Unconfined Compressive Strength Properties of a Cement- Organic Soil Composite

Abstract

Laboratory strength testing of the mixtures is a necessary stage of soil stabilisation. They enable assessment of the impact of binders on the improvement of the properties of stabilised organic soil, which is extremely useful for the development and verification of the correct composition of the soil-binder composite used in situ. The paper presents selected results of unconfined compressive strength tests of a cement-organic composite depending on the quantity of the cement binder and the different organic matter content. The laboratory testing comprised 20 different mixture designs in which the independent variables were the organic matter content (Iom) and the ratio of added cement to the dry weight of soil (mc/ms): the Iom ranged from 20% to 84.40% and the mc/ms from 0.75 to 2.75. Measurements of the unconfined compressive strength were conducted on more than 150 cylindrical specimens after 7 and 28 days of curing. Analysis of the obtained strength test results shows that there is a close physical relationship between the geotechnical properties of the components and the parameter of unconfined compressive strength of organic soil-cement binder mixtures.