The Influence of Curing Temperature on the Mechanical Properties of Cement-Reinforced Sensitive Marine Clay in Column Experiments

Abstract

The understanding of the mechanical properties of sensitive marine clay subgrade stabilized with cement is vital for the safe, economical, and durable design of road structures. As the curing temperature affects the cement hydration progress, it is necessary to investigate the influence of the temperature on the evolution of the mechanical properties of cement-reinforced marine clay in road construction. A column testing and relevant monitoring program were performed to study the effect of various curing temperatures (2 °C, 22 °C, and 40 °C) on the mechanical properties’ development of cement-reinforced clay within 28 days. After these cement clay samples were cured for a specific time (1, 3, 7, and 28 days), they were subjected to two mechanical tests (i.e., California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) test). The findings reveal that a higher curing temperature accelerates cement hydration and self-desiccation. Consequently, the UCS and CBR values increase with curing temperature and the strength might vary by more times, especially for early age (≤7 days) samples. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the influence of temperature on the mechanical properties of the cement-reinforced clay and thus provide practical guidance with regards to road construction in the field.