Dredged sediments with initial water contents between 200% and 400% were treated with single and composite binders. Samples were subjected to open and semi-closed freeze–thaw (f–t) cycles to investigate the impact of f–t cycling on hydraulic conductivity (HC) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS). A grace period (GP) for thaw consolidation is included to assess healing potential of the affected stabilized mass. Findings of this study show that the impact of f–t cycles depends on initially achieved UCS and HC values prior to the f–t cycling and time of testing after f–t cycles. The HC of specimens with an initial UCS value of 87 kPa increased with number of f–t cycles. The UCS values decreased in the range of 50%–80% when specimens were tested directly after the thaw period and values decreased in the range of 14%–60% when specimens were tested at the end of the GP. The HC of specimens with an initial UCS value of 299 kPa remained almost the same. These samples experienced permanent loss in the UCS values, irrespective of time of testing. Detrimental effects of the freezing action on the UCS were greater under semi-closed than open freezing conditions.
The hydraulic conductivity of silty till increases when the till is subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. A dramatic increase normally occurs after the first freeze-thaw cycle, and the magnitude generally depends on the initial or molding water content. Freezing of silty till causes aggregations of clods and the formation of macrostructure. The initial or molding water content determines the number of freeze-thaw cycles required to complete the agglomeration of clods and the formation of stable macrostructures, which in turn controls the hydraulic conductivity of compacted specimens frozen and thawed in the laboratory. The findings of this study show that for specimens compacted wet of the optimum water content, a significant increase in the hydraulic conductivity was measured after the first freeze-thaw cycle. When specimens were compacted at the optimum water content, a number of freeze-thaw cycles were required in order to obtain the corresponding significant increase in the hydraulic conductivity.
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