Mechanical properties of sandy soil improved with cement and nanosilica

Abstract

In the literature, studies show that nanosilica particles and artificial pozzolans possessing can improve structural properties of cement-based materials. This paper studies the effect of cement and nanosilica on the engineering properties (compaction, unconfined compressive strength) of sand. Three different cement ratios (5, 9, and 14% by weight of dry sand) were mixed with four different nano silica ratios (0, 5, 10, and 15% by weight of cement), and then compacted into a cylindrical specimen. The results of the study presented that the addition of the cement and nanosilica improves the engineering properties of sands. The increase of maximum dry unit weight of sand was noted with the increase in the cement content. The presence of nanosilica in optimal percentages can significantly improve the mechanical properties of cement sand.