Research Proposal

1. Introduction
Research background
Construction on soft soil poses many problems due to low shear strength, differential settlement etc. It
has been challenging task to improve the soft ground. To improve the soft ground, there are many
methods such as vertical drain, replacement, stabilization by chemical binder. Cement-treated soil is a
method that uses cement to stabilize soft ground, is widely used for a purpose of enhancing the
properties of soil foundation structures, especially for deep mixing treatment. It is known that the
compressive strength of cement-treated soils still increases considerably for several years. The short-
term strength is produced by cement hydration and the long-term strength development is mostly
attributed to pozzolanic reaction. The previous study on temperature history of field deep mixing
column revealed that temperature in the core of column produced from cement hydration reached
approximately 50C and maintained at that temperature for several months. Other previous studies on
cement-stabilized clay found that the strength development in both short and long-term increased
under high curing temperature. However, the discussions on the changes of mechanical and
microstructural properties of cement-treated soil under high temperature curing through physic-
chemical investigations are not adequate.
Objective:
This research aims to evaluate the strength development of cement-treated soils cured under sealed
condition at (20, 40, and 60C) through physic-chemical investigations such as thermal analysis, X- Commented [SCD1]: Do we need ‘varied cement content’?
ray diffraction (XRD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Commented [SCD2]: Eguchi also conducted this condition but
in water curing, do we need to consider it?
Research plan:
Carry out conducting experiments: Casting cement-treated sand soil specimens (10%, 15%, 20% Commented [SCD3]: Here you only calculate for cement-
cement contents; W/C 100%) and the specimens are sealed and cured under 20, 40, and 60C. The
treated sand. In future, do you need to change soil type such as :
50% sand + 50% clay…
compression test is conducted for the specimen at the ages of 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 91 days. In Commented [SCD4]: Do we need 1 day? Because it is difficult
parallel, physic-chemical tests (thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), mercury intrusion to conduct compression test
porosimetry (MIP)) are also conducted at the ages of 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 91 days. Refer to the Commented [SCD5]: For which ages?
following table:

Commented [SCD6]: Then you have to make a table for total

number of specimens for this time of casting.
Ex: you have three types of cement content: 10%, 15%, and 20%;
and 3 curing conditions: 20, 40 and 60C.
2. Materials proposal Total number of specimen is: 28 x 3 x 3 =…
The total mass needed for 1 specimen (10%;15%;20% cement contents): However, Kingsley have conducted 10%, 15%, and 20% under 20C,
m=ms + mc+ mw (1) you can borrow the data from him under this condition. Thus, you
have:
ms: mass of sand ; mc: mass of cement; mw: mass of water 28 x 3 x 2 = 168 specimens
m g 𝜋𝑑 2
γ = ( 3) ; V = ℎ (cm3 )
𝑉 cm 4 Commented [SCD7]: After that, you have to make schedule of
Detailed calculations refer to Table 5. casting and other tests like you did “Project subject” in Vietnam
Formatted: Normal, Indent: Left: 0"
Formatted: Font: Bold

Table 1.Specimen quantity corresponding with curing day

Curing day 3 7 14 21 56 91 Total

Specimen
4 4 4 4 4 4 24
quantity

The total number of specimens (with 3 types of cement contents 10%; 15%; 20% cement contents)
cured under 40, and 60°C:
24 x 3 x 2 = 144 (specimens)
Table 1.The total mass of materials for 144 specimens cured under 40, and 60 °C
m(g)
Cement(g) Sand(g)
designed

Total mass 476706.82 54915.41 366876

Table 5.Time schedule for conducting experiment

Time
08-Mar 09-Mar 10-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar 14-Mar 15-Mar
schedule
Casting 10% 15%
Compression
3days(10%) 7days(10%) 3days(15%)
test
Water
3days(10%) 7days(10%) 3days(15%)
content

TG-3days
TG
10%

MIP
X-ray

Time
16-Mar 18-Mar 19-Mar 21-Mar 22-Mar 26-Mar 28-Mar
schedule
Casting 20%
3
Compressio 7days(15 14days(10 7days(20 14days(15 21days(10
days(20%
n test %) %) %) %) %)
)
3
Water 7days(15 14days(10 7days(20 14days(15 21days(10
days(20%
content %) %) %) %) %)
)
TG-
TG-3days TG-3days TG-7days TG-7days
TG 7days
15% 20% 15% 20%
10%
MIP
X-ray
 Time
29-Mar 30-Mar 02-Apr 05-Apr 09-Apr 01-May 06-May
schedule
Casting
Compressio 14days(10 21days(15 21days(20 56days 56days(15
n test %) %) %) (10%) %)
Water 14days(10 21days(15 21days(20 56days 56days(15
content %) %) %) (10%) %)
TG- TG-
TG-21days TG-56days
TG 21days 21days
15% 10%
10% 20%
MIP
X-ray

Time
09-Jun 11-Jun 04-Jun 06-Jun 09-Jun 12-Jun 15-Jun
schedule
Casting
Compressi 56days(20 91days(10 91days(15 91days(20
on test %) %) %) %)
Water 56days(20 91days(10 91days(15 91days(20
content %) %) %) %)
TG- TG-
TG-56days TG-91days TG-91days
TG 56days 91days
15% 10% 15%
20% 20%
MIP
X-ray

3. Future plan Commented [SCD8]: Here you only calculate for cement-
- Carry out conducting experiments: Casting cement-treated sand soil specimens (10%, 15%, 20% treated sand. In future, do you need to change soil type such as :
cement contents; W/C 100%) and the specimens are cured in water under 20, 40, and 60C. 50% sand + 50% clay…
3.- Casting cement treat-soil (change soils type): 50% sand with 50% clay and the specimens will be Formatted: Font: Not Bold
sealed and cured in water under 20, 40, and 60C. The compression test will also be conducted for Formatted: Font: Not Bold
the specimens at the ages of 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 91 days. In parallel, physic-chemical tests Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 11 pt
(thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP)) are also
Formatted: Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: 0.25" +
conducted at the ages of 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 91 days. Refer to the following ta Indent at: 0.5"
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 11 pt
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 11 pt
Formatted: Font: Times New Roman, 11 pt
Commented [SCD9]: Do we need 1 day? Because it is difficult
to conduct compression test
Commented [SCD10]: For which ages?