Laboratory investigation and field evaluation of loess improvement using nanoclay – A sustainable material for construction

Tabarsa, Alireza; Latifi, Nima; Meehan, Christopher L.; Manahiloh, Kalehiwot Nega

doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.09.096

Cited by 131 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Zhen et al [37] studied the thermal conductivities of undisturbed and remolded Malan loess collected from the first terrace of the Yellow River and found that at a saturation degree and a dry density, the thermal conductivity of undisturbed loess was larger than that of remolded loess. To improve strength and deformation behavior of loess, stabilization of loess has been attempted using different materials such as novel reactive magnesia-bearing binders [38], lime and fly ash piles [39], and nanoclay [40]. However, the structural behavior of loess soil under triaxial compression has not been fully investigated because the applicability of the disturbance functions proposed in the literature is site-specific.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disturbance Evolution Behavior of Loess Soil under Triaxial Compression

Guo

2020

Advances in Civil Engineering

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This paper presents an investigation into the evolution law of the structural effects of Xi’an loess soil, based on the disturbed state concept. First, a series of consolidated and drained triaxial compression tests were performed on undisturbed and remoulded loess samples prepared at five different moisture contents and tested at four different confining pressures. Second, two disturbance functions with different parameters were proposed to quantify mathematically the structural effects of loess. Finally, the proposed disturbance functions were validated against documented test results by other researchers. The results indicated that the single-parameter disturbance function, with the deformation modulus as its parameter, provides convenience for application but takes no account of the respective contributions of deviatoric stress and mean stress to the disturbance evolution behavior of loess. The double-parameter disturbance function, with the shear and bulk moduli as its parameters, is capable of distinguishing these respective contributions and reflects well the disturbance evolution behavior of loess under various moisture contents and confining pressures. The effects of moisture content and confining pressure on the parameters of the disturbance functions were found to be unsteady. The proposed disturbance functions lay the foundation for establishing a constitutive model for loess accounting for the structural effect.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disturbance Evolution Behavior of Loess Soil under Triaxial Compression

Guo

2020

Advances in Civil Engineering

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“…The silt particles are thus easily eroded by seepage or wind. Tabarsa et al (2018) [19] investigated the effectiveness of the loess stabilisation using nanoclay both in the laboratory and in the field at the Gonbad dam site, considering various fractions of nanoclay ranging from 0.2% to 3% by mass. The field test section with 2% nanoclay showed the highest erosion resistance, while the laboratory specimens exhibited the same general trends in behaviour.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Post-Harvest Waste to Improve Shearing Behaviour of Loess and Its Validation by Multiscale Direct Shear Tests

et al. 2019

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Loess and PHW (post-harvest waste) are easily accessible in the Chinese Loess Plateau and have been widely applied to construction of residential houses that have been inhabited for decades under the effect of freeze-thaw cycles. Although many researchers have recognised that the addition of fibers to loess soil is effective in preventing soil erosion and stabilising slopes, a consensus on this claim has not been reached yet. This study investigates the shearing behaviour of the loess-PHW mixture using small-scale and large-scale direct shear (SSDS and LSDS) tests. Four typical shear stress versus horizontal displacement curves from the multiscale direct shear tests are recognised where one is featured with strain-softening shape and the other three with a strain-hardening shape. Two out of the three curves with strain-hardening shape show a gradual increase in the shear stress at additional and larger displacements, respectively, in which some factor starts to have an influence on the shearing behaviour. Comparisons of the shear strength measured in SSDS and LSDS are made, indicating that there are differences between SSDS and LSDS. The effect of PHW addition on shear strength is assessed in order to determine the optimal dosage. The improvement of shear strength is attributed to the effect of particle inter-locking, resulting from the addition of PHW to loess specimens, and takes effect as the water content surpassed a threshold, i.e., >14%, that facilitates particle rearrangement. Particle-box interaction behaviour is assessed at the same time, and the findings satisfactorily address the main cause of the gradual increase in shear stress following the curve inflection point. The improved shearing behaviour proves the ability of the loess-PHW mixture to resist the seepage force and consequently stratum erosion.

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“…Ren and Hu [ 20 ] investigated the effect of nano-SiO 2 on silty soil properties. Tabarsa, Latifi [ 21 ] evaluated the feasibility of loess improvement using nano-clay based on laboratory and field investigations. On the whole, the addition of nano-particles results in higher strength and density and lower conductivity, shrinkage, and Atterberg limit in various treated soils.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, the use of nano-particles as a soil stabilizer is still uncommon [ 15 ]. Until now, there have been very few attempts at using a nano-particle additive to treat loess [ 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stabilization of Loess Using Nano-SiO2

et al. 2018

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Improving the performance of loess is of significant importance for lowering its collapsibility and water sensitivity to construction requirements and for geohazard mitigation. The present paper studies the changes in mechanical, structural, and mineralogical properties of nano-SiO2-treated loess with different contents and curing days. The mechanical behavior was examined by unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of untreated and treated loess. To better understand the mechanisms of stabilization, particle size distributions, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were carried out. The results show that the UCS increase with increasing contents and curing days due to nano-SiO2 addition produced coarser particles, denser packing, and smaller pores in treated loess. The changes in the properties can be attributed to the formation of aggregation and agglomeration, with greater particle sizes and more interparticle contact. In addition, the results from mineralogical component analysis further confirm that physical structure modification controls the changes in mechanical and fabric properties, rather than chemical component alteration. Even small nano-SiO2 additions can also provide great improvement when curing days are enough for the treated loess. These findings reveal that nano-SiO2 has the potential to serve as a cost-effective stabilized additive that treats the universal loess.

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Laboratory investigation and field evaluation of loess improvement using nanoclay – A sustainable material for construction

Cited by 131 publications

References 52 publications

Disturbance Evolution Behavior of Loess Soil under Triaxial Compression

Disturbance Evolution Behavior of Loess Soil under Triaxial Compression

Using Post-Harvest Waste to Improve Shearing Behaviour of Loess and Its Validation by Multiscale Direct Shear Tests

Stabilization of Loess Using Nano-SiO2

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