Coupling effect of cement-stabilization and biopolymer-modification on the mechanical behavior of dredged sediment

Nowadays,biopolymer stabilization as a promising eco-friendly approach in soft ground improvement has attracted wide attentions.However,the feasibility of using biopolymer as a green additive of cementstabilized dredged sediment(CDS)with high water content is still unknown.In this study,guar gum(GG)and xanthan gum(XG)were adopted as typical biopolymers,and a series of unconfined compressive strength(UCS),splitting tensile strength(STS)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical and microstructural properties of XG-and GG-modified CDSs considering several factors including biopolymer modification,binderesoil ratio and wateresolid ratio.Furthermore,the micro-mechanisms revealing the evolutions of mechanical properties of biopolymermodified CDS were analyzed.The results indicate that the addition of XG can effectively improve the strength of CDS,while the GG has a side effect.The XG content of 9%was recommended,which can improve the 7 d-and 28 d-UCSs by 196%and 51.8%,together with the 7 d-and 28 d-STSs by 118.3%and 42.2%,respectively.Increasing the binderesoil ratio or decreasing the wateresolid ratio significantly improved the strength gaining but aggravated the brittleness characteristics of CDS.Adding XG to CDS contributed to the formation of microstructure with more compactness and higher cementation degrees of ordinary Portland cement(OPC)-XG-stabilized DS(CXDS).The micro-mechanism models revealing the interactions of multiple media including OPC cementation,biopolymer film bonding and bridging effects inside CXDS were proposed.The key findings confirm the feasibility of XG modification as a green and high-efficiency mean for improving the mechanical properties of CDS.

Dredged marine soil stabilization using magnesia cement augmented with biochar/slag

Dredged marine soils(DMS)have poor engineering properties,which limit their usage in construction projects.This research examines the application of reactive magnesia(rMgO)containing supplementary cementitious materials(SCMs)to stabilize DMS under ambient and carbon dioxide(CO_(2))curing conditions.Several proprietary experimental tests were conducted to investigate the stabilized DMS.Furthermore,the carbonation-induced mineralogical,thermal,and microstructural properties change of the samples were explored.The findings show that the compressive strength of the stabilized DMS fulfilled the 7-d requirement(0.7-2.1 MPa)for pavement and building foundations.Replacing rMgO with SCMs such as biochar or ground granulated blast-furnace slag(GGBS)altered the engineering properties and particle packing of the stabilized soils,thus influencing their performances.Biochar increased the porosity of the samples,facilitating higher CO_(2) uptake and improved ductility,while GGBS decreased porosity and increased the dry density of the samples,resulting in higher strength.The addition of SCMs also enhanced the water retention capacity and modified the pH of the samples.Microstructural analysis revealed that the hydrated magnesium carbonates precipitated in the carbonated samples provided better cementation effects than brucite formed during rMgO hydration.Moreover,incorporating SCMs reduced the overall global warming potential and energy demand of the rMgO-based systems.The biochar mixes demonstrated lower toxicity and energy consumption.Ultimately,the rMgO and biochar blend can serve as an environmentally friendly additive for soft soil stabilization and permanent fixation of significant amounts of CO_(2) in soils through mineral carbonation,potentially reducing environmental pollution while meeting urbanization needs.

High-efficiency stabilization of dredged sediment using nano-modified and chemical-activated binary cement

High-efficiency disposal of dredged sediment(DS)has become an imperative geo-environmental engineering issue due to the limited landfilling space and severe environmental burdens.This study firstly developed a novel high-efficiency nano-modified and chemical-activated binary cement(NBC),which was composed of binary cement(BC)consisting ordinary Portland cement(OPC)and ground granulated blast-furnace slag(GGBS),chemical-activator and nano-modifier.The effects of chemical-activation and nano-modification on the strength development of BC-stabilized DS(BCDS),and the optimum mix of NBC were respectively achieved via a series of unconfined compressive strength and orthogonal tests.Then,the high-efficiency and economic applicability of NBC in DS stabilization were evaluated by comparing with OPC.Furthermore,the microstructure and mineral composition evolutions inside NBCstabilized DS(NDS)were explored by conducting X-ray diffraction(XRD)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)tests.The results show that both chemical-activation and nano-modification could effectively improve the strength gain of BCDS,and compared with single chemical-activator and nanomodifier,the composite chemical-activators and nano-modifiers exhibited better performances.Based on BC with OPC/GGBS mass ratio of 1:1,both anhydrous sodium metasilicate/anhydrous sodium sulfate(SM/SS)and nano-SiO_(2)/nano-MgO(NS/NM)with mass ratio of 1:9 were respectively determined to be optimum chemical-activator and nano-modifier.The optimum mass ratio of BC,SM/SS and NS/NM was 20:2:1,i.e.the optimum mix of NBC.Compared with OPC,NBC exhibited higher stabilization efficiency and better economic applicability.The generation of calcium silicate hydrate(CSH),calcium aluminate hydrate(CAH)and ettringite contributed to the formation of dense cemented soil matrix inside NDS,and a conceptual micro-mechanism model characterizing the strength development under the coupling action of chemical-activation and nano-modification was proposed.

Mechanical properties of dredged soil reinforced by xanthan gum and fibers

Biopolymers have become popular in geotechnical engineering as they provide a carbon-neutral alternative for soil solidification.Xanthan gum(XG)and jute fiber(JF)were selected to solidify the Yellow River dredged soil.The mechanical behavior of solidified dredged soil(SDS)was investigated using a series of uniaxial compression and splitting tension tests at different XG and JF contents and fiber lengths.The results indicate that on the 28th day,the unconfined compressive strength(UCS)values of SDS samples reached 2.83 MPa and splitting tensile strength(STS)of 0.763 MPa at an XG content of 1.5%.When the JF content was greater than 0.9%,the STS of the SDS samples decreased.This is because that the large fiber content weakened the cementation ability of XG.The addition of JF can significantly increase the strain at peak strength of SDS samples.There is a linear relationship between the UCS and STS of the dredged soils solidified by XG and JF.Microanalysis shows that the strength of SDS samples was improved mainly via the cementation of XG itself and the network structure formed by JF with soil particles.The dredged soil reinforced by XG and JF shows better mechanical performance and has great potential for application.

Restoration or Rehabilitation of the Faleme River Affected by Mining Activities: What Methods?

The Faleme River, a West Africa long transboundary stream (625 km) and abundant flow (>1100 million m3) is affected by severe erosion because of mining activities that takes place throughout the riverbed. To preserve this important watercourse and ensure the sustainability of its services, selecting and implementing appropriates restorations techniques is vital. In this context, the purpose of this paper was to present an overview of the actions and techniques that can be implemented for the restoration/rehabilitation of the Faleme. The methodological approach includes field investigation, water sampling, literature review with cases studies and SWOT analysis of the four methods presented: river dredging, constructed wetlands, floating treatment wetlands and chemical precipitation (coagulation and flocculation). The study confirmed the pollution of the river by suspended solids (TSS > 1100 mg/L) and heavy metals such as iron, zinc, aluminium, and arsenic. For the restoration methods, it was illustrated through description of their mode of operation and through some case studies presented, that all the four methods have proven their effectiveness in treating rivers but have differences in their costs, their sustainability (detrimental to living organisms or causing a second pollution) and social acceptance. They also have weaknesses and issues that must be addressed to ensure success of rehabilitation. For the case of the Faleme river, after analysis, floating treatment wetlands are highly recommended for their low cost, good removal efficiency if the vulnerability of the raft and buoyancy to strong waves and flow is under control.

Experimental Research on the Dewatering of Dredged Sediment from Dianchi Lake

[Objective] The technological parameter suitable for the dewatering of dredged sediment from Dianchi Lake was studied.[Method] By means of the treatment method of sewage sludge in sewage treatment plant,flocculants including FeCl3,Al2(SO4)3 and PAM were taken as dewatering agents which were added in dredged sediment.[Result] The results showed that Al2(SO4)3 had better dewatering effect than FeCl3 and PAM,and the optimum dosing quantity of Al2(SO4)3 in dredged sediment was 170 mg/L,in addition,the water quality of supernatant met the first class B standard of GB18918-2002 and could be directly discharged to nature water without pollution.[Conclusion] The study could provide a simple and feasible way for the rapid dewatering of dredged sediment from Dianchi Lake,which would be convenient for the disposal and resource utilization of dredged sediment.

Numerical Modelling of Sediment Particle Transportation on a Navigation Inlet Using the Particle Tracking Model (PTM)

This paper investigates particle transportation using a numerical model application approach to understand the final fate of suspended sediment particle masses due to a dredging operation in a navigational harbor inlet using PTM (Particle Tracking Model). The investigation applied PTM and simulated particle transportation at a navigational harbor called St Jerome Creek Inlet in Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Maryland District, designed jetties for the inlet, which, when constructed, would minimize dredging requirements from once in a two-year period to once in a ten-year period. In the meantime, due to the frequent dredging requirements of the inlet, there exists a need to understand the fate of the suspended sediments from the dredging operations to assess the environmental impact on the aquatic environment and the coastal community. This study used PTM to simulate the transportation of sediments in a 30-day period during a dredging operation. Ten sediment source locations were selected as possible sites from which dredged materials could be introduced into the flow system. The model output was analyzed to draw conclusions. Results showed that most suspended sediment particle masses moved from their initial site locations and settled along the shoreline, whilst the sediments that found their way out of the inlet system towards the ocean migrated southward and settled approximately 6 miles at the tip of the mainland. The objective of the study is to track sediment particles from a dredging operation. This would be significant in tracking possible contaminants in an aquatic environment for future environmental management decisions.

Tailings Dam Mining, Theoretical Considerations, and Circular Economy: A Review

Mining in tailings dams has emerged as a strategic alternative for mining companies for both economic and environmental reasons. Owing to technological limitations in recent decades, many of these dams have high metal contents, emphasizing the need to evaluate the quality of these residues, especially considering the technological advancements in current concentration plants. An economic viability analysis associated with reusing these materials is crucial. From an environmental point of view, improving mining techniques for dams by considering both safety and feasibility is an advantageous option in decommissioning processes and alignment in the circular economy. In this context, representing these tailings in terms of grade quality and granulometry, as well as the associated contaminants, is essential. Geostatistical estimation and simulation methods are valuable tools for modeling tailings bodies, but they require a reliable sampling campaign to ensure acceptably low errors. From an operational perspective, tailings recovery can be conducted via dry methods, such as mechanical excavation, or hydraulic methods, such as dredging or hydraulic blasting. Dredging is a commonly used method, and cutter suction dredgers, which require pumping to transport fragmented material, are the most commonly used tools. In this paper, some practical applications of geostatistical methods for resource quantification in tailings dams will be discussed. Additionally, the main mining methods for tailings recovery in dams will be presented. Emphasis will be given to the dredging method, along with the key analysis parameters for sizing dredgers, pumps, and pipelines.

Municipal sludge as landfill barrier material

The aim of this research is to find substitute barrier materials for natural clay from two kinds of municipal sludge: waterworks sludge(S_w) and dredging sludge(S_d). Laboratory tests were performed firstly to determine their Atterberg limits and hydraulic conductivity. Based on the results, the use of waterworks sludge was recommended. Then, shear strength tests were performed and it was found the shear resistance property of waterworks sludge is strong enough to maintain slope stability. In order to evaluate the possibility of secondary pollution, the heavy metal contents of waterworks sludge was determined and the results indicated that secondary pollution is unlikely happened. Finally, economic analysis proves that reusing waterworks sludge as barrier will reduce the lost a great for both landfill and waterworks. Based on the results, waterworks sludge was proposed to use and a further long-term simulated landfill test was suggested.

Comparison of Remolded Shear Strength with Intrinsic Strength Line for Dredged Deposits

Chandler proposed the intrinsic strength line to correlate the undrained shear strength of samples one-dimensionally consolidated from slurry with the void index proposed by Burland. The undrained shear strength on the intrinsic strength line is different from the remolded undrained shear strength that is an important parameter for design and construction of land reclamation. The void index is used in this study for normalizing the remolded strength behavior of dredged deposits. A quantitative relationship between remolded undrained shear strength and void index is established based on extensive data of dredged deposits available from sources of literature. Furthermore, the normalized remolded undrained shear strength is compared with intrinsic strength line. The comparison result indicates that the ratio of undrained shear strength on the intrinsic strength line over remolded undrained shear strength increases with an increase in applied consolidated stress.

MODEL STUDY OF DREDGED CHANNEL SILTATION IN OFFSHORE OPEN WATER

Based on the model study, the siltation of dredged channel under the condition of clear water and sediment-water mixture in Lianyun Harbor, Jiangsu Province and the experimental method under complex hydrodynamic elements such as tides, winds, waves and tidal currents are studied. The regularities of the variation of the velocity in the dredged channel in clear water are discussed as well. A group of curves such as water depth, velocity and angle has been plotted as a guide to the selection of a proper direction for a dredged channel. The intensity of siltation and the rate of deposition in the condition of sediment-water mixture, and the relationship between the dimensions of the dredged channel and the deposition amount can be estimated.

Modification of nanoparticles for the strength enhancing of cementstabilized dredged sludge

This paper investigates the effectiveness of nano-modification on the strength enhancement of cementstabilized dredged sludge(CDS).Three types of nanoparticles including nano-SiO2(NS),nano-Al2O3(NA)and nano-MgO(NM)were used as cement admixtures for dredged sludge stabilization.Effects of single nanoparticle content,mass ratio of composite nanoparticles and curing time on the strength development of CDS were evaluated via a series of unconfined compressive strength(UCS)tests.The pH evolutions of CDS caused by nanoparticles were also examined by a range of pH tests.Furthermore,micromechanisms reflecting the strength evolutions were analyzed by performing scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and X-ray diffraction(XRD)tests.The results indicated that adding nanoparticles can significantly improve the UCS of CDS.For single nano-modification,the optimum contents of NS,NA and NM were 4%e6%,6%and 8%,which can increase the 7-and 28-d UCSs of CDS by 38%and 50%,17%and 35%,65%and 67%,respectively.Compared with single nano-modification,composite nano-modifications were more effective in improving the strength gain of CDS.The optimum mass ratios of composite nanoparticles,namely NS/NA,NS/NM and NA/NM,were 9/1,3/7 and 3/7,respectively.Based on the strength growth rate,the composite nanoparticles with NS/NM of 3/7 were highly recommended.The addition of nanoparticles obviously affected the pH evolution of CDS,which was mainly determined by the difference of OHproduction and consumption inside nano-modified CDS.The microstructural analysis revealed that C-S-H and C-A-H gels are the main cementitious products,and the addition of nanoparticles can obviously contribute to a denser and more homogenous microstructure of CDS.

STUDY ON PREDICTION FOR TRANSPORT AND DIFFUSION OF DREDGED MATTER IN JIAOZHOU BAY, CHINA

The finite element method was used to simulate the currents of Jiaozhou Bay and the nearcoast areas, and then established the model of the transport and diffusion of suspended particulate matter there. The transport and diffusion of dredged matter near the discharging field were estimated; and the results were used to analyze the effects of the suspended particulate matter on the marine environment.

An Experimental Study of the Physicochemical Properties of a Cement Matrix Containing Dredged Materials

Recently, the amount of dredged soil material (DM) has been rapidly increasing in Korea due to four major river maintenance projects and new harbor construction. DM waste is mostly dumped into the ocean, while only a small part of it has been utilized for coastal reclaiming, or as filling and backfilling material. This study carried out physical and chemical tests to map out a specific plan for utilizing DM in a mortar mixture. The compressive strength tests and microstructure analysis using XRD and SEM of cement mortar contained DM were performed as a replacement for fine aggregate or as a filler material of mortar matrix. The study measured the impact of contaminants contained in DM and how silt and clay influenced the compressive strength of the mortar.

A method of determining nonlinear large strain consolidation parameters of dredged clays

A method of obtaining the large strain consolidation parameters of dredged clays considering the influence of the initial water content is investigated in this study. According to the test results of remolded clays with high initial water contents reported by Hong et al. （2010）, a relationship between the void ratio （e） and effective stress （a3 is established. Furthermore, based on the available permeability data from the literature, a new relationship between the permeability coefficient （k） and the ratio （e/eL） of the void ratio to the void ratio at the liquid limit （eL） is proposed. The new proposed expression considering the initial water content improves the e-k equation established by Nagaraj et al. （1994）. Finally, the influence of the initial void ratio and effective stress on the large strain consolidation coefficient g（e） defined by Gibson et al. （1981） and k/（1 ＋e） in large strain analysis is discussed. The results show that, under a constant effective stress, the value of k/（1 ＋e） increases with the initial void ratio. The large strain consolidation coefficient shows the law of segmentation change, which decreases with the increase of the effective stress when the effective stress is less than the remolded yield stress, but increases rapidly with the effective stress when the effective stress is larger than the remolded yield stress.

Utilization of Dredged River Sediment in Preparing Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks

In this study,the dredged river sediment,soft texture and fine particles,is mixed with other materials and transformed into eco-friendly autoclaved aerated concrete(hereinafter referred to as AAC)blocks.The results indicated the bricks produced under the conditions of 30%–34%dredged river sediment,24%cement,10%quick lime,30%fly ash,2%gypsum and 0.09%aluminum powder with 0.5 water to material ratio,2.2 MPa autoclave pressure and 6 h autoclave time,the average compressive strength of 4.5 MPa and average dry density of 716.56 kg/m³were obtained,the two parameters(strength&density)both met the requirement of national industry standard.At the same time,the contents of dredged river sediment,cement,lime,fly ash,gypsum and aluminum powder were 15%,48%,20%,15%,2%and 0.09%,respectively,and the non-AAC block made of 0.5 water to material ratio,the average compressive strength of 3.1 MPa and average dry density of 924.19 kg/m³were obtained,the two parameters(strength&density)also met the requirement of national industry standard.In addition,the AAC block’s phase composition and morphology were micro-analyzed by SEM and XRD,the main substances in AAC block were found to be tobermorite and CSH,Among them,the chemical bond between Si-O-Si and Al-O-Al is broken,Al-O-Si is regenerated,Al substituted tobermorite with better strength is formed,and the compressive strength of AAC is further improved.

Dispersal and Fate of Dredged Materials Disposed of in the Changjiang Estuary Determined by Use of An in Situ Rare Earth Element Tracer

To investigate the dispersal pattern and the fate of dredged materials disposed at a pre-selected disposal site, a field tracer experiment was conducted in the North Passage of the Changjiang Estuary during the 2005 flood season. Three tons of dredged materials were mixed with 2.792 kg of sodium hexachloroiridate （IV） hexahydrate （SHH）, which contained the rare earth element tracer iridum （Ir）. Sampling was conducted at pre-selected sections of the estuary on the second, third and fourth day after the release of dredged materials. All samples were evaluated by use of neutron activation analysis. The majority of the dredged material was dispersed nearly parallel to the navigation channel and deposited between the channel and the south dike. Only a small quantity of dredged materials entered or crossed the navigation channel, and the back silting ratio in the navigation channel was about 5%. The dredged materials also dispersed southeasterly beyond two dike heads.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF 3-D TURBULENT FLOWS OVER DREDGED TRENCHES

A 3- D free surface flow in open channels based on the Reynolds equations with the k-ε turbulence closure model is presented in this paper. Insted of the 'rigid lid' approximation, the solution of the free surface equation is implemented in the velocity-pressure iterative procedure on the basis of the conventional SIMPLE method. This model was used to compute the flow in rectangular channels with trenches dredged across the bottom. The velocity, eddy viscosity coefficient, turbulent shear stress, turbulent kinetic energy and elevation of the free surface can be obtained. The computed results are in good agreement with previous experimental data.

Research on the Solidification Mechanism Based on the Water Characteristic Curve of Solidified Dredged Sediment

The fractal model about water characteristics of solidified sediment was built according to the granular metric analysis curve of solidified dredged sediment, the measured value during the low-suction stage of the curing process was used for fitting parameters in the model to obtain the complete water characteristic curve of solidified dredged sediment. Then, the quantitative calculation model of capillary water, attached water, evaporated water and bound water was built by the water characteristic curve and from the view of quantitative angle, the paper analyzed the solidification mechanism of solidified dredged sediment. The result showed that： the model can realize the quantitative calculation about different tapes of water during the curing process, the evaporated water during the curing process mainly came from the capillary water, and the generated bound water during the curing reaction came from the attached water.

Impacts of channel dredging on hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics in the main channels of the Jiaojiang River Estuary in China

Channel dredging in estuaries increases water depth and subsequently impacts sediment dynamics and morphology. The Jiaojiang River Estuary is dredged frequently owing to heavy shipping demands. In this study,the effects of different dredging schemes on siltation were assessed through numerical modeling. The sediment model of the Jiaojiang River Estuary utilized an optimized bottom boundary layer model that considered the bed sediment grain size and fluid mud, and this model was calibrated using field data. Result reveal that channel dredging modifies the flow velocity inside and around the channel by changing the bathymetry;subsequently, this affects the residual current, bed stress, suspended sediment concentration, and sediment fluxes. Increasing the dredging depth and width increases the net sediment fluxes into the channel and dredging depth has a greater influence on the channel siltation thickness. When the dredging depth is 8.4 m or11.4 m, the average siltation thickness of the channel is 0.07 m or 0.15 m per mouth respectively. The parallel movement of the channel has small effects on the siltation volume during the simulation period. The sediment deposits in the channel primarily originates from the tidal flats, through bottom sediment fluxes. Vertical net circulation has a dominant impact on siltation because the difference of horizontal current of each layer on the longitudinal section of the channel increases, which intensifies the lateral sediment transport between the shoal and channel. The influence of vertical frictional dissipation on the lateral circulation at the feature points accounts for more than 50% before dredging, while the non-linear advective term is dominant after dredging. Tidal pumping mainly affects the longitudinal sediment fluxes in the channel. These results can be used for channel management and planning for similar estuaries worldwide.