scholarly journals A Study of Innovative Alkali-Activated Binders for Soil Stabilisation in the Context of Engineering Sustainability and Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Mavroulidou ◽  
C. Gray ◽  
M. J. Gunn ◽  
L. Pantoja-Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Research Effort ◽  
Ground Improvement ◽  
Engineering Industry ◽  
Free Lime ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Activated Slag ◽  
Sludge Ash ◽  
Soil Carbonates ◽  
Alkali Activated Binders ◽  
Alkali Activated

AbstractIn the context of sustainability in the civil engineering industry, chemical ground improvement is becoming increasingly used, as a generally more sustainable alternative to replacing and landfilling unsuitable for construction ground. However, traditional soil stabilisers such as Portland cement or lime are not environmentally impact-free; international research effort is thus focusing on the development of innovative cementing agents. This paper presents results from a feasibility study on the development of suitable alkali-activated slag cements for the stabilisation of two soils. A number of alkali-activators were considered, comprising potassium hydroxide, a range of alkali salts, as well as a material retrieved from waste (Paper Sludge Ash, PSA) which contains free lime. Indicative results of an extensive parametric study in terms of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) are shown, followed by results of ongoing oedometer tests to determine soil compressibility and some preliminary tests on selected soil/binder mixes to observe the durability to wetting-drying cycles. Overall, all alkali-activated cement mixes increased the UCS and stiffness of the soil. Carbonates and Na2SiO3 used on their own gave lower strength increases. The highest strengths were achieved from AAC with KOH and Ca(OH)2 from PSA, which showed similar strength gain. The latter material has shown consistently a lot of promise in terms of strength, stiffness and volumetric stability of the soil as well as treatment durability. Ongoing research focuses on further mix optimisation and a comprehensive mechanical and durability property testing supported by material analysis (mineralogical, chemical and microstructural) to gain a better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved.

scholarly journals Effect of CaSO4 Incorporation on Pore Structure and Drying Shrinkage of Alkali-Activated Binders

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyeongmin Son ◽  
Sol Moi Park ◽  
Joon Ho Seo ◽  
Haeng Ki Lee
Keyword(s):  
Fly Ash ◽  
Pore Structure ◽  
Drying Shrinkage ◽  
Phase Changes ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Activated Slag ◽  
Capillary Tension ◽  
Alkali Activated Binders ◽  
Internal Pore Structure ◽  
Alkali Activated

This present study investigates the effects of CaSO4 incorporation on the pore structure and drying shrinkage of alkali-activated slag and fly ash. The slag and fly ash were activated at a 5:5 ratio by weighing with a sodium silicate. Thereafter, 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of CaSO4 were incorporated to investigate the changes in phase formation and internal pore structure. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG)/derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and drying shrinkage tests were carried out to find the correlation between the pore structure and drying shrinkage of the specimens. The results showed that CaSO4 incorporation increased the formation of thenardite, and these phase changes affected the pore structure of the activated fly ash and slag. The increase in the CaSO4 content increased the pore distribution in the mesopore. As a result, the capillary tension and drying shrinkage decreased.

scholarly journals Influence of alkali-activated materials placement during curing on their dynamic parameters

2020 ◽  
Vol 313 ◽  
pp. 00039
Author(s):  
Iveta Plšková ◽  
Michal Matysík ◽  
Libor Topolář ◽  
Vlastimil Bílek
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Ultrasonic Pulse ◽  
Pulse Velocity ◽  
Sample Storage ◽  
Frequency Shifts ◽  
Activated Slag ◽  
Alkali Activated Binders ◽  
Non Destructive ◽  
Alkali Activated

The production of Portland cement has a considerable environmental impact. Its replacement with alkali-activated binders can contribute to reducing the environmental burden of building production. The paper presents partial results from our experimental research carried out on test specimens made of alkali-activated slag mortar (activated by sodium carbonate). The specimens of dimensions 40×40×160 mm differed in the manner of placement after 28 days of curing in water. The samples were tested by non-destructive methods at different ages. We observed the effect of sample storage on ultrasonic pulse velocity, dominant frequency shifts and dynamic modulus of elasticity as well as changes of these parameters over time.

scholarly journals Towards the Development of Sustainable Ground Improvement Techniques—Biocementation Study of an Organic Soil

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. U. Safdar ◽  
M. Mavroulidou ◽  
M. J. Gunn ◽  
D. Purchase ◽  
C. Gray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Effort ◽  
Ground Improvement ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Railway Network ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Secondary Compression ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Water Contents

AbstractOngoing research effort is dedicated to the development of innovative, superior and cost-effective ground improvement techniques to mitigate natural and man-made hazards while minimising waste and other environmental impacts. In this context, the nature-based process of biocementation of soils has been proposed as a potentially more sustainable technique than conventional chemical ground improvement practices. This paper focuses on the biocementation of an organic soil of the UK railway network. Having recently proven the feasibility of biocementing this soil using indigenous ureolytic bacteria, in this paper, the authors perform a parametric study to identify treatments successful in increasing the strength of the soil. Selected treatments are then applied to the soil to assess its volume change during consolidation, secondary compression and shrinkage upon drying. The results show that, depending on the treatments used, biocementation has increased the unconfined compressive strength by up to 81% compared to that of the control samples. For selected treatments and the range of water contents tested (55–33%), shrinkage upon drying reduced by 16%, while the volumetric strains of the soil upon 1-D compression reduced by 32–47%. This was reflected in the values of the coefficient of volume compressibility and the coefficient of secondary compression (the latter either reduced by up to an order of magnitude or secondary compression was not observed altogether in the testing period). Overall, the results proved that biocementation improved considerably the mechanical properties of the organic soil, which gives promise for addressing the settlement problems of this soil.

scholarly journals Alkali-Activated Binders Using Bottom Ash from Waste-to-Energy Plants and Aluminium Recycling Waste

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 3840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Maldonado-Alameda ◽  
Jofre Mañosa ◽  
Jessica Giro-Paloma ◽  
Joan Formosa ◽  
Josep Maria Chimenos
Keyword(s):  
Bottom Ash ◽  
Physicochemical Characterization ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Leaching Potential ◽  
Aluminium Recycling ◽  
Alkaline Activator ◽  
Alkali Activated Binders ◽  
Energy Plants ◽  
Alkali Activated

Alkali-activated binders (AABs) stand out as a promising alternative to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC) due to the possibility of using by-products and wastes in their manufacturing. This paper assessed the potential of weathered bottom ash (WBA) from waste-to-energy plants and PAVAL® (PV), a secondary aluminium recycling process by-product, as precursors of AABs. WBA and PV were mixed at weight ratios of 98/2, 95/5, and 90/10. A mixture of waterglass (WG) and NaOH at different concentrations (4 and 6 M) was used as the alkaline activator solution. The effects of increasing NaOH concentration and PV content were evaluated. Alkali-activated WBA/PV (AA-WBA/PV) binders were obtained. Selective chemical extractions and physicochemical characterization revealed the formation of C-S-H, C-A-S-H, and (N,C)-A-S-H gels. Increasing the NaOH concentration and PV content increased porosity and reduced compressive strength (25.63 to 12.07 MPa). The leaching potential of As and Sb from AA-WBA/PV exceeded the threshold for acceptance in landfills for non-hazardous waste.

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