Enhanced Strength Properties of Dredged Marine Sediments Using Electrokinetic Stabilization Method

Abstract

Nearshore’s facilities are often require frequent and regular maintenance dredging in maintaining appropriate water depths and enlarging the access channel and turning basin. A large amount of sediment was spawned from the dredging work. The dredged marine sediments (DMS) are not apt to be used in construction activities because of its poor geophysical properties. The purpose of this research is to study the improvement in moisture content and strength of DMS by using electrokinetic (EK) method. DMS are classified as a high plasticity silt (MH) with 240.74 % of its natural water content. Stainless steel plate was invoked as the electrode, while distilled water (DW), citric acid (CA) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) were applied as the stabilizing agents. The aforementioned stabilizers are electrically injected into the DMS which causing flow of the solutions through the pores in DMS under 50 V/m of applied direct current (DC). The results of treated DMS are presented in moisture content, undrained shear strength and SEM-EDX analysis. The EK treated DMS shows it increases in strength in the dry zone area after the 14 days treatment. The dry zone area was created near the anode and wet zone was made near the cathode. The application of calcium ions in the treatment had increased the strength and alters the pattern of the soil fabric. Largely, EK has significantly improved the quality of DMS even though the strength increase observed was not homogeneous throughout the specimen.