Using numerical model to evaluate pozzolanic activity of natural pozzolan in the soil stabilization process

Abstract

Natural pozzolan is one of raw materials that is regularly used in the soil stabilization process. The paper uses thermodynamic model to evaluate pozzolanic activity of natural pozzolan. Based on mineralogical composition of two types natural pozzolan: one of Daknong-Vietnam and another one of Bigadiç-Turkey, the thermodynamic model can simulate chemical composition of pore solution, mineral precipitation quantity. From this simulation, numerical quantity calcium silicate hydrated C-S-H and calcium aluminate silicate hydrated C-A-S-H can be calculated. Different cases of mix design: soil/pozzolan/lime are set up. In all of the cases, a comparison of quantity C-S-H and C-A-S-H between of two natural pozzolan is carried out to evaluate the pozzolanic activity of the each natural pozzolan. Thermodynamic model seems to be considered as a tool to evaluate pozzolanic activity of natural pozzolan.