Influence of Ferronickel Slag on Impermeability of Seawater-Corroded Cement Soil Using an Electrochemical Test

Sanshan Chen,Shenghao Tong,Feng Chen,Zhen-Jun Wang

doi:10.1155/2022/4964166

Abstract

Since the traditional penetration testing of cement soil is time-consuming, this paper introduces a new electrochemical testing method to study the effect of ferronickel slag powder on improving the impermeability of cement soil in the corrosive seawater environment. To this end, the mercury intrusion test was employed to analyze the change in the pore characteristics of cement soil, and the variation in the impermeability of cement soil was further explained from a microscopic point of view. The test results show that using the electrochemical method to test the impermeability of cement soil dramatically improves the efficiency of testing. The impermeability of cement soil gradually rises with an increase in its ferronickel slag powder content. Moreover, the optimal mass replacement ratio of the ferronickel slag powder and mineral powder composite to cement is 40% in the testing range of 0–40%. The mercury intrusion test results also confirm that the addition of ferronickel slag powder can decrease the most probable pore size and total porosity of cement soil; further, from a microscopic perspective, the ferronickel slag powder can help reduce the corrosion of cement soil by seawater. The above test conclusions are consistent with the results of the traditional permeability test. Our findings not only imply that ferronickel slag powder can lessen the effect of seawater on the corrosion of cement soil but prove that the electrochemical test is a reliable and straightforward method for determining the impermeability of cement soil.

Highlights

Cement soil is widely used in the offshore engineering of coastal cities due to the advantages of its suitable materials, easy construction, and low price
It should be noted that, due to the low hydration rate of cement in the cement soil, it must be cured for 90 days before its strength and other properties can be used as an index to evaluate its performance [25]. us, this test used the curing periods of 90 days in line with the testing conditions of real projects. In this mercury intrusion test, we found that the pore development law of 60 days is almost the same as 90 days, so the curing periods of 60 days were taken for analysis in the mercury intrusion test
Discussion of the Mercury Intrusion Test Results. e mercury intrusion test results can be analyzed by combining Tables 7 and 8, presenting the pore characteristics of the different cement soil samples containing ferronickel slag powder

Summary

Introduction

Cement soil is widely used in the offshore engineering of coastal cities due to the advantages of its suitable materials, easy construction, and low price. Some scholars added basalt fiber [8, 9], bentonite [10], coalbearing metakaolin [11], graphene oxide [12], waste glass fiber [13], and air foam [14] into cement soil, and it was reported that these admixtures have a positive effect on improving the impermeability of cement soil. In this context, this paper investigates adding ferronickel slag powder to cement soil

Methods

Results

Conclusion