Effect of calcium content on geopolymer consolidation of saline soils in the seasonally frozen zone
Abstract Geopolymers have long been used to stabilise unique soils, and the stabilising conditions and freeze–thaw cycles (FTs) have a substantial impact on the engineering qualities of stabilised soils. The mechanical characteristics and microstructure of lime (Ca(OH)2) fly ash (FA) stabilised sali...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00307-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849728382090084352 |
|---|---|
| author | Sining Li Yong Huang Qiushuang Cui Ruyun Bai Huan Li Liran Jiao |
| author_facet | Sining Li Yong Huang Qiushuang Cui Ruyun Bai Huan Li Liran Jiao |
| author_sort | Sining Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Geopolymers have long been used to stabilise unique soils, and the stabilising conditions and freeze–thaw cycles (FTs) have a substantial impact on the engineering qualities of stabilised soils. The mechanical characteristics and microstructure of lime (Ca(OH)2) fly ash (FA) stabilised saline soils were investigated in this study using the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), Splitting Strength, and Residual Strength (IR) tests in conjunction with X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimetry (TG). The results indicated that the mechanical properties were optimal at 3% Ca(OH)2 with constant 13% FA content and stabilised soils with UCS and splitting strength of 8.78 MPa and 1.43 MPa, respectively. The stabilised soils strength showed a trend of rapid decrease and then stabilisation with increasing FTs, and frost resistance was optimal at 3% Ca(OH)2. At FTs = 20, the UCS and splitting strength IR were 40.94% and 32.51%, respectively, which were higher than those of other proportions of stabilised soils. This was attributed to the fact that calcium assisted FA stabilisation was primarily attributed to the formation of dense network structure of hydrated calcium silicate and hydrated calcium aluminate gels, as well as the generation of ettringite with sulphate. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4eb4fc737cd44f36a16249a64a017c8a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-4eb4fc737cd44f36a16249a64a017c8a2025-08-20T03:09:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-00307-9Effect of calcium content on geopolymer consolidation of saline soils in the seasonally frozen zoneSining Li0Yong Huang1Qiushuang Cui2Ruyun Bai3Huan Li4Liran Jiao5State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang UniversityAbstract Geopolymers have long been used to stabilise unique soils, and the stabilising conditions and freeze–thaw cycles (FTs) have a substantial impact on the engineering qualities of stabilised soils. The mechanical characteristics and microstructure of lime (Ca(OH)2) fly ash (FA) stabilised saline soils were investigated in this study using the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), Splitting Strength, and Residual Strength (IR) tests in conjunction with X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimetry (TG). The results indicated that the mechanical properties were optimal at 3% Ca(OH)2 with constant 13% FA content and stabilised soils with UCS and splitting strength of 8.78 MPa and 1.43 MPa, respectively. The stabilised soils strength showed a trend of rapid decrease and then stabilisation with increasing FTs, and frost resistance was optimal at 3% Ca(OH)2. At FTs = 20, the UCS and splitting strength IR were 40.94% and 32.51%, respectively, which were higher than those of other proportions of stabilised soils. This was attributed to the fact that calcium assisted FA stabilisation was primarily attributed to the formation of dense network structure of hydrated calcium silicate and hydrated calcium aluminate gels, as well as the generation of ettringite with sulphate.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00307-9Calcium assisted geopolymerSulphate saline soilsFly ashMechanical propertiesMicrostructure |
| spellingShingle | Sining Li Yong Huang Qiushuang Cui Ruyun Bai Huan Li Liran Jiao Effect of calcium content on geopolymer consolidation of saline soils in the seasonally frozen zone Scientific Reports Calcium assisted geopolymer Sulphate saline soils Fly ash Mechanical properties Microstructure |
| title | Effect of calcium content on geopolymer consolidation of saline soils in the seasonally frozen zone |
| title_full | Effect of calcium content on geopolymer consolidation of saline soils in the seasonally frozen zone |
| title_fullStr | Effect of calcium content on geopolymer consolidation of saline soils in the seasonally frozen zone |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of calcium content on geopolymer consolidation of saline soils in the seasonally frozen zone |
| title_short | Effect of calcium content on geopolymer consolidation of saline soils in the seasonally frozen zone |
| title_sort | effect of calcium content on geopolymer consolidation of saline soils in the seasonally frozen zone |
| topic | Calcium assisted geopolymer Sulphate saline soils Fly ash Mechanical properties Microstructure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00307-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT siningli effectofcalciumcontentongeopolymerconsolidationofsalinesoilsintheseasonallyfrozenzone AT yonghuang effectofcalciumcontentongeopolymerconsolidationofsalinesoilsintheseasonallyfrozenzone AT qiushuangcui effectofcalciumcontentongeopolymerconsolidationofsalinesoilsintheseasonallyfrozenzone AT ruyunbai effectofcalciumcontentongeopolymerconsolidationofsalinesoilsintheseasonallyfrozenzone AT huanli effectofcalciumcontentongeopolymerconsolidationofsalinesoilsintheseasonallyfrozenzone AT liranjiao effectofcalciumcontentongeopolymerconsolidationofsalinesoilsintheseasonallyfrozenzone |