Improvement in dynamic behaviors of cement-stabilized soil by super-absorbent-polymer under cyclic loading. Issue 163 (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dai, Di; Peng, Jie; Wei, Renjie; Li, Liangliang; Lin, Hongmin
• Is Part Of: Soil dynamics and earthquake engineering. Issue 163(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Super-absorbent-polymer (SAP) -- Dynamic elastic modulus -- Damping ratio -- Cement stabilization -- Empirical formula; Soil dynamics -- Periodicals; Earthquake engineering -- Periodicals; Sols -- Dynamique -- Périodiques; Génie parasismique -- Périodiques; 624.176205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soildyn.2022.107554
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-7261

Abstract

Abstract: Silty clay with a high water content is a kind of soft soil widely distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China. Based on environmental protection and engineering requirements, cement combined with super-absorbent-polymer (SAP) stabilized soil is often used. However, the dynamic behaviors of cement-stabilized soil with SAPs are not well studied at present. In this study, a series of consolidated undrained cyclic triaxial shear tests were conducted on cement-stabilized soil with and without SAPs, and the effects of the effective stress, cyclic stress ratio (CSR), and cyclic number of cycles on the dynamic behaviors were studied. The results show that the SAP can increase the dynamic elastic modulus (about 10.5%) and damping ratio (about 11.2%) of cement-stabilized soil, and improve the brittle failure and negative impact on superstructures of cement-stabilized soil under cyclic loading. The influence of the CSR on the dynamic elastic modulus and damping ratio of cement-stabilized soil with SAPs has thresholds, and relevant empirical formulas are established. These can be used to predict the distribution of dynamic stress and evaluate the influence of environmental vibrations. Highlights: Dynamic triaxial shear behavior of cement-stabilized soil and cement-stabilized soil with SAP is investigated. Traditional calculation methods overestimate stored strain energy, the method of calculating damping ratio from load-controlled cyclic tests is modified. SAP can improve the brittle failure and the negative effect on superstructure of cement-stabilized soil under cyclic loading. According to normalized dynamic elastic modulus λ E, the empirical formula of dynamic elastic modulus is established. Since λ is independent of effective stress, the empirical formula of damping ratio and dynamic stress is established. They can be used to predict the distribution of dynamic stress and evaluate the influence of environmental vibration.