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Chemo-Physical Evolution, Microstructural Modifications and Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Treated Soils...
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Chemo-Physical Evolution, Microstructural Modifications and Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Treated Soils of Different Mineralogical Composition

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 9595

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Giacomo Russo

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Guest Editor
Department of Earth Science, Environment and Resources, University of Napoli Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy
Interests: hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted unsaturated and saturated soils; chemo physical evolution, microstructure and hydro-mechanical behaviour of treated soils; monitoring, construction control and analysis of large geotechnical works (dams, tunnels); probabilistic and statistic methods in geotechnical engineering
Dr. Enza Vitale

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth Science, Environment and Resources, University of Napoli Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy
Interests: lime treatment of fine grained soils; carbonation of lime treated soil; lightweight cemented clays; soil improvement by means of deep mixing method (DMM); use of alkali activated binders for soil treatment
Prof. Dr. Manuela Cecconi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Interests: mechanical and hydraulic behaviour of not-treated and treated pyroclastic soils/rocks in saturated and partially-saturated conditions; behaviour of geotechnical systems in static and seismic conditions; soil-vegetation interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The treatment of waste soils of different mineralogical composition is an increasingly common practice in many fields of geotechnical engineering, and responds to the demand for sustainability of the built environment, as an essential condition for constructions in the perspective of environmental protection.

Although the treatment with traditional binders (lime and cement) is well known in literature, in recent years numerous studies have been developed on the effects of the treatment at different scales of observation (particle scale, microstructure, volume element) clarifying the main mineralogical changes and mechanisms induced by the treatment and their implications on the hydro-mechanical behaviour at the macroscopic scale. The development of scientific and technical knowledge has made it possible to extend the treatment techniques to natural materials constituted by non-clayey minerals (such as volcanic soils, soils with a high organic component, etc.) not traditionally considered in geotechnical systems.

On the other hand, research into new, non-traditional binders has received considerable interest, based on the use of natural or artificial waste materials as precursors of the chemo-physical reactions that guarantee the effectiveness of the treatment. Alkaline activated binders, for example, represent a class of non-traditional binders particularly promising due to their efficiency and relative low carbon footprint.

We are happy to invite researchers involved in this field to submit their contributions on the multiscale analysis of the effects induced by traditional and non-traditional binders on the treatment of soils of different origin and mineralogical nature, in order to improve their physical and hydro-mechanical properties. The aspects of interest will concern both the chemical–physical evolution induced by the treatment and the microstructural reorganisation of the treated soils, up to the analysis of the hydro-mechanical behaviour (water retention, hydraulic conductivity, stiffness, shear strength, etc.) in static and dynamic conditions. Contributions will be particularly welcome on the durability of the properties induced by the treatment under environmental loads (wetting/drying, freezing/thawing, leaching, etc.) with reference to the different scales of the problem.

Prof. Dr. Giacomo Russo
Dr. Enza Vitale
Prof. Dr. Manuela Cecconi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • reuse of excavated soils
  • effects of mineralogical nature on treatments
  • soil improvement
  • traditional and innovative binders
  • multi-scale analysis
  • chemo-hydro-mechanical characterization
  • long term performances

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 12811 KiB  
Article
On the Initial Fabric of Naturally Occurring and Reconstituted Weakly Cemented Geomaterials
by Mohd Ilyas Bhat, Bhupendra Chand and Tejas Gorur Murthy
Minerals 2024, 14(10), 1000; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14101000 - 30 Sep 2024
Viewed by 580
Abstract
The understanding of naturally occurring materials such as clay, sand, hard and soft rocks under a common theoretical framework has been a topic of persistent research interest. Over the past few decades, various sample reconstitution techniques have been developed in the literature to [...] Read more.
The understanding of naturally occurring materials such as clay, sand, hard and soft rocks under a common theoretical framework has been a topic of persistent research interest. Over the past few decades, various sample reconstitution techniques have been developed in the literature to mimic in situ conditions, and to parse carefully the influence of various components in a cohesive-frictional geomaterial such that their behavior can be folded into the broad ambit of a continuum mechanics framework. The initial fabric of natural rock specimens is compared with reconstituted cemented sand samples using X-ray computed tomography (XRCT) scans. The efficacy of laboratory reconstitution techniques in replicating the initial microstructural features of natural rocks is evaluated here. Additionally, discrete element method (DEM) protocols which are often employed in generating cohesive granular ensembles are employed here and compared against the naturally occurring and artificially reconstituted fabric. A significant difference is observed in the grain boundaries of reconstituted and naturally occurring rocks. Additionally, the arrangement of particles, the orientation of grain contacts, and their coordination number are examined to assess the efficacy of laboratory-reconstituted specimens at micro-length scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemo-Physical Evolution, Microstructural Modifications and Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Treated Soils of Different Mineralogical Composition)
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13 pages, 5581 KiB  
Article
Peculiar Features of Lime-Treated Pyroclastic Soils through a Multi-Scale Experimental Investigation
by Manuela Cecconi and Giacomo Russo
Minerals 2024, 14(6), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14060574 - 30 May 2024
Viewed by 541
Abstract
Soil-improvement techniques with binders are used in several geotechnical engineering applications as a sustainable solution for the reuse of waste soils. Due to their inherent complexity and their mechanical behaviour, pyroclastic soils are generally considered waste geomaterials in their natural state. Lime treatment [...] Read more.
Soil-improvement techniques with binders are used in several geotechnical engineering applications as a sustainable solution for the reuse of waste soils. Due to their inherent complexity and their mechanical behaviour, pyroclastic soils are generally considered waste geomaterials in their natural state. Lime treatment of pyroclastic soils can be considered a viable solution for their reuse in geotechnical applications. In this paper, some peculiar features of the chemo-physical evolution and mechanical behaviour of lime-treated pyroclastic soils are evidenced through a multi-scale experimental investigation. While, for clayey soils, the fine fraction is mainly responsible for ion exchange and pozzolanic reactions induced by lime, for pyroclastic soils, pozzolanic reactions are dominant processes due to the low quantity of clay minerals along with the abundance of aluminates and silicates as the main constituents of their amorphous phase. The link between the phenomena detected at the microscale level, the mineralogical composition, and the macroscopic behaviour of two lime treated pyroclastic soils of different origin is explored through a multiscale approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemo-Physical Evolution, Microstructural Modifications and Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Treated Soils of Different Mineralogical Composition)
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17 pages, 6646 KiB  
Article
Flowable Mixtures of Treated Soils for Repairing Damage Caused by Burrowing Animals
by Alessandra Nocilla, Agnese Bassi, Alessandro Rosso, Giada Turla and Margherita Zimbardo
Minerals 2023, 13(6), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13060738 - 29 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1096
Abstract
The adoption of flowable mixtures of treated soils is suggested as a sustainable solution for repairing the damage caused by burrowing animals in the Po River embankments. Soil from damaged sites is proposed to be mixed with lime or cement, other additives, and [...] Read more.
The adoption of flowable mixtures of treated soils is suggested as a sustainable solution for repairing the damage caused by burrowing animals in the Po River embankments. Soil from damaged sites is proposed to be mixed with lime or cement, other additives, and water in order to obtain mixtures with an adequate compromise between viscosity—which is crucial for flowing the mixture into the hole with site machines—and shrinkage that might occur over time according to the hole boundary conditions. Injections of soil-treated mixtures must guarantee hydraulic and mechanical continuity with the existing embankment and reduce shrinkage phenomena that frequently occur with cement–bentonite grout, which is commonly used for this purpose. This study presents an interdisciplinary experimental programme in the search for the best formulation among several recipes of mixtures of soils, collected from four embankments of Po River or its tributaries and treated with lime or cement, different percentages of water, and other additives. The mixtures, after soil classification and viscosity determinations, were then used to create samples for which shrinkage and erosion susceptibility were estimated, respectively, through a non-standard volume measurement procedure and crumb tests. An abacus will be then proposed in order to give, as a first estimation, applicative indications on the best recipe among the investigated mixtures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemo-Physical Evolution, Microstructural Modifications and Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Treated Soils of Different Mineralogical Composition)
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18 pages, 3288 KiB  
Article
Dissolution Characteristics and Microstructure of Waste Pisha Sandstone Minerals in Alkaline Solutions
by Changming Li, Haifeng Cheng, Yali Cao, Cong Ding, Dongyang Jia, Shunbo Zhao and Chen Yang
Minerals 2023, 13(3), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030378 - 8 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1544
Abstract
Waste Pisha sandstone (WPS) is the main damming material for the check dam in the Loss Plateau of northwest China. The dissolution characteristics of WPS in alkaline solutions were investigated as a basis for studying WPS modification materials and revealing the modification mechanism [...] Read more.
Waste Pisha sandstone (WPS) is the main damming material for the check dam in the Loss Plateau of northwest China. The dissolution characteristics of WPS in alkaline solutions were investigated as a basis for studying WPS modification materials and revealing the modification mechanism to further study the pozzolanic activity of WPS and the development of cementitious materials for concrete utilizing WPS. In this paper, WPS was milled and calcined at 600 °C, 700 °C, and 800 °C, respectively. After that, the activated WPS was immersed in 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 M NaOH solutions for leaching tests. The two curing temperatures of 20 °C and 80 °C were set, respectively. The ion concentration of Si, Al, and Ca in the alkaline solutions was determined using chemical titration, silicon–molybdenum blue colorimetric method, and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. After the leaching tests, the residues of WPS were characterized using XRD and SEM-EDS. The results show that the concentration of each ion in the leachate did not increase with leaching time but showed fluctuating variations with leaching time. Mechanochemical activation and thermal activation will promote the dissolution of minerals in alkaline solutions and increase the leaching efficiency of Si. However, the soluble Si in the leachate is not able to generate further gelling-like substances, limited by the total amount of available Ca in the mineral. WPS can dissolve more ions in higher concentrations of a NaOH solution, but the mineral crystallinity of its residue will be reduced. Higher curing temperatures can greatly increase the leaching efficiency of Si in a short time, which is better than thermal activation, and it can also promote the generation of newborn minerals and increase the crystallinity of minerals in WPS after leaching. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemo-Physical Evolution, Microstructural Modifications and Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Treated Soils of Different Mineralogical Composition)
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17 pages, 4090 KiB  
Article
Permeability and Disintegration Characteristics of Composite Improved Phyllite Soil by Red Clay and Cement
by Xiushao Zhao, Linhao Zhao, Qijing Yang, Ziyao Wang, An Cheng, Linli Mo and Jianwei Yan
Minerals 2023, 13(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13010032 - 25 Dec 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2842
Abstract
The bearing capacity of the phyllite soil subgrade can be greatly improved by red clay, but the water stability of the modified soil is still poor. Hence, the blended soil has been found to be unsuitable for the construction of high-speed railways. This [...] Read more.
The bearing capacity of the phyllite soil subgrade can be greatly improved by red clay, but the water stability of the modified soil is still poor. Hence, the blended soil has been found to be unsuitable for the construction of high-speed railways. This paper proposes an innovative scheme, by adding appropriate amounts of cement and red clay concurrently, to improve phyllite soil, which achieves a higher bearing capacity of the subgrade immediately after compaction, while also solving the problem of insufficient water stability. Laboratory tests of the permeability and disintegration characteristics of phyllite soils improved by cement, red clay, and both were carried out. The test results show that the permeability coefficient and maximum disintegration rate of soil can be improved effectively by using both red clay and cement. It was found that the optimal combination scheme is to add 3% cement and 40% red clay to phyllite soil by mass. Under the optimal scheme, the permeability coefficient, maximum disintegration rate, and disintegration rate of the improved soil decreased by 90.02%, 90.30%, and 99.02%, respectively, compared with the phyllite soil. The microscopic study shows that the mechanism of red clay blending with phyllite is that the finer particles of red clay infill the pores among the phyllite particles, thus reducing its permeability coefficient. The mechanism of adding cement to the blending soil mainly results from the production of hard-setting new materials and the formation of a cementation network among the soil particles, which not only increases the shear strength of the soil, but also reduces the permeability coefficient and the maximum disintegration ratio of the soil. This work makes full use of the complementary characteristics of red clay and phyllite soil and the advantages of hard-setting new materials, which will provide a new idea for soil improvement of the phyllite soil in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemo-Physical Evolution, Microstructural Modifications and Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Treated Soils of Different Mineralogical Composition)
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15 pages, 4282 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Soil Porosity and Mix Design of Volcanic Ash-Based Geopolymer on the Surface Strength of Highly Wind Erodible Soils
by Hamid Reza Mohebbi, Akbar A. Javadi and Alireza Saeedi Azizkandi
Minerals 2022, 12(8), 984; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12080984 - 2 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2081
Abstract
Surface stabilization of loose, non-cohesive, and fine soils has always been a challenging task for geotechnical engineers. These soils show meager mechanical behavior and are very vulnerable to wind erosion. Many attempts have been made to combat wind erosion of soils. These attempts, [...] Read more.
Surface stabilization of loose, non-cohesive, and fine soils has always been a challenging task for geotechnical engineers. These soils show meager mechanical behavior and are very vulnerable to wind erosion. Many attempts have been made to combat wind erosion of soils. These attempts, including a variety of soil surface amendment methods, have faced complications in terms of financial efficacy, reduced long-term behavior at elevated temperatures, and limitations in stabilization of a wide range of soil types. The application of geopolymers for surface stabilization is a novel approach, which has its own challenges in terms of selecting an appropriate precursor type, mix design, and preparation method. This study evaluated the challenges of using volcanic ash (VA)-based geopolymer, through the 1 Phase (1P) method for stabilization of two silty and sandy soils. A series of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and penetrometer tests were performed on cylindrical specimens and soil surface-treated samples, respectively, to evaluate the resistance of treated samples with different porosities. Moreover, the rheological behavior of geopolymer paste having various binder-to-activator ratios is discussed. The available rheological characteristics of geopolymer in this study fit well with the Bingham model. It was found that, despite the minimal crust thickness formed on the topsoil, significant surface resistance is acquired. The results show notable performance of the 1P method for surface amendment of both the silty and sandy soil samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemo-Physical Evolution, Microstructural Modifications and Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Treated Soils of Different Mineralogical Composition)
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