• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.549-565
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• 2022

Severe acid rains can be a major source for geotechnical and environmental problems in any soil depending on the acid type and concentration. Hence, this study investigates the individual severe effects of sulfuric, hydrochloric and nitric acids on the geotechnical properties of real field soil through a series of experimental laboratory tests. The laboratory program consists of experimental tests such as consistency, compaction, unconfined compression, pH determination, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salts, total suspended solids, gypsum and carbonates contents. The experimental tests have been performed on the untreated soil and individual acid treated soil for acid concentrations range of 0% to 20% by weight. In addition, a unique hyperbolic mathematical model has been used to predict significant geotechnical characteristics for acid treated soil. The plastic and liquid limits and optimum moisture content have been increased under the effect of all the used acids whereas the maximum dry density and unconfined stress-strain behavior have been decreased with increasing the acid concentrations. Moreover, the used hyperbolic mathematical model has predicted all the geotechnical characteristics very well with a very high coefficient of determination (R²) value and lowest root mean square error (RMSE) estimate.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.335-352
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• 2024

Low carbon energy demand in South Korea is increasing, hence leading to an increasing usage of wood pellets and the amount of its combustion by-product called wood pellet fly ash (WA). In an effort to develop recycling technology, this research investigates the use of WA as a new sustainable binder for backfill soil materials. The influence of WA on weathered granite soils (WS) is investigated by mixing 5%, 15%, and 25% of WA dosage, compacted at optimum moisture content, then cured for 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. After curing, the compacted specimens were investigated through unconfined compressive tests, pH tests, total suction tests, and microstructural analysis. The findings suggest that the higher the dosage rate, the higher strength and modulus. Additionally, the alkali ions of WA aid in the cementation of WS particles, and newly cementitious minerals are confirmed after 28 curing days. The refinement of pore microstructures led to a denser WS matrix and stiffness improvements. The results validate the binding potential of wood pellet fly ash on weathered granite soils in terms of strength, modulus, and microstructures.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.353-366
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• 2024

Organic soils pose significant challenges in geotechnical engineering due to their high compressibility and low stability, which can result in issues like differential settlement, rutting, and pavement deformation. This study explores effective methods for stabilizing organic soils. Rather than conventional ordinary Portland cement (OPC), the focus is on using environmentally friendly calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, known for its rapid setting, high early strength development, and environmental benefits. Mechanical behavior is analyzed through 1-D free swell, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and bender element (BE) tests. Microstructural analyses, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), characterize the soil mixed with CSA cement. Experimental results demonstrate improved soil properties with increasing cement dosage and curing periods. A notable strength increase is observed in soil samples with 15% cement content, with UCS doubling after 7 days. This trend aligns with shear wave velocity results from the BE test. SEM and FTIR spectroscopy reveal how CSA cement hydration forms hydrated calcium silicate gel and ettringite, enhancing soil properties. CSA cement is recommended for reinforcing organic subgrade soil due to its eco-friendly nature and rapid strength gain, contributing to improved durability.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.6C
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• pp.259-265
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• 2012

This paper investigates engineering characteristics of lightweight soils mixed with air foam and tire powder. Lightweight soils could be used as foundation materials, back-fills of reducing vibrating or abutment, and so on. Unconfined and triaxial compression tests were carried out to analyze strength and deformation characteristics of lightweight soils by changing target moist unit weight and cement contents. In comparison with strength characteristics of two different kinds of lightweight soils with same most unit weights ($13kN/m^3$), unconfined compression tests showed similar compressive strength, however, triaxial compression tests showed that compressive strength of lightweight soils mixed with waste tire powder was relatively larger strength than that of lightweight soils mixed with air foam because of elasticity of waste tire powder. Also, unconfined and triaxial compressive strengths of most of lightweight soils increase with increases of moist unit weight and cement contents. However, the strength of lightweight soils mixed with air foam under $11kN/m^3$, when moist unit weight exceeds a certain cement contents, decreases even though cement contents increase because of the effect in a void gap of air foam.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.33-43
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• 2010

The physical characteristics of the marine clay in the Korean Peninsula, specifically Pusan areas of the south coast of Korea, were previously studied and reliable data from harbor construction projects were used for the relationship analysis of geotechnical strength parameters. The sample of marine clay classified to ML, MH, CL, CH and ML-CL from USCS were included for the analysis while the samples classified to SC were excluded in order to raise the degree of data analysis. Geotechnical strength properties, such as undrained shear strength, sensitivity ratio, and effective friction angle were analyzed and evaluated using the data obtained from unconfined compression test, triaxial compression test and field vane test. Abnormal values were extracted through statistical analysis. Moreover, the reliability of the results was improved by performing the evaluation of disturbance. Linear regression analysis was used for the relationship analysis, between undrained shear strength and depth. The relationship equation between undrained shear strength and depth was derived from the analysis of unconfined and triaxial compression test data of samples obtained at same location. Consequently, The relationship between depth and undrained shear strength is $S_u=0.015148D+0.04624$ and the undrained shear strength derived from the triaxial compression test was estimated to be about 1.26 of derived from the unconfined compression test.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.5-12
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• 2018

Underground cavities could induce road subsidence, which have been frequently observed in urban areas. Therefore, adequate backfilling materials and the restoring methods of the cavities are required to prevent the road subsidence. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the suitability of backfilling methods using foaming lightweight grouting materials considering the flow values, unit weights, and air contents at slurry and expanded states, and unconfined compressive strengths. The grouting materials consist of water, cement, and foaming agent whose proportions of water, cement, and foaming agent are 25: 25: 1.0 and 25: 25: 1.2. The flow values of the two materials are greater than 200 mm, and their unconfined compressive strengths at 28 days age are smaller than 1.3 MPa. From the results, the two proportions of materials are expected to be effectively used as a backfilling material. However, the material components should be carefully mixed because poor mix of these materials could induce non-homogeneous distribution of air bubbles. The unexpectedly non-homogeneous distribution of air bubbles may induce significant cracks or additional cavities.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.67-74
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to identify the effect of engineering properties on the resilient modulus ($M_r$) of cohesive soils as subgrade. Eight representative cohesive soils representing A-6, and A-7-6 soil types collected from road construction sites, were tested in the laboratory to determine their basic engineering properties. The laboratory tests for the engineering properties were Atterberg limits test, sieve analysis, hydrometer test, Standard Proctor compaction test, and unconfined compressive strength test. Resilient modulus test and unconfined compressive strength test were conducted on unsaturated cohesive soils at three different moisture contents (dry of optimum moisture content, optimum moisture content, and wet of optimum moisture content). The increase in moisture content considerably affected the decrease in the resilient modulus. The resilient modulus increased with an increase in maximum unconfined compressive strength, percent of clay, percent of silt and clay, liquid limit and plasticity index. The resilient modulus decreased with an increase in percent of sand.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1385-1390
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• 2012

Couple of laboratory for controlled low strength materials with bottom ash and recycled in-situ soil have been carried out. The optimum mix ratios for 4 cases with flowability and unconfined compressive strength were determined. The optimim mixing ratios were 25 to 45% of insitu soil, 30% of bottom ash, 10 to 20% of fly ash, 0 to 3% of crumb rubber, 3% of cement and 22% of water. Each mixture was satisfied the standard specification, minimum 20cm of flowability and 127 kPa of unconfined compressive strength. Two different curling methods, at room temperature and wet condition, were adopted. The average secant modulus(E50) was 0.07 to 0.08 * $q_u$. The compressive strength at wet condition showed 10% larger than at room temperature. The range of internal friction angle and cohesion for mixtures were 36.5o to 46.6o and 49.1 to 180 kPa, respectively. The mixture with crumb rubber(case 4) showed higher choesion and lower internal friction angle than the others. The pH of all the mixtures was over 12 which is strong alkine.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 2003

Unconfined compression test (UC) has been widely used to determine the undrained shear strength ($c_u$) of clay, because it is convenient and economical. However, UC can not represent the behaviour of in-situ stress condition and the strength obtained by the test is generally underestimated compared to that of triaxial compression, due to no confining pressure. Therefore, a simple and practical method to correct the ($c_u$) for sample disturbance and to be used in geotechnical practice is needed. This study is aimed at proposing the method to estimate in-situ undrained shear strength from UC with suction measurement. The proposed method is based on theoretical shear strength equation of perfect sample (Noorany & Seed, 1965), and effective overburden stress and analysis results ($A_f,\phi'$) of effective stress behaviour by UC are needed for the equation. The shear resistance angle ($\phi'$) can be simply estimated through the result that $K_f$-line slope of the UC is 1.6 times higher than that of triaxial compression test. The result of this study shows that the measured strength by this method is very similar to that of the undrained shear strength by triaxial compression test (CK$_0$UC).

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.1C
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• pp.17-25
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• 2012

CLSM (Controlled Low Strength Material) using coal ash, which has the advantages of self-leveling, self-compacting, flowability, easy re-excavation, has been developed. In this study, CLSM additionally mixed with foaming agent for structural backfill material, aimed at lightness of materials, was developed called light-weight foamed CLSM. As the basic study of this material, to determine the optimum final mixing time and dilution ratio of existing light-weight foamed CLSM, flow, slurry unit weight and unconfined compressive strength test according to each impact factor were performed at the standard mix proportion. As the results of tests, CASE N (Final mixing time 4 min, dilution ratio 2%), CASE O (Final mixing time 3 min, foam agents ratio 3%, dilution ratio 2%) were satisfied with the standard of flow test (above 20cm), slurry unit weight test (12~15 $kN/m^3$) and unconfined compressive strength test (800 kPa~1200 kPa). These results will indicate the standard optimum final mixing time and dilution ratio of light-weight foamed CLSM for structural backfill.