Strength characteristics of compacted pond ash

Strength properties of compacted ash layers depend to a great extent on the moulding conditions. This paper focuses on the effects of compaction energy and degree of saturation on strength characteristics of compacted pond ash. The pond ash sample, collected from the ash pond of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), was subjected to compactive energies varying from 357 kJ/m³ to 3488 kJ/m³. The optimum moisture content and maximum dry densities corresponding to different compactive energies were determined by conventional compaction tests. The shear strength parameters, unconfined compressive strengths (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) values of specimens compacted to different dry densities and moisture content were assessed and reported. The effects of compaction energy and degree of saturation on shear strength parameters i.e. unit cohesion (c_u) and angle of internal friction (Ф) values and also the UCS values are evaluated and presented herein. The results indicate that the dry density and strength of the compacted pond ash can be suitably modified by controlling the compactive energy and moulding moisture content. The strength achieved in the present study is comparable to the good quality, similar graded conventional earth materials. Hence, it may be safely concluded that pond ash can replace the natural earth materials in geotechnical constructions.     

Pozzolanic fly ash as a hydraulic barrier in land fills

The liner plays an important role in controlling migration of contaminants present in the leachate in waste containment systems such as land fills and impoundments. Although questions have been raised about the performance of clay liners, they are increasingly used singly or as double liners in disposal sites. Though the clay liners possess many advantages such as low permeability and large attenuative capacity, they also possess high shrinkage potential and hence can crack under unsaturated conditions causing instability and increase in leakage rates. Further, the permeability of the clay linear can increase due to clay–pollutant interaction. This study examines the potential of pozzolanic fly ash as a hydraulic barrier in land fill. The behaviour of three different types of fly ashes, showing a range of physical properties and chemical composition from three different sources are reported in the study. Geotechnical properties, needed to evaluate the use of fly ashes as barriers, such as shrinkage, compaction, permeability, consolidation and strength characteristics are reported. The results show that fly ashes possess low shrinkage and hence do not crack. Compacted fly ashes undergo very little volume changes. They also show that pozzolanic fly ashes develop good strength properties with time. Pozzolanic fly ashes containing sufficient lime develop strength even without addition of lime. Non-pozzolanic fly ashes do not develop strength even on addition of lime. Fly ashes generally consist of silt size particles and consequently possess high permeability. However, pozzolanic fly ashes with lime exhibit low permeability on curing because of the formation of gelatinous compounds which block the pores. Thus, pozzolanic fly ashes appear to be promising for construction of liners to contain alkaline leachate.     

Behaviour of model footing on pond ash

This paper focuses on the effective utilization of pond ash, as foundation medium. A series of laboratory model tests have been carried out using square, rectangular and strip footings on pond ash. The effects of dry density, degree of saturation of pond ash, size and shape of footing on ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations are presented in this paper. Local shear failure of a square footing on pond ash at 37% moisture content (optimum moisture content) is observed up to the values of dry density 11.20 kN/m³ and general shear failure takes place at the values of dry density 11.48 kN/m³ and 11.70 kN/m³. Effects of degree of saturation on ultimate bearing capacity were studied. Experimental results show that degree of saturation significantly affects the ultimate bearing capacity of strip footing. The effect of footing length to width ratio (L/B), on increase in ultimate bearing capacity of pond ash, is insignificant for L/B ≥ 10 in case of rectangular footings. The effects of size of footing on ultimate bearing capacity for all shapes of footings viz., square, rectangular and strip footings are highlighted.     

循环载荷对压实雪冰抗压强度的影响研究

世界强国针对南极科技前沿、地缘政治、开发利用权益的争夺日趋激烈。中国建设和运营南极航空基础设施,有利于提升中国在南极的综合影响力、扩大南极科学考察规模、满足人员和物资快速投送需求,因此,南极机场建设的战略发展价值突出,而压实雪层跑道是中国在南极建设大型机场路面的首选形式。采用压实雪的方法制备人工冰样,结合冰雪跑道所承受的飞机载荷特征,在（-10.0±0.3） ℃温度条件下,以1.0 MPa为平均加载应力,以0.03 Hz为加载频率,应力幅值为0.2~1.0 MPa,循环次数100~900为循环条件,开展在1.0×10^-3~1.0×10^-1 s^-1应变速率下循环载荷压实雪冰的抗压强度试验,以及5.0×10^-4~1.0×10^-1 s^-1应变速率下单调载荷压实雪冰的抗压强度试验。结果表明：单调载荷下的压实雪冰抗压强度在韧性区内随着应变速率的增加而增加,在韧性-脆性过渡区达到最大值,然后在脆性区中显著减少;在高应变速率和一定循环次数范围内,循环载荷对压实雪冰的抗压强度具有强化作用;当超过一定循环次数时,循环载荷对压实雪冰的抗压强度会产生弱化作用。以上试验结果可为压实雪层跑道的设计和维护提供理论依据。     

Using digital mapping techniques to evaluate beneficiation potential in a coal ash pond

Coal-fired power plants produce energy and many by-products (unburned carbon, fly ash, and bottom ash) that are normally stored in permitted ponds and landfills. When the storage facility fills to capacity, it is necessary to haul material off-site for disposal, construct a new storage facility, or find a use for some of the material. Because certain criteria must be met to successfully beneficiate the ash, mapping the ash reserve provides data that shows where the most promising recovery sites will be.The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) in conjunction with Western Kentucky Energy (WKE) and the US Department of Energy are constructing an ash beneficiation plant to recover high quality fuel and lightweight aggregate from the ash ponds at WKE's Coleman Station in Hawesville, KY. To determine the locations of the most productive areas, an extensive sampling and mapping project is underway. An amphibious ATV-mounted hydraulic drill has been employed to take core samples throughout the pond. These samples are then evaluated for particle size distribution, carbon content, chemical and leaching properties. With this information as well as each drill-hole's GPS coordinates and aerial photographs of the plant site, digital maps have been produced showing trends of deposition of material in the pond. Using a Geographical Information System to compile the data, the feasibility of removing ash for beneficial re-use can assessed.     

Leaching characteristics of fly ash

The disposal of fly ash as a byproduct of thermic power stations, results in significant environmental problems. The leaching of coal fly ash during disposal is of concern for possible contamination, especially for the aquatic environment when ash is in contact with water. The aim of this study was to investigate the leaching behaviour of fly ashes currently disposed in Kemerkoy Power Plant (Turkey) fly-ash-holding pond. The studies were conducted with fly ashes from the electrostatic precipitators (fresh fly ash) and from the fly ash pond (pre-leached fly ash). The fly ashes has alkaline in nature and pH ranges between 11.9 to 12.2. The pre-leached fly ash exhibited lower EC values (7,400 µS) than the fresh fly ash (10,300 µS). In contrast to Fe and Pb, the elements such as Cr, Cd, Cu and Co did not leach from the fly ash. The Ca and Mn concentrations decreased with increasing temperature whereas, Na and K concentrations increased. The results showed that the most important effects of fly ash leaching were pH, Na, Ca, K, Fe, Mg, Mn and Pb.     

广西靖西红黏土及其击实后的水稳定性试验研究

为分析红黏土地基及其强夯法加固后的水稳定性问题,对红黏土及其击实样在饱和前、饱和后的固结特性以及剪切特性进行了室内试验。研究表明,土样经过击实后,压缩稳定后的应变值比较小,压缩稳定再浸水后土样的变形只有少量增加;原状土样在剪切过程中一般呈现应变软化的特征;固结饱和后快剪试验强度明显要比固结未浸水试验强度要小。因此,浸水效应对红黏土强度的影响是很明显的。     

Coal combustion by-product quality at two stoker boilers: Coal source vs. fly ash collection system design

Fly ashes from two stoker boilers burning Pennsylvanian Eastern Kentucky high volatile A bituminous coal blends were examined for their petrology and chemistry. The source coals have similar trace element contents. One of the ash collection systems was retrofitted with a baghouse (fabric filter) system, collecting a finer fly ash at a cooler flue gas temperature than the plant that has not been reconfigured. The baghouse ash has a markedly higher trace element content than the coarser fly ash from the other plant. The enhanced trace element content is most notable in the As concentration, reaching nearly 9000 ppm (ash basis) for one of the collection units. Differences in the ash chemistry are not due to any substantial differences in the coal source, even though the coal sources were from different counties and from different coal beds, but rather to the improved pollution control system in the steam plant with the higher trace element contents.     

海堤施工中软土地基沉降计算分析

从剖析沉降固结的概念,探讨常规沉降计算公式的适用性出发,对照海堤工程实践中暴露出来的问题,指出软基筑堤工程实践中沉降计算分析的注意事项和建议,以起到抛砖引玉的效果。     

高液限粘土路基填土工程性质探讨

文中通过级配分析、击实试验,分析了高液限粘土路基填土的物理力学特性和压实特性。认为现行以压实度为指标的压实控制标准不完备,是引起公路病害的主要原因之一。建议引入空气体积率作为粘土路基压实程度的评判标准,并提高现有压实度控制标准中路堤的压实度。     

From in-situ coal to fly ash: a study of coal mines and power plants from Indiana

This paper presents data on the properties of coal and fly ash from two coal mines and two power plants that burn single-source coal from two mines in Indiana. One mine is in the low-sulfur (<1%) Danville Coal Member of the Dugger Formation (Pennsylvanian) and the other mines the high-sulfur (>5%) Springfield Coal Member of the Petersburg Formation (Pennsylvanian). Both seams have comparable ash contents (11%). Coals sampled at the mines (both raw and washed fractions) were analyzed for proximate/ultimate/sulfur forms/heating value, major oxides, trace elements and petrographic composition. The properties of fly ash from these coals reflect the properties of the feed coal, as well as local combustion and post-combustion conditions. Sulfur and spinel content, and As, Pb and Zn concentrations of the fly ash are the parameters that most closely reflect the properties of the source coal.     

击实黄土的电阻率特性试验研究

我国西北与华北地区分布有大面积的黄土,在工程建设中常常需要采用击实黄土。探讨了利用土的电阻率方法评价和控制击实黄土工程性质的可行性。通过研制的ESEU―1型土电阻率测试仪对不同方法制备的西安击实黄土样进行电阻率测试,系统地研究了含水率、孔隙液化学成分、饱和度以及温度与电阻率的关系,探讨了击实黄土的电阻率基本特性。试验结果表明：土的电阻率随含水率与饱和度的增加而减小;孔隙液的导电能力越强,土的电阻率越低;土的电阻率随温度的上升而减小,对于试验所用的西安黄土来说,温度对电阻率的影响试验常数 = 0.026℃–1。研究结果表明,土的电阻率与其物理力学性质指标间存在良好的相关关系,可有效用于土的工程性质评价     

Progression in sulfur isotopic compositions from coal to fly ash: Examples from single-source combustion in Indiana

Sulfur occurs in multiple mineral forms in coals, and its fate in coal combustion is still not well understood. The sulfur isotopic composition of coal from two coal mines in Indiana and fly ash from two power plants that use these coals were studied using geological and geochemical methods. The two coal beds are Middle Pennsylvanian in age; one seam is the low-sulfur (< 1%) Danville Coal Member of the Dugger Formation and the other is the high-sulfur (> 5%) Springfield Coal Member of the Petersburg Formation. Both seams have ash contents of approximately 11%. Fly-ash samples were collected at various points in the ash-collection system in the two plants. The results show notable difference in δ³⁴S for sulfur species within and between the low-sulfur and high-sulfur coal. The δ³⁴S values for all sulfur species are exclusively positive in the low-sulfur Danville coal, whereas the δ³⁴S values for sulfate, pyritic, and organic sulfur are both positive and negative in the high-sulfur Springfield coal. Each coal exhibits a distinct pattern of stratigraphic variation in sulfur isotopic composition. Overall, the δ³⁴S for sulfur species values increase up the section in the low-sulfur Danville coal, whereas they show a decrease up the vertical section in the high-sulfur Springfield coal. Based on the evolution of δ³⁴S for sulfur species, it is suggested that there was influence of seawater on peat swamp, with two marine incursions occurring during peat accumulation of the high-sulfur Springfield coal. Therefore, bacterial sulfate reduction played a key role in converting sulfate into hydrogen sulfide, sulfide minerals, and elemental sulfur. The differences in δ³⁴S between sulfate sulfur and pyritic sulfur is very small between individual benches of both coals, implying that some oxidation occurred during deposition or postdeposition.The δ³⁴S values for fly ash from the high-sulfur Springfield coal (averaging 9.7‰) are greatly enriched in ³⁴S relative to those in the parent coal (averaging 2.2‰). This indicates a fractionation of sulfur isotopes during high-sulfur coal combustion. By contrast, the δ³⁴S values for fly-ash samples from the low-sulfur Danville coal average 10.2‰, only slightly enriched in ³⁴S relative to those from the parent coal (average 7.5‰). The δ³⁴S values for bulk S determined directly from the fly-ash samples show close correspondence with the δ³⁴S values for SO₄^− 2 leached from the fly ash in the low-sulfur coal, suggesting that the transition from pyrite to sulfate occurred via high-temperature oxidation during coal combustion.     

Prediction of pile settlement using artificial neural networks based on standard penetration test data

In recent years artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been applied to many geotechnical engineering problems with some degree of success. With respect to the design of pile foundations, accurate prediction of pile settlement is necessary to ensure appropriate structural and serviceability performance. In this paper, an ANN model is developed for predicting pile settlement based on standard penetration test (SPT) data. Approximately 1000 data sets, obtained from the published literature, are used to develop the ANN model. In addition, the paper discusses the choice of input and internal network parameters which were examined to obtain the optimum model. Finally, the paper compares the predictions obtained by the ANN with those given by a number of traditional methods. It is demonstrated that the ANN model outperforms the traditional methods and provides accurate pile settlement predictions.     

Geotechnical properties of a chemically stabilized soil from Malaysia with rice husk ash as an additive

Summary The stabilization of Malaysian soil by mixing with rice husk ash, a locally available waste material, to improve its engineering properties is described. Stabilizing agents, i.e. cement and lime, were added to produce the reaction products which are responsible for the enhancement of the engineering properties. Based on the strength development, it seems that lime is the more effective stabilizing agent. However, the cheap waste material can be used as partial replacement for the more expensive cement in the cement-treatment of the soil. A durability study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of this stabilization method.     

Soil improvement with coal ash and sewage sludge: a field experiment

A field experimental study was carried out successfully to improve the quality of the sandy soil by adding coal ash and sewage sludge. One ha of barren sandy soil field was chosen for the experiment in Shanghe County, Shandong Province, China. For soil amelioration and tree planting, two formulas of the mixture:coal ash, sewage sludge and soil, in ratios of 20:10:70 and 20:20:60, respectively, were used. Poplar trees were planted in pits filled with soils with additives (mixture of ash and sludge) as well as in the original sandy soil. In the 19th months after the trees were planted, the soils with additives were sampled and analyzed. The results show that the barren sandy soil was greatly improved after mixing with coal ash and sludge. The improved soils have remarkably higher nutrient concentrations, better texture, smaller bulk density, higher porosity and mass moisture content, and higher content of fine-grained minerals. During the first 22 months after planting, the annual increase in height of the trees grown in the soil with additives (4.78 m per year) was 55% higher than that of the control group (3.07 m per year), and the annual increase in diameter at the breast height (1.3 m) was 33 % higher (43.03 vs. 32.36 mm). Trees planted in soils with additives appeared healthier and shed leaves later than those in the control group. As the volume of the additives (30–40% in both formulas) is less than that of the sandy soil in and around the tree pits, it appears that the use of coal ash and sludge for tree planting and soil amelioration is environmentally safe even though the additives have relatively high heavy metal concentrations.     

含氟废水的粉煤灰处理实验研究

进行了影响粉煤灰处理含氟废水的各种条件实验，（pH、水灰比、氟浓度、振荡平衡时间），结果表明最佳处理条件是pH值为2．5、水灰比为小于20、氟浓度小于500mg/l、振荡平衡时间大于2．5h，并研究了粉煤灰处理含氟废水的机理，给出了其吸附等温式。     

粉煤灰扰动样现场取样问题初步探讨

本文结合福州电厂粉煤灰室内试验结果分析,探讨粉煤灰扰动样现场取样及试验控制干密度等问题。该电厂粉煤灰的沉积规律与其它电厂有所不同,灰料颗粒粗细分布和距排灰口远近基本无关,取样也不能按以往经验进行。     

压实黄土回弹模量试验研究

土基回弹模量是路面结构设计中一个非常重要的参数,直接关系到路面结构的安全性和经济性。室内振动压实是室内击实成型试件的一种新方法,能较好地模拟振动压实的特点。研究了压实黄土回弹模量与其干密度、含水率、稠度和压实度以及龄期等物理指标之间的关系,并分析了振动压实黄土的回弹模量与击实黄土的回弹摸量。研究结果表明,压实黄土的回弹模量与其干密度、含水率、稠度和压实度以及龄期之间有一定的相关关系。在推荐参数条件下,室内振动压实黄土回弹模量比室内击实的要大。