Sains Malaysiana 50(11)(2021): 3181-3191

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5011-03

Influence of Zeolite on the Compaction Characteristics and Shear Strength Parameters of Cemented Sand

(Pengaruh Zeolit ​​pada Pencirian Pemadatan dan Parameter Kekuatan Ricih Pasir Simen)

GHASEM NOROUZNEJAD¹, ISSA SHOOSHPASHA¹*, SEYED MOHAMMAD MIRHOSSEINI¹ & MOBIN AFZALIRAD^1,2

¹Department of Civil Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran

²Department of Civil Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr Branch, Qaemshahr, Iran

Received: 30 September 2020/Accepted: 7 March 2021

ABSTRACT

It is well known that in geotechnical engineering, soil stabilization using cement is one of the appropriate approaches for enhancing soil characteristics. With respect to zeolite, its impact on the characteristics of cemented soil has not been fully evaluated. Thus, in the current research, a set of laboratory tests including standard Proctor compaction and direct shear tests (DSTs) considering four cement contents (2, 4, 6, and 8% of sand dry weight) and four zeolite contents (0%, 30%, 60%, and 90% of cement percentage as a replacement material) was carried out. The results indicated that the zeolite reduced Maximum Dry Density (MDD) while it increased value of Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) of cemented sand. Through the DSTs, it has been found that the replacement of cement by zeolite up to 30%, leads to the highest values of shear strength parameters due to the occurrence of pozzolanic and chemical reactions, particularly the production of higher amounts of calcium aluminate and calcium silicate hydrates in comparison with zeolite-free samples.

Keywords: Cement; sand; shear strength parameters; standard Proctor compaction test; zeolite

ABSTRAK

Telah diketahui bahawa dalam kejuruteraan geoteknik, penstabilan tanah menggunakan simen adalah salah satu pendekatan yang sesuai untuk meningkatkan ciri tanah. Berkenaan dengan zeolit, kesannya terhadap ciri-ciri tanah simen belum dinilai sepenuhnya. Oleh itu, dalam penyelidikan semasa, satu set ujian makmal termasuk pemadatan Proktor piawai dan ujian ricih langsung (DST) mempertimbangkan empat kandungan simen (2, 4, 6 dan 8% berat kering pasir) dan empat kandungan zeolit ​​(0%, 30 %, 60% dan 90% peratusan simen sebagai bahan pengganti) dijalankan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa zeolit​​ mengurangkan Ketumpatan Kering Maksimum (MDD) sementara meningkatkan nilai Kandungan Kelembapan Optimum (OMC) pasir bersimen. Melalui DST, didapati bahawa penggantian simen dengan zeolit ​​hingga 30% membawa kepada nilai parameter kekuatan ricih tertinggi kerana berlakunya tindak balas pozolan dan kimia, terutama pengeluaran kalsium aluminat dan kalsium dalam jumlah yang lebih tinggi silikat hidrat berbanding dengan sampel bebas zeolit.

Kata kunci: Parameter kekuatan ricih; pasir; simen; ujian pemadatan Proktor piawai; zeolit

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*Corresponding author; email: shooshpasha@nit.ac.ir