Copper slag–hydrated lime–Portland cement stabilised marine-deposited clay

Abstract

Marine clay is commonly found worldwide and is challenging to work with from a geotechnical and geoenvironmental perspective due to its diverse characteristics, such as high compressibility and sensitivity. There is therefore a need to seek effective treatment solutions that are less environmentally harmful than traditional methods. The aim of this research study was to assess the performance of marine clay treated with a binder incorporating Portland cement, hydrated lime and copper slag. Unconfined compression and split tensile tests were carried out to assess the distinct binder content effects and to correlate those responses with the porosity/binder index. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy was conducted to study the microstructure of the mixes containing copper slag. The results showed that the addition of lime, the dry unit weight and the curing period were the most influential factors regarding the strength of the mixtures, in that order. In addition, good correlations were obtained between the strength and the adjusted porosity/binder index for all mixtures.