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.

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.