Analysis of the Effect of Ultra-Fine Cement on the Microscopic Pore Structure of Cement Soil in a Peat Soil Environment
Treating peat soil foundations around Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake in Yunnan is a complex problem in practical engineering projects. Peat soil solely reinforced with ordinary cement (OPC) does not satisfy demand. This study aims to solidify soil to achieve better mechanical properties. The preparatio...
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/23/12700 |
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| author | Jing Cao Chenhui Huang Huafeng Sun Yongfa Guo Wenyun Ding Guofeng Hua |
| author_facet | Jing Cao Chenhui Huang Huafeng Sun Yongfa Guo Wenyun Ding Guofeng Hua |
| author_sort | Jing Cao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Treating peat soil foundations around Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake in Yunnan is a complex problem in practical engineering projects. Peat soil solely reinforced with ordinary cement (OPC) does not satisfy demand. This study aims to solidify soil to achieve better mechanical properties. The preparation of peat soil incorporates a humic acid (HA) reagent into cohesive soil, and cement and ultra-fine cement (UFC) are mixed by stirring to prepare cement soil samples. They are then immersed in fulvic acid (FA) solution to simulate cement soil in the actual environment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and pores and cracks analysis system (PCAS) tests are used to study the impact of the UFC on the microscopic pore structure of cement soil in a peat soil environment. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test is used for verification. The microscopic test results indicate that incorporating UFC enhances the specimen’s micropore structure. The XRD test results show the presence of C–S–H, C–A–S–H, and C–A–H. SEM and PCAS tests show that the UFC proportion increases by between 0% and 10%, and the percentage reduction in the macropore volume is the largest, at 38.84%. When the UFC admixture is 30%, the cumulative reduction in the percentage of macropore volume reaches 71.55%. The MIP test results show that the cumulative volume greater than 10 µm in pore size decreases from 7.68% to 0.17% with an increase in the UFC proportion. The UCS test results show that the maximum strength growth of cement soil is 12.99% when the UFC admixture is 0–10%. Incorporating UFC to form a compound curing agent solves the problem of the traditional reinforcement treatment of peat soil foundation being undesirable and decreases the amount of cement. This study provides practical guidance for reducing carbon emissions in actual projects. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:55:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a212a386058d49e78129832e18dc15f12023-12-08T15:11:27ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-11-0113231270010.3390/app132312700Analysis of the Effect of Ultra-Fine Cement on the Microscopic Pore Structure of Cement Soil in a Peat Soil EnvironmentJing Cao0Chenhui Huang1Huafeng Sun2Yongfa Guo3Wenyun Ding4Guofeng Hua5Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaKunming Survey, Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. of CREEC, Kunming 650200, ChinaKunming Survey, Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. of CREEC, Kunming 650200, ChinaSichuan Xinguangjian New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610000, ChinaTreating peat soil foundations around Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake in Yunnan is a complex problem in practical engineering projects. Peat soil solely reinforced with ordinary cement (OPC) does not satisfy demand. This study aims to solidify soil to achieve better mechanical properties. The preparation of peat soil incorporates a humic acid (HA) reagent into cohesive soil, and cement and ultra-fine cement (UFC) are mixed by stirring to prepare cement soil samples. They are then immersed in fulvic acid (FA) solution to simulate cement soil in the actual environment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and pores and cracks analysis system (PCAS) tests are used to study the impact of the UFC on the microscopic pore structure of cement soil in a peat soil environment. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test is used for verification. The microscopic test results indicate that incorporating UFC enhances the specimen’s micropore structure. The XRD test results show the presence of C–S–H, C–A–S–H, and C–A–H. SEM and PCAS tests show that the UFC proportion increases by between 0% and 10%, and the percentage reduction in the macropore volume is the largest, at 38.84%. When the UFC admixture is 30%, the cumulative reduction in the percentage of macropore volume reaches 71.55%. The MIP test results show that the cumulative volume greater than 10 µm in pore size decreases from 7.68% to 0.17% with an increase in the UFC proportion. The UCS test results show that the maximum strength growth of cement soil is 12.99% when the UFC admixture is 0–10%. Incorporating UFC to form a compound curing agent solves the problem of the traditional reinforcement treatment of peat soil foundation being undesirable and decreases the amount of cement. This study provides practical guidance for reducing carbon emissions in actual projects.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/23/12700compound curing agentpore structuremicro testsmacromechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Jing Cao Chenhui Huang Huafeng Sun Yongfa Guo Wenyun Ding Guofeng Hua Analysis of the Effect of Ultra-Fine Cement on the Microscopic Pore Structure of Cement Soil in a Peat Soil Environment Applied Sciences compound curing agent pore structure micro tests macromechanical properties |
| title | Analysis of the Effect of Ultra-Fine Cement on the Microscopic Pore Structure of Cement Soil in a Peat Soil Environment |
| title_full | Analysis of the Effect of Ultra-Fine Cement on the Microscopic Pore Structure of Cement Soil in a Peat Soil Environment |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of the Effect of Ultra-Fine Cement on the Microscopic Pore Structure of Cement Soil in a Peat Soil Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of the Effect of Ultra-Fine Cement on the Microscopic Pore Structure of Cement Soil in a Peat Soil Environment |
| title_short | Analysis of the Effect of Ultra-Fine Cement on the Microscopic Pore Structure of Cement Soil in a Peat Soil Environment |
| title_sort | analysis of the effect of ultra fine cement on the microscopic pore structure of cement soil in a peat soil environment |
| topic | compound curing agent pore structure micro tests macromechanical properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/23/12700 |
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