In order to explore the geotechnical behaviour of expansive soil stabilized by alkaline residue/cement (ARC) under wetting–drying (W–D) cycles, the shrink–swell characteristics, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), compressibility and microstructural characteristics are experimentally investigated in this study. The findings indicate that the incorporation of ARC, particularly with an alkaline residue (AR) content of less than 5%, significantly mitigates the shrink–swell behaviour, reduces soil compressibility and enhances the UCS of the soil. Beyond this threshold, the soil's strength decreases and compressibility increases with increasing W–D cycles. Microstructural analysis reveals the formation of beneficial cementitious products such as calcium aluminate hydrate (C-A-H), calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and ettringite (AFt) that contribute to improving the engineering performance in the early stages of the W–D cycles. Nevertheless, as the W–D cycles continue, these beneficial products diminish, leading to an increase in soil cracks and pores, which indicates a degradation in soil performance. The research posits that ARC can effectively serve as a partial substitute for cement in the stabilization of expansive soils, with the amount of AR within 5%. Despite ARC's environmental advantages as an alternative binder, it may encompass harmful elements. Therefore, a comprehensive environmental risk assessment is essential. Further studies are needed to discern the enduring effects of environmental variables on soils stabilized with ARC.
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Research Article|
March 10, 2025
The geotechnical behaviour and microstructural characteristics of the alkaline residue/cement-stabilized expansive soil under wetting–drying cycles
Fanghua Zhu;
Fanghua Zhu
*
1
School of Geography and Planning
, Chizhou University
, Chizhou 247000, China
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
*
Correspondence: [email protected]
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Zhigang Wu;
Zhigang Wu
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
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Zhifeng Zhang;
Zhifeng Zhang
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
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Dahai Yang;
Dahai Yang
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
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Guangjun Wen
Guangjun Wen
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Fanghua Zhu
*
1
School of Geography and Planning
, Chizhou University
, Chizhou 247000, China
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
Zhigang Wu
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
Zhifeng Zhang
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
Dahai Yang
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
Guangjun Wen
2
Anhui Transport Consulting & Design Institute Co. Ltd
, 1008 Rainbow Road, High-tech Zone
, Hefei 230088, China
*
Correspondence: [email protected]
Publisher: Geological Society of London
Received:
19 Jan 2024
Revision Received:
21 Oct 2024
Accepted:
29 Dec 2024
First Online:
28 Jan 2025
Online ISSN: 2041-4803
Print ISSN: 1470-9236
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. All rights, including for text and data mining (TDM), artificial intelligence (AI) training, and similar technologies, are reserved. For permissions: https://www.lyellcollection.org/publishing-hub/permissions-policy. Publishing disclaimer: https://www.lyellcollection.org/publishing-hub/publishing-ethics
© 2025 The Author(s)
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology (2025) 58 (2): qjegh2024-016.
Article history
Received:
19 Jan 2024
Revision Received:
21 Oct 2024
Accepted:
29 Dec 2024
First Online:
28 Jan 2025
Citation
Fanghua Zhu, Zhigang Wu, Zhifeng Zhang, Dahai Yang, Guangjun Wen; The geotechnical behaviour and microstructural characteristics of the alkaline residue/cement-stabilized expansive soil under wetting–drying cycles. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 2025;; 58 (2): qjegh2024–016. doi: https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2024-016
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