Study on the Performance and Micro-Mechanism of Calcium Carbide Slag-Blast Furnace Slag-Fly Ash Semi-Cured Improved Dredged Soil Under Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Abstract

Dredging projects associated with China’s expanding maritime transportation and waterway regulation produce substantial volumes of dredged soil each year. This dredged soil, characterized by poor engineering properties, cannot be directly used for filling projects and requires improvement. On the other hand, the use of solid waste curing agents to replace traditional curing agents for semi-curing improved dredged soil can achieve the goal of treating waste with waste. This study employs a CGF curing agent composed of calcium carbide slag, blast furnace slag, and fly ash for the semi-curing improvement of dredged soil. The impact of the curing agent content on the compaction properties of semi-cured improved dredged soil is investigated. Additionally, through freeze–thaw cycle tests and microscopic experiments, the influence of the number of freeze–thaw cycles on the strength of semi-cured improved dredged soil and its microscopic mechanism are examined. The results indicate that as the curing agent content increases, the maximum dry density of the CGF semi-cured improved dredged soil decreases, while the optimal moisture content increases. Under freeze–thaw cycles, both the mass and unconfined compressive strength of the CGF semi-cured improved dredged soil decrease with an increasing number of cycles. Microscopic test results show that alkali-activated products (C-S-H, C-A-S-H, C-A-H) cement soil particles, fill soil pores, and enhance the internal stability of the soil. However, as freeze–thaw cycles progress, the structure of the CGF semi-cured improved dredged soil is gradually damaged. The enlargement of pores and the formation of penetrating cracks and voids lead to a reduction in strength. Increasing the curing agent content can effectively improve the frost resistance of the CGF semi-cured improved dredged soil.