Abstract
This work presents the discussion of the results for an experimental study conducted to characterise the mechanical behaviour of ammonia-soda residue (ASR). The calcareous sludge is an alkaline waste formed during the production of soda ash and deposited at the area of the former Solvay Sodium Plant factory in Krakow, Poland. Isotropically consolidation drained (CID) triaxial tests and constant rate of strain (CRS) consolidation tests include the full saturation with water, completion of the consolidation, and the loading/strain rate choice. For this purpose, ASR undisturbed samples were collected from the ground and submitted to laboratory experiments. These samples show a distinct difference in the initial bulk density, the initial level of compaction, initial void ratio, and the natural water content. The CD triaxial tests were conducted under three different levels of confining pressure; in turn, CRS tests were run with two appropriate input strain rates. According to the physical state of ASR and the depth of sampling, two different evolutions of the critical state in the stress–strain space were observed. In the light of the assessed stress–strain–strength behaviour, key design engineering parameters of ASR were calculated.
Highlights
Ammonia-soda residue (ASR), known as ammonia-soda white mud or ammoniasoda ash waste, is an alkaline calcareous sludge formed during the production of industrial soda ash (SA) (Solvay processes)
The collected material for the laboratory testing was characterised in terms of the mineral composition and microstructure
The results presented in this work can be summarised as follows: 1. Consolidated drained triaxial tests on the ASR reveal two different evolutions of the critical state in the stress–strain space
Summary
Ammonia-soda residue (ASR), known as ammonia-soda white mud or ammoniasoda ash waste, is an alkaline calcareous sludge formed during the production of industrial soda ash (SA) (Solvay processes). The ASR is usually slurry-deposited and exhibits a unique structure with high moisture content, high compressibility, and unusual geotechnical properties [16,17], which presented several challenges to the capping landfill design [18,19]. Another feature is the fact that the ASR consists of extremely fine particles with a large specific surface area that exhibits a strong adsorption capacity [20,21]. Coleman et al [22] considered SA as an additive to soil-cement mixtures to determine its effect on soil-cement and soilcement-fly ash strength properties.
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