Cement–Industrial Waste Slag-Based Synergistic Preparation of Flowable Solidified Soil: Mechanisms and Process Optimization

Abstract

In order to study the cement–industrial waste-based synergistic curing of silt soil, orthogonal design tests were used to prepare a new curing agent using cement, fly ash, blast furnace slag, and phosphogypsum as curing materials. In order to evaluate the cement–industrial waste-cured soils, unconfined compressive strength tests, fluidity tests, wet and dry cycle tests, and electron microscope scanning tests were carried out. The mechanical properties and microstructure of the cement–industrial slag were revealed and used to analyze the curing mechanism. The results showed that, among the cement–industrial wastes, cement and blast furnace slag had a significant effect on the unconfined compressive strength of the specimens, and the optimal ratio for early strength was cement–fly ash–slag–phosphogypsum = 1:0.11:0.44:0.06; the optimal ratio for late strength was cement–fly ash–slag–phosphogypsum = 1:0.44:0.44:0.06. In the case of a 140% water content, the 28d compressive strengths of curing agent Ratios I and II were 550.3 kPa and 586.5 kPa, respectively. When a polycarboxylic acid water-reducing agent was mixed at 6.4%, the mobilities of curing agent Ratios I and II increased by 32.1% and 35.8%, and the 28d compressive strengths were 504.1 kPa and 548.8 kPa, respectively. When calcium chloride was incorporated at 1.5%, the early strength of the cured soil increased by 33% and 29.1% compared to that of the unadulterated case year on year, and the mobility was almost unchanged. From microanalysis, it was found that the cement–industrial waste produced the expansion hydration products calcium alumina (AFt) and calcium silicate (C-S-H) during the hydration process. The results of this study provide a certain basis and reference value for the use of marine soft soil as a fluid filling material.