Experimental Investigation on Effect of Cementitious Materials on Strength of Sandy Soils

Abstract

Abstract Weak soil characteristics pose a significant challenge for geotechnical engineers when designing the foundations of a structure. Consequently, researchers resort to improving the properties of weak sandy soil by mixing it with pozzolanic or chemical additives. This study aims to assess the effects of using cementitious materials to enhance the strength and stiffness of loose sand soils. To achieve this goal, experimental work was conducted, involving several laboratory tests to determine the soil properties. Three different curing times were utilized (one day, three days, and seven days), and four various percentages of the added cementitious material were employed (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) as a replacement by the weight of the treated soil. The results revealed that 15% is optimum gp content must be added to the mixture for optimum strength and stiffness. And three days is the optimum curing time.