Evaluating the durability, microstructure and mechanical properties of a clayey-sandy soil stabilized with copper slag-based geopolymer against wetting-drying cycles

Abstract

This study was conducted on durability of the clayey-sand stabilized using the copper slag (CS)-based geopolymer against wetting-drying (W-D) cycles. In this investigation, the mix of 0, 10, and 15% CS and alkaline activator liquid was used. In this solution, the ratio of NaOH to Na2SiO3 is 70:30 and the weight ratio of CS to solution is 1:1. To evaluate the effects of CS content and NaOH concentration (8 M and 11 M) on the strength, durability, and microstructural variation, a series of experiments were conducted after different cycles. The tests carried out for this purpose include standard proctor compaction test, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), Atterberg limits, accumulative loss of mass, swell and shrinkage, ultrasonic P-wave velocity, pH, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) tests. The UCS results demonstrated a remarkable reduction in cycle 2 due to W-D cycles, followed by a decrease in further cycles. As a result of Atterberg limits, lower PI leads to the lower potential to swell or shrinkage; thus, the lower loss of soil mass with a higher amount of CS content is obtained. The microstructure analysis showed that with the increase in cycle number, the abundance of microcracks and voids were increased. Moreover, dissolved geopolymerization products leached due to wet cycles and formed gel becomes weaker. The results showed that all the chosen mixtures were durable and endured all 12 W-D cycles. Furthermore, their mass loss was lower than allowable mass loss content of ASTM D559, suggesting that this stabilization method was appropriate for this soil.