Clayey soil stabilization using alkali-activated volcanic ash and slag

Lime and Portland cement are the most widely used binders in soil stabilization projects.However,due to the high carbon emission in cement production,research on soil stabilization by the use of more environmentally-friendly binders with lower carbon footprint has attracted much attention in recent years.This research investigated the potential of using alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBS)and volcanic ash(VA)as green binders in clayey soil stabilization projects,which has not been studied before.The effects of different combinations of VA with GGBS,various liquid/solid ratios,different curing conditions,and different curing periods(i.e.7 d,28 d and 90 d)were investigated.Compressive strength and durability of specimens against wet-dry and freeze-thaw cycles were then studied through the use of mechanical and microstructural tests.The results demonstrated that the coexistence of GGBS and VA in geopolymerization process was more effective due to the synergic formation of N-A-S-H and C-(A)-S-H gels.Moreover,although VA needs heat curing to become activated and develop strength,its partial replacement with GGBS made the binder suitable for application at ambient temperature and resulted in a remarkably superior resistance against wet-dry and freeze-thaw cycles.The carbon embodied of the mixtures was also evaluated,and the results confirmed the low carbon footprints of the alkali-activated mixtures.Finally,it was concluded that the alkali-activated GGBS/VA could be promisingly used in clayey soil stabilization projects instead of conventional binders.

Biopolymer stabilization of clayey soil

This study investigates the efficacy of sodium alginate(SA),xanthan gum(XG),guar gum(GG)and chitosan(CS)d each applied at five different solid biopolymer-to-water mass ratios(or dosages)and cured for 7 d and 28 d d on the unconfined compressive strength(UCS)performance of a high plasticity clayey soil.Moreover,on identifying the optimum biopolymer-treatment scenarios,their performance was compared against conventional stabilization using hydrated lime.For a given curing time,the UCS for all biopolymers followed a riseefall trend with increasing biopolymer dosage,peaking at an optimum dosage and then subsequently decreasing,such that all biopolymer-stabilized samples mobilized higher UCS values compared to the unamended soil.The optimum dosage was found to be 1.5%for SA,XG and CS,while a notably lower dosage of 0.5%was deemed optimum for GG.Similarly,for a given biopolymer type and dosage,increasing the curing time from 7 d to 28 d further enhanced the UCS,with the achieved improvements being generally more pronounced for XG-and CS-treated cases.None of the investigated biopolymers was able to produce UCS improvements equivalent to those obtained by the 28-d soilelime samples;however,the optimum XG,GG and CS dosages,particularly after 28 d of curing,were easily able to replicate 7-d lime stabilization outcomes achieved with as high as twice the soil’s lime demand.Finally,the fundamental principles of clay chemistry,in conjunction with the soil mechanics framework,were employed to identify and discuss the clayebiopolymer stabilization mechanisms.

Using Sorghum Stalk as a Partial Replacement of Lime in the Stabilization of Red Clay Soil for Road Sub-Grade Construction

This research aimed at testing the viability of using Sorghum Stalk Ash (SSA) as a partial replacement of lime in the stabilization of red clay soils for road subgrade construction. Red clay soils have been identified as highly expansive soils, which are affected by both climatic conditions and loading patterns. The consideration of both traffic loading patterns and climatic effects on these soils has been taken into account. A penetration test of 2.5 mm has been used on both pure red soils and stabilized soils at 10% and 15% partial replacement of lime with SSA and showed an improvement in the CBR of stabilized red clay soils up to 11.6%. Again, the PI of stabilized soils at 15% partial replacement of lime reduced up to 11.2%. The results obtained on both CBR and PI of these red clay soils are within the recommended values for the effective subgrade required for laying both permanent and flexible pavements. As a result, a recommendation of making use of SSA to lower the quantities of lime and its costs used in the stabilization of highly expansive soils have been tested through this research. However, further research on a more percentage partial replacement of lime to improve the PI of these soils to below 10% while keeping the CBR levels within the road construction regulations is welcomed.

Effect of CO_(2)exposure on the mechanical strength of geopolymerstabilized sandy soils

In recent years,there has been growing interest in developing methods for mitigating greenhouse effect,as greenhouse gas emissions continue to contribute to global temperature rise.On the other hand,investigating geopolymers as environmentally friendly binders to mitigate the greenhouse effect using soil stabilization has been widely conducted.However,the effect of CO_(2)exposure on the mechanical properties of geopolymer-stabilized soils is rarely reported.In this context,the effect of CO_(2)exposure on the mechanical and microstructural features of sandy soil stabilized with volcanic ash-based geopolymer was investigated.Several factors were concerned,for example the binder content,relative density,CO_(2)pressure,curing condition,curing time,and carbonate content.The results showed that the compressive strength of the stabilized sandy soil specimens with 20%volcanic ash increased from 3 MPa to 11 MPa.It was also observed that 100 kPa CO_(2)pressure was the optimal pressure for strength development among the other pressures.The mechanical strength showed a direct relationship with binder content and carbonate content.Additionally,in the ambient curing(AC)condition,the mechanical strength and carbonate content increased with the curing time.However,the required water for carbonation evaporated after 7 d of oven curing(OC)condition and as a result,the 14-d cured samples showed lower mechanical strength and carbonate content in comparison with 7-d cured samples.Moreover,the rate of strength development was higher in OC cured samples than AC cured samples until 7 d due to higher geopolymerization and carbonation rate.

Impact of wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions on the soil aggregate stability of yellow‒brown soil

Soil aggregate is the basic structural unit of soil,which is the foundation for supporting ecosystem functions,while its composition and stability is significantly affected by the external environment.This study was conducted to explore the effect of external environment(wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions)on the soil aggregate distribution and stability and identify the key soil physicochemical factors that affect the soil aggregate stability.The yellow‒brown soil from the Three Gorges Reservoir area(TGRA)was used,and 8 wetting-drying conditions(0,1,2,3,4,5,10 and 15 cycles)were simulated under 4 acidic conditions(pH=3,4,5 and 7).The particle size distribution and soil aggregate stability were determined by wet sieving method,the contribution of environmental factors(acid condition,wetting-drying cycle and their combined action)to the soil aggregate stability was clarified and the key soil physicochemical factors that affect the soil aggregate stability under wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions were determined by using the Pearson’s correlation analysis,Partial least squares path modeling(PLS‒PM)and multiple linear regression analysis.The results indicate that wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions have significant effects on the stability of soil aggregates,the soil aggregate stability gradually decreases with increasing number of wetting-drying cycles and it obviously decreases with the increase of acidity.Moreover,the combination of wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions aggravate the reduction in the soil aggregate stability.The wetting-drying cycles,acidic conditions and their combined effect imposes significant impact on the soil aggregate stability,and the wetting-drying cycles exert the greatest influence.The soil aggregate stability is significantly correlated with the pH,Ca^(2+),Mg^(2+),maximum disintegration index(MDI)and soil bulk density(SBD).The PLS‒PM and multiple linear regression analysis further reveal that the soil aggregate stability is primarily influenced by SBD,Ca^(2+),and MDI.These results offer a scientific basis for understanding the soil aggregate breakdown mechanism and are helpful for clarifying the coupled effect of wetting-drying cycles and acid rain on terrestrial ecosystems in the TGRA.

Calcium carbonate promotes the formation and stability of soil macroaggregates in mining areas of China

We studied changes in the concentrations of aggregate-cementing agents after different reclamation times and with different fertilization regimes,as well as the formation mechanism of aggregates in reclaimed soil,to provide a theoretical basis for rapid reclamation of soil fertility in the subsidence area of coal mines in Shanxi Province,China.In this study,soil samples of 0–20 cm depth were collected from four fertilization treatments of a longterm experiment started in 2008:no fertilizer (CK),inorganic fertilizer (NPK),chicken manure compost (M),and50%inorganic fertilizer plus 50%chicken manure compost (MNPK).The concentrations of cementing agents and changes in soil aggregate size distribution and stability were analysed.The results showed that the formation of>2 mm aggregates,the aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD),and the proportion of>0.25 mm water-stable aggregates (WR_(0.25)) increased significantly after 6 and 11 years of reclamation.The concentration of organic cementing agents tended to increase with reclamation time,whereas free iron oxide (Fed) and free aluminium oxide(Ald) concentrations initially increased but then decreased.In general,the MNPK treatment signi?cantly increased the concentrations of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3),and CaCO_(3) increased by 60.4%at 11 years after reclamation.Additionally,CaCO_(3) had the greatest effect on the stability of aggregates,promoting the formation of>0.25 mm aggregates and accounting for 54.4%of the variance in the proportion and stability of the aggregates.It was concluded that long-term reclamation is bene?cial for improving soil structure.The MNPK treatment was the most effective measure for increasing maize grain yield and concentration of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3).

Effects of biochar-amended alkali-activated slag on the stabilization of coral sand in coastal areas

Coral sand is widely encountered in coastal areas of tropical and subtropical regions.Compared with silica sand,it usually exhibits weaker performance from the perspective of engineering geology.To improve the geomechanical performance of coral sand and meet the requirement of foundation construction in coastal areas,a novel alkali activation-based sustainable binder was developed.The alkaliactivated slag(AAS)binder material was composed of ground granulated blast-furnace slag(GGBS)and hydrated lime with the amendment of biochar,an agricultural waste-derived material.The biocharamended AAS stabilized coral sand was subjected to a series of laboratory tests to determine its mechanical,physicochemical,and microstructural characteristics.Results show that adding a moderate amount of biochar in AAS could improve soil strength,elastic modulus,and water holding capacity by up to 20%,70%,and 30%,respectively.Moreover,the addition of biochar in AAS had a marginal effect on the sulfate resistance of the stabilized sand,especially at high biochar content.However,the resistance of the AAS stabilized sand to wet-dry cycles slightly deteriorated with the addition of biochar.Based on these observations,a conceptual model showing biochar-AAS-sand interactions was proposed,in which biochar served as an internal curing agent,micro-reinforcer,and mechanically weak point.

Geotechnical investigation of low-plasticity organic soil treated with nano-calcium carbonate

Soil stabilization using nanomaterials is an emerging research area although,to date,its investigation has mostly been laboratory-based and therefore requires extensive study for transfer to practical field ap-plications.The present study advocates nano-calcium carbonate(NCC)material,a relatively unexplored nanomaterial additive,for stabilization of low-plasticity fine-grained soil having moderate organic content.The plasticity index,compaction,unconfined compressive strength(UCS),compressibility and permeability characteristics of the 0.2%,0.4%,0.6%and 0.8%NCC-treated soil,and untreated soil(as control),were determined,including investigations of the effect of up to 90-d curing on the UCS and permeability properties.In terms of UCS improvement,0.4%NCC addition was identified as the optimum dosage,mobilizing a UCS at 90-d curing of almost twice that for the untreated soil.For treated soil,particle aggregation arising from NCC addition initially produced an increase in the permeability coef-ficient,but its magnitude decreased for increased curing owing to calcium silicate hydrate(CSH)gel formation,although still remaining higher compared to the untreated soil for all dosages and curing periods investigated.Compression index decreased for all NCC-treated soil investigated.SEM micro-graphs indicated the presence of gel patches along with particle aggregation.X-ray diffraction(XRD)results showed the presence of hydration products,such as CSH.Significant increases in UCS are initially attributed to void filling and then because of CSH gel formation with increased curing.

Application of biocementation technique using Bacillus sphaericus for stabilization of soil surface and dust storm control

Dust emission and wind erosion are widespread phenomena in arid and semi-arid regions,which have far-reaching harmful effects to the environment.This study aimed to use microbial induced carbonate precipitation(MICP)method with Bacillus sphaericus to reduce soil losses that occur in a dust-producing area due to wind erosion in the Ilam Province,Iran.Soil samples at the 0-30 cm depth were used and sterilized in an autoclave for 2 h at 121℃ and 103 kPa.Approximately 3 kg soils were weighed and poured in the 35 cm×35 cm×3 cm trays.Different treatments included two levels of B.sphaericus(0.0 and 0.5 OD),three levels of suspension volume(123,264,and 369 mL),two levels of urea-chloride cementation solution(0.0 and 0.5 M),and two levels of bacterial spray(once and twice spray).After 28 d,soil properties such as soil mass loss,penetration resistance,and aggregate stability were measured.The results showed a low soil mass loss(1 g)in F_(14)formulation(twice bacterial spray+264 mL suspension volume+without cementation solution)and a high soil mass loss(246 g)in F_(5) formulation(without bacteria+264 mL suspension volume+0.5 M cementation solution).The highest(42.55%)and the lowest(19.47%)aggregate stabilities were observed in F_(16)and F_(7)formulations,respectively,and the highest penetration resistance(3.328 kg/cm^(2))was observed in F_(18) formulation.According to the final results,we recommended the formulation with twice bacterial spray,0.5 M cementation solution,and 269 mL suspension volume as the best combination for soil surface stabilization.Furthermore,this method is environmentally friendly because it has no adverse effects on soil,water,and plants,thus,it would be an efficient approach to stabilize soil surface.

The use of fine portions from construction and demolition waste for expansive soil stabilization: A review

Construction and demolition waste(CDW)are the largest waste products in the world today and competes as a viable recycled additive material in place of natural aggregates.Due to the increase in compressive strength of different mix proportions of CDW,it is also considered for reuse in concrete and subbase construction.This study shows the effect of CDW in expansive soil stabilization.The chemical and mechanical properties of these materials have shown that they are capable of developing compressive strength properties for replacement of cement with significant reduction in carbon emission.The inherent compositional properties of recycled CDW compared in this review suggests that CDW have good filler properties in highly expansive soils.Mixtures of crushed brick and recycled aggregates characterised based on chemical properties of different replacement ratios suggests that CDW of good-quality aggregates reduces swell potential of expansive soils and increased mechanical strength in pavement construction.

Development of Steel Slag-Based Solidification/Stabilization Materials for High Moisture Content Soil

To solve the problems of high moisture content,high viscosity,and poor engineering mechanical properties of soil,this paper using with steel slag(SS)and desulfurization ash(DS)as initial raw materials,realizing the coop-erative treatment of solid waste and solidification of silt soil.The synergistic utilization of SS and DS can reduce the production cost of curing agent and promote its own consumption.According to blended cement of various SS contents and inspected compressive strength performances,the most suitable raw materials ratio was selected.The best formula for this curing agent is cement:steel slag=3:7 with 5%DS,and its 28-day compressive strength can reach 30 MPa.The experiment shows that the effect of DS and Na_(2)SO_(4) reagent with the same quality on early compressive strength improvement of cement and SS system is not much different.In this study,the mineral composition and microstructure of different gel system blocks were characterized by XRD,SEM and EDX,and a large number of webbed structures were found in the SEM test,which was not seen in previous studies.Besides,unconfined compressive strength(UCS),water resistance,and toxic characteristic leaching procedure(TCLP)were used to evaluate silt solidified soil properties.The results demonstrated that the solidified silt could meet not only the standard of general subgrade;but also has a partial stabilization effect of heavy metal ions.

Novel protection systems for the improvement in soil and water stability of expansive soil slopes

To improve the soil and water stability of expansive soil slopes and reduce the probability of slope failure,novel protection systems based on polymer waterproof coatings(PWC)were used in this study.Herein,three groups of expansive soil slope model tests were designed to investigate the effects of polyester nonwovens and PWC(P-PWC)composite protection system,three-dimensional vegetation network and PWC(T-PWC)composite protection system,and nonprotection on the soil and water behavior in the slopes under precipitation–evaporation cycles.The results showed that the moisture change of P-PWC and T-PWC composite protected slopes was significantly smaller than that of bare slope,which reduced the sensitivity of slope moisture to environmental changes and improved its stability.The soil temperature of the slope protected by the P-PWC and T-PWC systems at a depth of 70 cm increased by 5.6℃ and 2.7℃,respectively.Using PWC composite protection systems exhibited better thermal storage performance,which could increase the utilization of shallow geothermal resources.Moreover,the maximum average crack widths of the bare slopes were 7.89 and 3.17 times those of the P-PWC and TPWC protected slopes,respectively,and the maximum average crack depths were 6.87 and 3 times those of the P-PWC and T-PWC protected slopes,separately.The PPWC protection system weakened the influence of hydro–thermal coupling on the slopes,inhibited the development of cracks on the slopes,and reduced the soil erosion.The maximum soil erosion of slopes protected by P-PWC and T-PWC systems was 332 and 164 times lower than that of bare slope,respectively.The P-PWC and T-PWC protection systems achieved excellent"anti-seepage and moisture retention"and anti-erosion effects,thus improving the soil and water stability of slopes.These findings can provide important guiding reference for controlling rainwater infiltration and soil erosion in expansive soil slope projects.

Phosphorus Fertilizer Effects on Near-Surface Soil Aggregation in Furrow-Irrigated Rice on a Silt-Loam Soil

Well-aggregated soil has been shown to improve soil infiltration and reduce runoff and soil erosion, making well-aggregated soil important for productive, sustainable agriculture. One factor that may influence near-surface soil aggregate stability is fertilizer application. Rapid dissolution of fertilizers, which are mostly salts, can potentially disperse clays and destabilize aggregates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of various fertilizer-phosphorus (P) and -nitrogen (N) sources [i.e., triple superphosphate (TSP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), chemically precipitated struvite (CPST), electrochemically precipitated struvite (ECST), environmentally smart nitrogen (ESN)] and soil depth on water-stable aggregates (WSA) in furrow-irrigated rice on a silt-loam soil (Typic Albaqualf). Total WSA (TWSA) concentration was unaffected (P > 0.05) by fertilizer treatment or soil depth, while WSA concentration was numerically largest (P ∙g-1), which did not differ from CPST, ECST, and ESN in the 0 - 5 cm depth or the unamended control in the 0 - 5 and 5 - 10 cm depths, and was at least 1.7 times larger than ESN in the 5 - 10 cm depth (0.03 g∙g-1). Results indicated that WSA concentration among non-struvite fertilizer-P sources was generally similar to that from the struvite fertilizer materials. Principal component analysis determined that 32% of the variation of TWSA was mainly explained by changes in soil bulk density, pH, and electrical conductivity. Long-term, continual annual application of fertilizer-P and N could negatively impact soil aggregate stability, soil structure, and potentially erosion.

Preliminary Study on the Effect of Different Ecological Cultivation Modes on the Water Stability of Soil Aggregates in Rubber Based Agroforestry Systems

Rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) have been commercially cultivated for a century and a half in Asia, particularly in China, and they constitute a common element of plantation ecosystems in tropical regions. Soil health is fundamental to the sustainable development of rubber plantations. The objective of the study is to explore the influence of different complex ecological cultivation modes on the stability of soil aggregates in rubber based agroforestry systems. In this study, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantations, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantations and monoculture rubber plantations were selected, and the particle size distribution of soil aggregates and their water stability characteristics were analyzed. The soil depth of 0 - 20 cm and 20 - 40 cm was collected for four cultivation modes. Soil was divided into 6 particle levels > 20 cm. soil was divided into 6 particle levels > 5 mm, 2 - 5 mm, 1 - 2 mm, 0.5 - 1 mm, 0.25 - 0.5 mm, and 0.053 - 0.25 mm according to the wet sieve method. The particle size proportion and water stability of soil aggregates were determined by the wet sieve method. The particle size proportion and water stability of soil aggregates under different ecological cultivation modes were analyzed. The results showed that under different ecological cultivation modes in the shallow soil layer (0 - 20 cm), the rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation and the rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation promoted the development of dominant soil aggregates towards larger size classes, whereas the situation is the opposite for rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantation. In soil layer (20 - 40 cm), the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation developed the dominant radial level of soil aggregates to the diameter level of large aggregates. Rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation and rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantation, three indicators, including the water-stable aggregate content R0.25 (>0.25 mm water-stable aggregates), mean weight diameter (MWD), and geometric mean diameter (GMD), were all lower than those in the rubber monoculture mode. However, in the rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation, the water-stable aggregate content R0.25, mean weight diameter, and geometric mean diameter were higher than in the rubber monoculture mode, although these differences did not reach statistical significance.

Principle and Method of Optimization Design for Soft Soil Stabilizer

A stabilized soil structure formation model was introduced. In order to form compact stabilized soil structure, cementitious hydrates were needed to wrap and bind the soil aggregates. Meanwhile, expansible hydrates were needed to squeeze and fill the pores, especially the pores in the aggregates. The experimental results show that the influences of various chemical characteristic factors of soil on the strength of the stabilized soil are boiled down, for the influence on the concentration of Ca（OH）2 in the pore solution of the stabilized soil, and the amount of CSH generated by cement. Finally an optimization design method is proposed, with which the stabilizer can be designed according to characteristics of soil samples.

Fabric changes induced by super-absorbent polymer on cementelime stabilized excavated clayey soil

This paper studies the microstructure variation induced by super-absorbent polymer(SAP)to understand the mechanism of macroscopic strength improvement of stabilized soil.The fabric changes of cement elime stabilized soil were analyzed with respect to the variation of SAP content,water content,lime content and curing time,using mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)tests.It can be observed that the delimitation pore diameter between inter-and intra-aggregate pores was 0.2 mm for the studied soil,determined through the intrusion/extrusion cycles.Experimental results showed that fabric in both inter-and intra-aggregate pores varied significantly with SAP content,lime content,water content and curing time.Two main changes in fabric due to SAP are identified as:(1)an increase in intra-aggregate pores(<0.2 mm)due to the closer soilecementelime cluster space at higher SAP content;and(2)a decrease in inter-aggregate pores represented by a reduction in small-pores(0.2e2 mm)due to the lower pore volume of soil mixture after water absorption by SAP,and a slight increase in large-pores(>2 mm)due to the shrinkage of SAP particle during the freezeedry process of MIP test.Accordingly,the strength gain due to SAP for cementelime stabilized soil was mainly due to a denser fabric with less interaggregate pores.The cementitious products gradually developed over time,leading to an increase in intra-aggregate pores with an increasing proportion of micro-pores(0.006e0.2 mm).Meanwhile,the inter-aggregate pores were filled by cementitious products,resulting in a decrease in total void ratio.Hence,the strength development over time is attributable to the enhancement of cementation bonding and the refinement of fabric due to the increasing cementitious compounds.

Plasticity,strength,permeability and compressibility characteristics of black cotton soil stabilized with precipitated silica

The suitability of using precipitated silica(PS) from the burning of rice husk was investigated to improve the geotechnical engineering properties of a black cotton soil. A laboratory experimental program consisting of series of specific gravity, Atterberg limits, compaction, California bearing ratio(CBR), unconfined compression and consolidation tests was conducted on the untreated and PS treated soil samples. The application of PS to the soil significantly changed its properties by reducing its plasticity and making it more workable, improving its soaked strength, and increasing its permeability and the rate at which the soil gets consolidated. An optimal PS content of 50%, which provided the highest soaked strength, is recommended for the improvement of the subgrade characteristics of the BC soil for use as a pavement layer material.

Effects of lime addition on geotechnical properties of sedimentary soil in Curitiba,Brazil

The soil of the Guabirotuba geological formation（Paraná Basin, Brazil） has physico-mechanical properties which are not suitable for its utilization in pavement construction, in protection of hillsides and slopes, or as shallow foundation support. Treatment of this soil by lime addition would improve its usability. The present context intends to determine the ratio between the splitting tensile strength（q;）and the unconfined compressive strength（q;） of clayey soil in the metropolitan region of Curitiba City,which has been treated with different lime contents and curing times. The control parameters evaluated include lime content（L）, curing time（t）, moisture content（w）, and ratio of porosity to volumetric lime content（η/L;）. It was observed that the q;/q;ratio is between 0.17 and 0.2 in relation to the curing time,and an exponential relation exists between them. Meanwhile, the unconfined compressive strength of lime-treated soil was found to be approximately four times the initial value.

Effect of adding natural pozzolana on geotechnical properties of lime-stabilized clayey soil

Clayey soils in Syria cover a total area of more than 20,000 km2 of the country, most of which are located in the southwestern region. In many places of the country, the clayey soils caused severe damage to infrastructures. Extensive studies have been carried out on the stabilization of clayey soils using lime. Syria is rich in both lime and natural pozzolana. However, few works have been conducted to investigate the influence of adding natural pozzolana on the geotechnical properties of lime-treated clayey soils. The aim of this paper is to understand the effect of adding natural pozzolana on some geotechnical properties of lime-stabilized clayey soils. Natural pozzolana and lime are added to soil within the range of 0%–20% and 0%–8%, respectively. Consistency, compaction, California bearing ratio （CBR） and linear shrinkage properties are particularly investigated. The test results show that the investigated properties of lime-treated clayey soils can be considerably enhanced when the natural pozzolana is added as a stabilizing agent. Analysis results of scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDX） show significant changes in the microstructure of the treated clayey soil. A better flocculation of clayey particles and further formation of cementing materials in the natural pozzolana-lime-treated clayey soil are clearly observed.

Characterization of frozen soil-cement mixture for berm construction in cold regions

Lagoon berms in western Alaska are difficult to design and build due to limited resources, high cost of construction and materials, and warm permafrost conditions. This paper explores methods to treat locally available frozen materials and use them for berm construction. The goal is to find an optimized mix ratio for cement and additives that can be effective in increasing the strength and decreasing the thaw settlement of an ice-rich frozen silty soil. Soil of similar type and ice content to the permafrost found at a project site in Eek, Alaska is prepared in a cold room. The frozen soil is pulverized and cement, additives and fibers are added to the samples for enhancing shear strength and controlling thaw settlement. Thaw settlement and direct shear tests are performed to assess strength and settlement characteristics. This paper presents a sample preparation method, data from thaw settlement and direct shear tests, and analyses of the test results and preliminary conclusions.