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Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Lime-Treated Loess

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Abstract

This paper studies the changes in physicochemical and mechanical properties of lime-treated loess at different lime contents and curing days. The physical tests were conducted in particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, specific surface area and cation exchange capacity of lime-treated loess, while its chemical tests included electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, pH, and oxidation reduction potential of extracts from 1:5 soil to water. Finally, the relevant mechanical tests were performed in unconfined compressive strength. The results showed that the physicochemical and mechanical properties of lime-treated loess were altered during hydration and pozzolantic reactions, which caused the formation of aggregation and new cementitious minerals. As a result, the performance of lime-treated loess acquired great improvement compared to that of untreated loess. The improvement can attribute to the first immediate aggregation formation due to flocculation induced by cation exchange, and then the filling between the aggregations or particles due to the formation of new cementitious minerals. In addition, the results indicated that the chemical properties of lime-treated loess are more relatively sensitive to environmental change than their physical and mechanical properties.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41402240), the Natural Key Basic Research Development Plan of China (No. 2014CB744703), the Opening fund of State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (No. SKLGP2016K020), and the Supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2017-k19). The authors’ special thanks go to the editor and two anonymous referees, whose valuable comments led to substantial improvement of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MOE Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China, Department of Geological Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China

    Fanyu Zhang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China

    Xiangjun Pei

  3. Gansu Geological Engineering Co. Ltd, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China

    Xude Yan

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  1. Fanyu Zhang
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Correspondence to Fanyu Zhang.

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Zhang, F., Pei, X. & Yan, X. Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Lime-Treated Loess. Geotech Geol Eng 36, 685–696 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0341-6

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