged mud are investigated; these properties include the coefficient of the earth pressure at rest (K₀), settlement, drainage behavior, and evolution of the elastic wave velocity. The results reveal that the addition of lime not only influences the specimen’s deformation behavior but also influences its shear strength during and after loading. Combined with the evolution of the elastic wave velocity, the microstructural evolution of the specimen could be described and explained. It is concluded that a compressional wave is more sensitive to the change in the specimen’s void ratio and saturation. For K₀, initially (<25?kPa), the higher the lime content is, the greater the K₀ fluctuation is. Afterwards, the higher the lime content is, the smaller the K₀ fluctuation is, and finally K₀ slowly approaches approximately 0.2.     

Strength characteristics of cemented sand–bentonite mixtures with fiber and metakaolin additions

Compacted sand–bentonite mixtures have been used as a good alternative hydraulic barrier material to compacted clays. This study presents the results of a laboratory investigation on the strength characteristics of cement-stabilized sand–bentonite (CSB) mixtures and the effects of adding small amounts of fibers and metakaolin to the mixture material for strength improvement. The strength characteristics of the mixture materials were examined using unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests and splitting tensile strength (STS) tests, with emphasis on evaluating the effects of different proportions of bentonite, fibers, and metakaolin within the CSB mixtures with a constant value of cement content. The test results indicated that the maximum improvements in UCS and STS were all attained in the CSB mixture with 10% bentonite content, and the inclusion of fibers and metakaolin of 1% each within the same CSB mixture led to an increase in UCS of about 40 and 70%, respectively. The addition of fibers also increased the ductility of the mixture material and was more effective for the improvement of tensile strength compared to that of metakaolin. The contribution of metakaolin to early-age strength (i.e., 3 and 7 days) of CSB mixture was found to be small due to the relatively low cement content in the mixture.     

Effect of nano-MgO on mechanical performance of cement stabilized silty clay

Abstract

A series of direct shear tests were performed on cement-admixed silty clay to investigate the effect of cement content and nano-magnesia (MgO) on its shear strength properties. For each normal stress, shear strength increased with cement content. However, an obvious increment in shear strength was achieved when the cement content was adjusted from 13% to 17%. Both cohesion and friction angle of cemented soil increased with cement content, and exponential function was adopted to correlate both the factors with cement content. For cement content of 10% investigated in this study, the optimum nano-MgO content was 10‰, wherein the cohesion could reach the peak value. The microstructure of the mixture revealed that the structure of the mixture was compacted for the optimum nano-MgO content. However, micro-cracks were formed when the amount of nano-MgO exceeded its optimum content.     

海砂颗粒形态评价与海拌混凝土性能研究

为初步评估海洋资源用作混凝土原材料的可行性，先通过数字图像技术求取海砂与河砂颗粒样本的椭圆率、圆度及坚固性参数，对两者颗粒形态特征做出综合评价，然后采用RCT法检测海拌混凝土游离氯离子含量，并测定混凝土不同龄期的抗压强度及碳化深度。结果表明，海砂与河砂颗粒细长程度、棱角及内凹曲面显著程度均非常接近，颗粒形态不存在本质差异；天然海水有助于混凝土早期强度的提升，对后期强度及碳化深度的影响则较为微弱；商品海砂会对混凝土力学性能产生轻微负面影响，并使抗碳化性能大幅下降。     

河北南堡-曹妃甸海域工程地质条件及海底稳定性评价

本文通过土工实验分析,发现河北南堡-曹妃甸海域沉积物主要由淤泥、粉砂、黏土和粉土组成,约占总沉积物的85%,另含有少量的淤泥质黏土、粉质黏土、细砂和中砂。综合归纳南堡-曹妃甸海域的工程地质条件,根据影响研究区工程地质条件差异性最突出的因素即海底地形地貌、潜在地质灾害分布,结合海底土质类型及其物理力学性质等条件,将研究区划为4个工程地质区,分别为近岸水下岸坡混合土工程地质区（Ⅰ）、侵蚀平原、洼地砂质土工程地质区（Ⅱ）、侵蚀洼地混合土工程地质区（Ⅲ）、陆架堆积平原细粒土工程地质区（Ⅳ）。通过海洋环境因素、灾害地质条件、地震活动性、海底土体稳定性等方面对各工程地质区进行海底稳定性评价,4个工程地质区的稳定性分别为Ⅰ区:不稳定区;Ⅱ区:较稳定区;Ⅲ区:较不稳定区;Ⅳ区:稳定区。研究成果对该地区的海底工程建设和防灾减灾具有重要的指导意义。     

Facies architecture of the mixed carbonate/siliciclastic inner continental shelf of west-central Florida: implications for Holocene barrier development

Sediment vibracores and surface samples were collected from the mixed carbonate/siliciclastic inner shelf of west–central Florida in an effort to determine the three-dimensional facies architecture and Holocene geologic development of the coastal barrier-island and adjacent shallow marine environments. The unconsolidated sediment veneer is thin (generally <3 m), with a patchy distribution. Nine facies are identified representing Miocene platform deposits (limestone gravel and blue–green clay facies), Pleistocene restricted marine deposits (lime mud facies), and Holocene back-barrier (organic muddy sand, olive-gray mud, and muddy sand facies) and open marine (well-sorted quartz sand, shelly sand, and black sand facies) deposits. Holocene back-barrier facies are separated from overlying open marine facies by a ravinement surface formed during the late Holocene rise in sea level. Facies associations are naturally divided into four discrete types. The pattern of distribution and ages of facies suggest that barrier islands developed approximately 8200 yr BP and in excess of 20 km seaward of the present coastline in the north, and more recently and nearer to their present position in the south. No barrier-island development prior to approximately 8200 yr BP is indicated. Initiation of barrier-island development is most likely due to a slowing in the Holocene sea-level rise ca. 8000 yr BP, coupled with the intersection of the coast with quartz sand deposits formed during Pleistocene sea-level highstands. This study is an example of a mixed carbonate/siliciclastic shallow marine depositional system that is tightly constrained in both time and sea-level position. It provides a useful analog for the study of other, similar depositional systems in both the modern and ancient rock record.     

Study on Key Technology of Using Shell Sand as Backfill for Sea Reclamation

1 .IntroductionEpicontinental sea or land could formfromcontinental shelf because of the decreasing sea levelduring Quaternary.There is a large-area shell sand deposit more than ten meters thick in the neriticzone of China .To use the abundant marine shell sandresource as engineering material for ocean engi-neering and port engineeringis veryimportant .Sand (Gred and Bjorn,1999) ,fine sand (Zhangetal .,2002) , mediumand coarse sand (Qiuet al .,1995) ,highly weathered stone ballast (Zhanetal…     

Organic matter content and particle size modifications in mangrove sediments as responses to sea level rise

Mangroves sediments contain large reservoirs of organic material (OM) as mangrove ecosystems produce large quantities and rapidly burial OM. Sediment accumulation rates of approximately 2.0 mm year⁻¹, based on ²¹⁰Pb_ex dating, were estimated at the margin of two well-developed mangrove forest in southern Brazil. Regional data point to a relative sea level (RSL) rise of up to ∼4.0 mm year⁻¹. This RSL rise in turn, may directly influence the origin and quantity of organic matter (OM) deposited along mangrove sediments. Lithostratigraphic changes show that sand deposition is replacing the mud (<63 μm) fraction and OM content is decreasing in successively younger sediments. Sediment accumulation in coastal areas that are not keeping pace with sea level rise is potentially conducive to the observed shifts in particle size and OM content.     

Fabric and mineralogical studies on lime treated marine clays

The use of lime to improve the engineering properties of weak marine clays is a common method from the past. Recent studies indicate that the various foundation problems occurred with passage of time for offshore structures due to hostile wave conditions and adverse climatic conditions. Hence, there is an urgent need to improve the engineering properties of these soft deposits using well established ground improvement techniques. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made on two marine clays to investigate the microchanges that occurred at particulate level due to the addition of lime and sodium hydroxide chemicals. The influence of sodium hydroxide additive on the fabric of lime treated marine clays has also been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The formation of various new reaction products due to soil-lime reactions and their stability in marine environment were also studied and reported using x-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The test results indicate that lime stabilization is effective for improving the properties of marine clays and the presence of sea water increases the efficiency of lime stabilization.     

回填贝壳砂耐久性试验研究

介绍了对我国浅海大量存在的贝壳砂进行化学性质和耐久性试验研究结果,从贝壳在酸雨中质量损失、溶蚀对贝壳成分和形态的影响及溶蚀对贝壳砂工程特性的影响三方面研究了贝壳砂的化学性质和耐久性,发现酸雨对贝壳有一定的溶蚀作用,在贝壳表面形成溶蚀凹坑,但是溶蚀作用缓慢,质量损失很小,酸雨溶蚀和海水溶出后的贝壳砂工程特性与未溶蚀的贝壳砂的工程特性相近,因而贝壳砂可用作海洋工程或港口工程回填砂。     

Does subterranean flow initiate mud banks off the southwest coast of India?

Coastal waters off the southwest coast of India draw special attention because of the occurrence of mud banks at certain locations during southwest monsoon period. The present study puts forward a hypothesis of a subterranean flow, which could be a plausible mechanism to initiate the mud banks. The subterranean flow is believed to be coupled with activated trending faults and originate from the adjacent watershed (Vembanad Lake) separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land where submerged porous lime shell beds are present. When the lake water injection occurs through the fault, the mud/clay gets excited by its thixotrophic properties (as the overlying water looses its electrolyte) and transforms into a flowing fluid. The lowering of salinity due to the introduction of fresh water keeps the mud suspension in the water column for longer duration, leading to the formation of mud banks. The idea of subterranean flow through lime shell beds initiating formation of mud banks may apply globally to any coastal regions hugged by wetlands and of similar geological conditions.     

Effect of aluminate content in cement on the long-term sulfate resistance of cement stabilized sand

Abstract

Durability of cement-based materials for marine/coastal structures is an increasingly challenging problem. Sulfate ions in seawater can react with aluminate in cement to form erosion products, causing cracks and spalling. When cement is used to stabilize loose erodible sand in coastal areas, the resistance to sulfate attack is questionable. In this study, four cements with different aluminate contents were used to stabilize sand. Cement stabilized sands were immersed in 5% Na₂SO₄ solution for 300-days to simulate long-term sulfate attack process. The deterioration of engineering performance was evaluated based on expansion ratio, mass change, uniaxial compressive strength, and ultrasonic velocity. The deterioration mechanisms were analyzed through mineralogical and microstructural observations including X-ray diffraction, EDS, scanning electronic microscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results showed that the development of macro-scale mechanical performances could be divided into two stages (initial stage and erosion stage) when subjected to 300-days immersion in 5% Na₂SO₄ solution. Sand stabilized by low-aluminate-content cement displayed better engineering performance especially at the erosion stage. Mechanistically, more ettringite was formed in high-aluminate-content cement stabilized sand, leading to swelling and cracking. The formation of ettringite and gypsum were accompanied with the consumption of portlandite, leading to further strength loss.     

闽浙沿岸沉积物的工程地质特性及其成因简析

根据闽浙沿岸沉积物的实验室分析资料,从物理性质和力学特征对海底沉积物的综合工程地质特征进行了研究,结果发现,本区沉积物以淤泥和淤泥质黏土为主,含少量细砂、粉砂、黏土和粉质黏土等,总的表现为含水率高、孔隙比大、压缩性强、塑性大和强度低。从微观结构、物质来源、物质成分、水动力条件等方面对沉积物的工程特性进行了成因分析,这些因素是造成本区沉积物工程性质不良的主要原因。     

Lime migration studies in marine clays

Weak marine clay deposits are present in several regions of the world and they are imposing severe problems for structures founded in these deposits. The use of lime to improve the properties of these soft deposits is not new. In the present investigation, a test programme was carried out to study the migration of lime into the marine clay from the installed lime columns and lime slurry injected points. The formation of various cementation compounds due to soil-lime reactions were identified by X-ray diffraction studies and the attributed changes occurring in the engineering properties of the soil systems were studied. The test results indicate that a sufficient amount of lime is diffused into the soil systems with time and the presence of excessive sodium ions in sea water does not retard the effective penetration of lime into the soil. It is suggested that both the lime-column and lime-injection techniques can be conveniently used to improve the behaviour of soft marine clayey deposits. For weak marine clays under large depths of water, the lime-injection technique is better suited.     

永定新河口通海航道形成水动力泥沙研究

根据规划永定新河河口拟建一条通海航道,利用了该海域的现场实测资料对水动力条件、地质分布、泥沙特性以及淤积等水动力泥沙特征进行了分析,建立了风浪、潮流和泥沙数学模型,对该航道开挖后的年淤积情况进行计算预测。通过与其临近港口的比较,提出了该航道形成可行性依据,为该航道工程的建设提供科学依据。     

Equivalent void ratio controlling the mechanical properties of cementitious material-clay mixtures with high water content

Abstract

This research develops a parameter defined as the equivalent void ratio, e?_st, which is able to accurately describe the dependence of the mechanical properties of cementitious material-clay mixtures on the influencing parameters, i.e., the mixing proportion, curing time, and initial state of the mixture, for different types of cementitious materials based on the results of unconfined compression, oedometer, and triaxial tests. Besides Portland cement, cementitious materials, such as fly ash and rice husk ash, are considered supplementary cement with different levels of efficiency. This equivalent cementitious material concept is then adapted for parameter development in conjunction with the effective void ratio proposed from our previous study. The developed single parameter, e?_st, can assess the mechanical properties of cementitious material-clay mixtures with different types of cementitious materials and under different test conditions.     

Hindered settling velocity of cohesive/non-cohesive sediment mixtures

New methods are proposed for predicting the hindered settling conditions encountered by concentrated suspensions containing mixtures of sand particles and mud flocs. These methods, based on two-fraction formulations, are developed by consideration of the settling characteristics of monodisperse and polydisperse solid particle suspensions applied to cohesive/non-cohesive mixtures of mud flocs and sand particles. The behaviour of these predictive methods is evaluated over a wide range of mixture conditions and compared with existing formulations, with their parametric dependence on the relative volumetric concentrations and floc/particle sizes for the mud and sand constituents established. The results indicate that consideration of the full return flow effects generated by both fractions provides the best modelling framework for predicting the hindered settling conditions over a wide range of sand–mud mixtures.     

Bed changes at toe of inclined seawalls

This study was carried out to investigate the scour phenomenon at the toe of seawalls and the different parameters that affected it. Experiments were achieved using different wave steepnesses, bed material grain sizes, wall positions and inclinations. Based on experimental results, the parametric plots of toe scour for smooth impermeable inclined seawalls were prepared. Also, this paper presents the bed changes prediction at seawalls toe using artificial neural networks on the basis of experimental data to widen the range of application. Suitability of using a neural network model was developed, and a model was validated. It is proposed that this model can be used in coastal engineering applications.     

水泥固化土新材料在围埝堤心结构中应用研究

采用水泥固化土作为新的充填材料,对于缺少砂土的天津港地区,不仅可以减少砂料长途运输,节省能源,降低工程造价,而且可以充分利用港池和航道开挖的淤泥质粘土。根据室内成型试验、现场监测与检测结果探讨了水泥固化土新材料的工程特性等,为水泥固化土新材料在围埝堤心结构中应用打下了坚实的基础。