To reveal the influence mechanism of ettringite (AFt) crystals and microstructure characteristics on the strength of calcium-based stabilized soil, the strengths and microscopic properties of seven groups of stabilized soil samples were studied systematically through unconfined compressive strength, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) testing methods. The results indicate that the strength of the cement-stabilized soil is relatively high because abundant calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) gels coat the outer surface of soil particles to cement together. For the cement–gypsum-stabilized soil, superabundant thick and long AFt crystals make the pores in soil particles larger, and the sample becomes looser, resulting in lower strength than that of the cement-stabilized soil. However, the strength of the cement–gypsum–lime-stabilized soil is slightly stronger than that of the cement-stabilized soil, for the reason that the appropriate amount of fine AFt crystals fill the macropores between soil particles to form a network space structure and sufficient CSH gels cement the soil particles and the AFt crystals network space structure tightly together. It could be suggested that the components of calcium-based stabilizer should consider the optimal production balance between CSH gels and fine AFt crystals.
To elucidate the relationship between compressive strength and pore structure of the high water grouting material with different water-binder ratios and CaO contents, the compressive strength was tested while pore structure including pore characteristic parameters and pore diameter distribution were investigated by BET, MIP, and 3D-XRM. Moreover, the evolution of hydration products was observed by TGA and SEM, illustrating the reactive mechanism of the material. Furthermore, the grey correlation coefficients between compressive strength and pore structure parameters were illustrated according to the grey correlation theory. The results show that CaO content in lime is proportional to the compressive strength with the water-binder ratio of 1.0 or 1.5, while the inverse trend appears with the water-binder ratio of 2.0. The high water grouting material belongs to the macropore material with the pores mainly within 100 nm to 2 μm. Its hydration products contain ettringite crystals, aluminum gels, and C-S-H gels. The productions of the hydration products are positively correlated with its compressive strength. In addition, the compressive strength of the high water grouting material is closely related to the pore characteristic parameters and the pore size distribution, especially the porosity, the most probable pore diameter, and the pore volumes within 100~500 nm and 10~100 nm.
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