Effect of curing stress on the interface property of cement-treated dredged mud and geogrid

Abstract

The cement-treated dredged mud mixture is suitable for backfill in earthwork projects because of its high water content and flowability. Incorporating geogrid can enhance the mixture’s tensile strength. Constructing with cement-treated mud at greater heights generates curing stress, affecting the interface with geogrid. Pullout tests were performed to analyze the impact of curing stress, water content, and cement content on the interface performance. Results showed similar pullout force-displacement curves regardless of curing stress, indicating strain-softening behavior. Higher water content resulted in decreased pullout forces, while higher cement content led to increased pullout forces. Samples under curing stress exhibited increased peak pullout forces ranging from 2% to 70% compared to samples without curing stress. The rate of increase in pullout force because of curing stress decreased with higher water or cement contents. Curing stress influenced the interface friction angle in specimens with water contents 1.5 and 2 times the liquid limit. It significantly affected the interface cohesion in samples with water contents 2.5 times the liquid limit. Samples subjected to curing stress demonstrated a higher apparent friction coefficient, with an average increase ranging from 4% to 43%, which decreased with higher water content and lower cement content, regardless of curing stress.