From solid waste to subgrade stabilizer: lithium slag-calcium carbide residue geopolymer for silty clay subgrade stabilization

In seasonally frozen regions, silty clay subgrades often suffer from frost heave, thaw settlement, and mud pumping, which jeopardize road stability. This study utilizes lithium slag and calcium carbide residue to synthesize a lithium slag-based geopolymer stabilizer for modifying silty clay. A serie...

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Main Authors: Gaohang Cui, Mengjia Duan, Xiuhao Lian, Xinlei Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502479X
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author Gaohang Cui
Mengjia Duan
Xiuhao Lian
Xinlei Xiao
author_facet Gaohang Cui
Mengjia Duan
Xiuhao Lian
Xinlei Xiao
author_sort Gaohang Cui
collection DOAJ
description In seasonally frozen regions, silty clay subgrades often suffer from frost heave, thaw settlement, and mud pumping, which jeopardize road stability. This study utilizes lithium slag and calcium carbide residue to synthesize a lithium slag-based geopolymer stabilizer for modifying silty clay. A series of laboratory tests, including unconfined compressive strength, freeze-thaw cycles, dynamic triaxial tests, and microstructural analyses, were conducted. Results show that the geopolymer significantly improves both strength and freeze-thaw durability. After 28 days of curing, the UCS of the stabilized soil was 4 times that of untreated soil and 1.1 times that of cement-stabilized soil. Freeze-thaw strength loss was reduced by 60.13 %, and accumulated plastic strain under coupled freeze-thaw and dynamic loading decreased by 14 %. Microstructural observations indicate that calcium carbide residue provides sufficient alkalinity for the geopolymer reaction, facilitating the formation of aluminosilicate and calcium-aluminosilicate gels. These gels alter the soil structure from loose contact-based to cemented bonding, forming a denser matrix with enhanced mechanical performance. This study offers a sustainable approach for utilizing industrial solid waste and developing low-carbon soil stabilization technologies for cold region infrastructure.
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language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Results in Engineering
spelling doaj-art-d578d0eeff574551bd2ed974804c215f2025-08-20T03:56:41ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710640910.1016/j.rineng.2025.106409From solid waste to subgrade stabilizer: lithium slag-calcium carbide residue geopolymer for silty clay subgrade stabilizationGaohang Cui0Mengjia Duan1Xiuhao Lian2Xinlei Xiao3School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150040, ChinaCorresponding author.; School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150040, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150040, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150040, ChinaIn seasonally frozen regions, silty clay subgrades often suffer from frost heave, thaw settlement, and mud pumping, which jeopardize road stability. This study utilizes lithium slag and calcium carbide residue to synthesize a lithium slag-based geopolymer stabilizer for modifying silty clay. A series of laboratory tests, including unconfined compressive strength, freeze-thaw cycles, dynamic triaxial tests, and microstructural analyses, were conducted. Results show that the geopolymer significantly improves both strength and freeze-thaw durability. After 28 days of curing, the UCS of the stabilized soil was 4 times that of untreated soil and 1.1 times that of cement-stabilized soil. Freeze-thaw strength loss was reduced by 60.13 %, and accumulated plastic strain under coupled freeze-thaw and dynamic loading decreased by 14 %. Microstructural observations indicate that calcium carbide residue provides sufficient alkalinity for the geopolymer reaction, facilitating the formation of aluminosilicate and calcium-aluminosilicate gels. These gels alter the soil structure from loose contact-based to cemented bonding, forming a denser matrix with enhanced mechanical performance. This study offers a sustainable approach for utilizing industrial solid waste and developing low-carbon soil stabilization technologies for cold region infrastructure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502479XGeopolymer stabilized soilIndustrial solid wasteAccumulated plastic strainFreeze-thaw cycleMicrostructural analysis
spellingShingle Gaohang Cui
Mengjia Duan
Xiuhao Lian
Xinlei Xiao
From solid waste to subgrade stabilizer: lithium slag-calcium carbide residue geopolymer for silty clay subgrade stabilization
Results in Engineering
Geopolymer stabilized soil
Industrial solid waste
Accumulated plastic strain
Freeze-thaw cycle
Microstructural analysis
title From solid waste to subgrade stabilizer: lithium slag-calcium carbide residue geopolymer for silty clay subgrade stabilization
title_full From solid waste to subgrade stabilizer: lithium slag-calcium carbide residue geopolymer for silty clay subgrade stabilization
title_fullStr From solid waste to subgrade stabilizer: lithium slag-calcium carbide residue geopolymer for silty clay subgrade stabilization
title_full_unstemmed From solid waste to subgrade stabilizer: lithium slag-calcium carbide residue geopolymer for silty clay subgrade stabilization
title_short From solid waste to subgrade stabilizer: lithium slag-calcium carbide residue geopolymer for silty clay subgrade stabilization
title_sort from solid waste to subgrade stabilizer lithium slag calcium carbide residue geopolymer for silty clay subgrade stabilization
topic Geopolymer stabilized soil
Industrial solid waste
Accumulated plastic strain
Freeze-thaw cycle
Microstructural analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502479X
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