Experimental characterization of the small strain shear modulus of soft clay stabilized with cement and nano-SiO2 using bender element tests

Abstract

The accurate and efficient modification of the static and dynamic properties of problematic soils is a primary concern in geotechnical engineering. Soil stiffness, which is typically represented by a small strain shear modulus, is an essential parameter for the selection of the type and amount of soil stabilizers. In this study, the small strain shear stiffness of soft clay stabilized with cement and nano-SiO 2 is systematically studied through a series of bender element tests. The shear wave velocity and small strain shear modulus of the stabilized clay are investigated over different curing periods and with different cement and nano-SiO 2 concentrations. The experimental results show that the shear stiffness of the stabilized clay strongly increases with increasing cement content, nano-SiO 2 percentage, and curing time. The findings also imply that nano-SiO 2 is a complementary pozzolan that can be used to reduce the amount of required cement content in the mixture to account for environmental considerations.