Evaluation of the stiffness of treated soil immediately after the addition of solidifying agent using a liquid limit test

Abstract

Immediately after mixing with cement-based solidifying agent, the treated soil undergoes stiffening (increased shear strength). This stiffening significantly affects the mixing quality, pumpability, and packing properties of the solidified soil. This report first investigated the liquid limit of solidified soil immediately after mixing with solidifying agent, using Tokuyama Port clay. The results revealed that the shear strength of the solidified soil immediately after mixing is correlated with the water-soil particle ratio, a water content parameter that ignores the mass of the solidifying agent. Furthermore, the liquid limits of six types of clay immediately after mixing with solidifying agent were investigated. The results showed that the water-soil particle ratio at the liquid limit increased to 1.3 to 1.8 times (average 1.51 times) after adding the cement-based solidifying agent. This means that the shear strength becomes 3.3 to 14.1 times (average 6.1 times) that of the original soil due to stiffening.