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Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2023) | Viewed by 18197

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. José Manuel Moreno-Maroto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Interests: construction materials; civil engineering materials; sustainable materials; geomaterials; aggregates; lightweight aggregates; concrete; cement; alkali-activated materials; ceramic materials; materials engineering; clay science; special clays; Atterberg limits; bentonite barriers; zeolites; soil engineering; geotechnics; circular economy; waste recycling; environmental technologies; life cycle assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are inviting submissions to the Special Issue on “Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications”.

The materials used both in the construction of buildings and in the execution of civil, geotechnical and environmental engineering projects account for the majority of all goods consumed by mankind. It is worth noting that most of these materials are fundamentally mineral in nature, so they are defined as geomaterials. They may retain their primary characteristics (ornamental rocks, stone aggregates, clay barriers, compacted soils, etc.) or have been artificially manufactured either from natural raw materials or from wastes (cement, concrete, ceramics, expanded lightweight aggregates, geopolymers, mineral wool, etc.).

The growing increase in population and demand for natural resources means that these geomaterials, so widely used, need to be studied in depth in order to adapt to current needs, while contributing certain technological, environmental and economic benefits. In this sense, this Special Issue intends to include novel articles focused on the investigation of those materials used in large volumes both in construction and in other engineering areas, such as public works, environmental and geotechnical engineering, waste sealing, among others.

All types of papers within this field are welcome, including studies related to the laboratory synthesis of new construction materials, fundamental research on certain physicochemical, mineralogical and mechanical properties, the use of alternative manufacturing methods and raw materials (e.g., wastes), testing on a larger scale or even on site, analysis of the environmental impact/benefit of these materials (life cycle assessment), mathematical modeling or any other subject related to the geomaterials used in construction and engineering applications. Although the main focus of this Special Issue is geomaterials, articles on other types of structural and engineering materials, such as metals, wood, geosynthetics, and others, will also be welcome.

Dr. José Manuel Moreno-Maroto
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • geomaterial
  • aggregate and lightweight aggregate
  • concrete, cement and mortar
  • ceramics and glass
  • alkali-activated material
  • gypsum
  • mineral wool
  • natural stone
  • metallic materials
  • insulating materials
  • wood
  • zeolite
  • asphalt binders and mixtures
  • road and geotechnical materials
  • clay and soil
  • geosynthetics
  • bentonite barrier
  • fibre reinforcement
  • waste recycling
  • life cycle assessment

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

7 pages, 1748 KiB  
Editorial
Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications
by Mark Tyrer and José Manuel Moreno-Maroto
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9129; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169129 - 10 Aug 2023
Viewed by 903
Abstract
The use of geomaterials spans long back into human history and relicts of man’s endeavours remain as evidence of practical use of rocks and minerals for the benefit of evolving societies [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

12 pages, 2752 KiB  
Article
Development of High-Performance Fly-Ash-Based Controlled Low-Strength Materials for Backfilling in Metropolitan Cities
by Jingyu Han, Youngseok Jo, Yunhee Kim and Bumjoo Kim
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9377; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169377 - 18 Aug 2023
Viewed by 738
Abstract
Controlled low-strength materials (CLSMs) have been developed using various byproducts for backfilling or void-filling around pipelines or culvert boxes. However, these CLSMs have encountered issues related to their inadequate placement around underground facilities, despite satisfying the performance requirements, especially flowability, recommended by the [...] Read more.
Controlled low-strength materials (CLSMs) have been developed using various byproducts for backfilling or void-filling around pipelines or culvert boxes. However, these CLSMs have encountered issues related to their inadequate placement around underground facilities, despite satisfying the performance requirements, especially flowability, recommended by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) 229 committee. In this study, a new CLSM is developed to ensure a significantly higher flowability, lower segregation, and faster installation compared with previously developed CLSMs. This is achieved through a series of laboratory tests. To enhance the flowability and prevent segregation, a calcium-sulfoaluminate-based binder and fly ash are used in combination with two types of additives. The measured flowability of the new CLSM is 700 mm, while its compressive strength and bleeding satisfy the general criteria specified by the ACI 229R-13. In addition, the performance of the developed CLSM is compared with that of predeveloped CLSMs. The new CLSM was not only shown to exhibit the highest flowability, but also to satisfy the specified requirements for compressive strength and bleeding. Overall, it is anticipated that the developed CLSM can significantly reduce the costs related to the disposal of old pavements, the installation of new pavements, and other construction expenses compared to the costs related to the conventional method, even though the expenses for the backfill materials could increase due to the higher production costs of CLSMs than soil. In addition, there is a need to investigate its field applicability in order to evaluate the precise costs, maintenance, and long-term stabilities after installation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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17 pages, 10829 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Failure Mode of Reinforced Embankments Overlying Voids Based on Discrete Method
by Qi Zhang and Yongliang Lin
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9270; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169270 - 15 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 738
Abstract
The mode of the reinforced embankment overlying voids was generated based on discrete element software. By changing the vertical distance H and the horizontal distance L, the influence of the void position on the bearing capacity characteristics, displacement field, stress field and its [...] Read more.
The mode of the reinforced embankment overlying voids was generated based on discrete element software. By changing the vertical distance H and the horizontal distance L, the influence of the void position on the bearing capacity characteristics, displacement field, stress field and its reinforcement deformation law of the reinforced embankment was analyzed when a local overload was applied. Numerical simulation results show that the vertical displacement of the geogrid is symmetrical around the center of the loading plate, and the transverse displacement of the geogrid shows a centrosymmetric trend around the center of the loading plate at different void locations. In addition, the failure mode of the embankment at different void positions is proposed. Four different failure modes exist for the reinforced embankments overlying voids under local overloading: perforation failure, collapse perforation failure, void side failure and no impact failure. When L = 0, as H increases, the embankment failure mode changes from perforation failure to collapse perforation failure; and when L > 0, as L increases, the failure mode changes from void side failure to no impact failure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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19 pages, 5867 KiB  
Article
Development and Application of a Microsurfacing Mix Design Method to Assess the Influence of the Emulsion Type
by Caroline F. N. Moura, Joel R. M. Oliveira, Hugo M. R. D. Silva, Carlos A. O. F. Palha and Cesare Sangiorgi
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(13), 7925; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137925 - 6 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1371
Abstract
Microsurfacing asphalt mixtures are a preventive maintenance technology comprising the application of a slurry (produced with a modified asphalt emulsion), aggregate, filler, and water on top of an existing pavement at ambient temperature. Although it is a widely used technology, further studies on [...] Read more.
Microsurfacing asphalt mixtures are a preventive maintenance technology comprising the application of a slurry (produced with a modified asphalt emulsion), aggregate, filler, and water on top of an existing pavement at ambient temperature. Although it is a widely used technology, further studies on the mix design procedures are necessary to ensure an adequate composition. Thus, this study contributes to developing an improved mix design procedure for microsurfacing asphalt mixtures. Different mixtures were prepared, and the influence of the type and amount of asphalt emulsion and the amount of added water and filler (cement) on the characteristics of the mixture were evaluated. Two preliminary tests, referred to as the “pizza test” and the “ball test”, were proposed to determine the initial proportions of added water and cement in the mixture, respectively. Then, consistency, cohesion, and shaking abrasion tests were performed to determine the optimum content of each component and evaluate their influence on the mixture characteristics. The results showed that these tests are essential to optimize the mix composition, even though it was found that the mix design of microsurfacings is a complex task because the mixture is a system with chemical interactions strongly influenced by its composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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17 pages, 13779 KiB  
Article
Interface Behavior Analysis of Different Geomembrane Liner Systems Based on PIV Techniques
by Junli Gao and Jiajun Wang
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6614; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116614 - 29 May 2023
Viewed by 764
Abstract
The interfacial friction performance of the liner system has an important influence on the overall stability of modern landfills, but the interface of the liner system using conventional geomembranes may have problems such as shear failure and slip along the liner system. Accordingly, [...] Read more.
The interfacial friction performance of the liner system has an important influence on the overall stability of modern landfills, but the interface of the liner system using conventional geomembranes may have problems such as shear failure and slip along the liner system. Accordingly, the concept of a ribbed geomembrane was proposed. Based on the laboratory model tests, the variation laws of p–s curves and the additional stress of sand were studied under different values of shape, rib spacing, and rib height. A series of particle image velocimetry (PIV) analyses of sand particles were performed to provide insight into the reinforcement mechanism of the ribbed geomembrane liner system. The results indicated that the ribbed geomembrane could obviously improve the stability of the liner system compared with the smooth geomembrane. The ribbed geomembrane formed an indirect influence area with sand in a specific range. The ribbed geomembrane with optimal values of rib spacing and rib height was beneficial to reduce the settlement of the upper sand and the stress redistribution of the sand particles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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12 pages, 2908 KiB  
Article
Use of Foundry Sands in the Production of Ceramic and Geopolymers for Sustainable Construction Materials
by Caterina Sgarlata, Maria Camila Ariza-Tarazona, Enrico Paradisi, Cristina Siligardi and Isabella Lancellotti
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 5166; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13085166 - 21 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1700
Abstract
The aim of this research was to evaluate the possibility of reusing waste foundry sands derived from the production of cast iron as a secondary raw material for the production of building materials obtained both by high-temperature (ceramic tiles and bricks) and room-temperature [...] Read more.
The aim of this research was to evaluate the possibility of reusing waste foundry sands derived from the production of cast iron as a secondary raw material for the production of building materials obtained both by high-temperature (ceramic tiles and bricks) and room-temperature (binders such as geopolymers) consolidation. This approach can reduce the current demand for quarry sand and/or aluminosilicate precursors from the construction materials industries. Samples for porcelain stoneware and bricks were produced, replacing the standard sand contained in the mixtures with waste foundry sand in percentages of 10%, 50%, and 100% by weight. For geopolymers, the sand was used as a substitution for metakaolin (30, 50, 70 wt%) as an aluminosilicate precursor rather than as an aggregate to obtain geopolymer pastes. Ceramic samples obtained using waste foundry sand were characterized by tests for linear shrinkage, water absorption, and colorimetry. Geopolymers formulations, produced with a Si/Al ratio of 1.8 and Na/Al = 1, were characterized to evaluate their chemical stability through measurements of pH and ionic conductivity, integrity in water, compressive strength, and microstructural analysis. The results show that the addition of foundry sand up to 50% did not significantly affect the chemical-physical properties of the ceramic materials. However, for geopolymers, acceptable levels of chemical stability and mechanical strength were only achieved when using samples made with 30% foundry sand as a replacement for metakaolin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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15 pages, 5217 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Effect of Capillary Water Absorption on the Resistivity of Cementitious Materials
by Xiangyu He, Xiaohui Zeng, Rongzhen Dong and Jiangfan Yang
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3562; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063562 - 10 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1188
Abstract
In a humid environment, the stray current generated by subway operation will corrode the underground pipe network and the internal steel structure of the track plate, which will seriously affect the service life of the subway track plate and increase the maintenance cost [...] Read more.
In a humid environment, the stray current generated by subway operation will corrode the underground pipe network and the internal steel structure of the track plate, which will seriously affect the service life of the subway track plate and increase the maintenance cost later. Groundwater in subway projects mainly enters the concrete interior through capillary action and affects the concrete resistivity, and there is a lack of research on the mechanism of groundwater effect on concrete resistance. In this study, the variation of cement mortar resistivity with capillary water absorption time for cement mortar with different amounts of mineral admixtures (fly ash, ground-granulated blast furnace slag, and silica fume) was measured by the four-electrode method, and the mechanism of the influence of the electrical properties of cementitious materials under the effect of capillary water absorption was analyzed based on the mercury-pressure method (MIP) and thermogravimetric method (TG-DTG). The results show that with the increase in capillary water absorption time, the change curve of cement mortar resistivity can be divided into two stages; in the first stage, capillary water absorption leads to gel pores and transition pores quickly connecting to capillary pores and other large pores to form a water-saturated conductive pathway, resulting in a rapid decrease in resistivity, when the gel pores and excessive pores have a greater impact on resistivity. The second stage is that of capillary water absorption, to a certain extent, after the specimen’s internal water upward development rate slows down; at this time, the formation speed of the conductive pathway decreases, resulting in the rate of change in resistivity decreasing and gradually stabilizing. The incorporation of silica fume can effectively improve the resistivity of cementitious materials under the action of capillary water absorption, in which the resistivity of specimens incorporated with 15% silica fume after 36 days of capillary water absorption is 10.39 times that of the reference group, which is mainly due to its lower porosity and a higher percentage of gel pores. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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15 pages, 2020 KiB  
Article
Consistency of Water Vapour Pressure and Specific Heat Capacity Values for Modelling Clay-Based Engineered Barriers
by Laura Asensio, Gema Urraca and Vicente Navarro
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 3361; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13053361 - 6 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1361
Abstract
The aim of this study is to assess the consistency in the modelling of thermo-hydraulic problems in clay-based engineered barriers. This study focuses on two aspects: the modelling of vapour pressure as a function of temperature, and the specific heat capacities of liquid [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to assess the consistency in the modelling of thermo-hydraulic problems in clay-based engineered barriers. This study focuses on two aspects: the modelling of vapour pressure as a function of temperature, and the specific heat capacities of liquid water and water vapour in relation to the enthalpy of vaporisation and the internal energy of liquid water and water vapour. Regarding the first aspect, several formulations of the saturated vapour pressure have been inspected, evaluating their accuracy and information provided in the temperature range from 0 to 150 °C. Regarding the second aspect, the enthalpy of vaporisation and the internal energy of water were used to assess the consistency of pairs of specific heat capacity values in the same temperature range. Values from the literature were also inspected. An accurate and simple enough expression for the saturated water vapour pressure with temperature has been identified as the optimal option for modelling. Recommendations on specific heat capacity constant values for liquid water and vapour are suggested to maximise consistency in the studied temperature range. However, the loss of accuracy in the enthalpy or internal energy of vaporisation associated with the inspected specific heat capacity pairs is limited. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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17 pages, 6258 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Compressive Strength Characteristics of Hardfill Material and Seismic Stability of Hardfill Dams
by Soogeun Kim, Wonhyuk Choi, Yunhee Kim, Jaewoo Shin and Bumjoo Kim
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2492; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042492 - 15 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1368
Abstract
A hardfill dam can reduce the natural damage caused by the development of quarries and recycle submerged resources. However, the particle size distribution of the aggregate can result in large variations in the mix design, resulting in a wide range of strengths in [...] Read more.
A hardfill dam can reduce the natural damage caused by the development of quarries and recycle submerged resources. However, the particle size distribution of the aggregate can result in large variations in the mix design, resulting in a wide range of strengths in the hardfill dam body. Therefore, quality control during construction is crucial, and the stability of the dam body after construction should be thoroughly examined in advance. This study investigated the strength characteristics of hardfill dam materials according to the particle size and mixing ratio through indoor uniaxial compressive strength tests using large specimens and uniaxial compressive strength tests for field compaction and collected cores. Furthermore, the stability of hardfill dams with three types of slopes during earthquakes was evaluated through a finite element analysis. The distributions of stress in the hardfill dam body and the strength required to stabilize the dam body were investigated. Except for a 1:0.6 inclined hardfill dam body to which artificial seismic waves were applied, the overall strength range calculated from the indoor specimens and field compaction cores exceeded the required hardfill strength, thereby ensuring stability in the event of an earthquake. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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10 pages, 1581 KiB  
Article
Zeolitization of Diatomite Residues by a Simple Method
by José Manuel Moreno-Maroto, Jacinto Alonso-Azcárate, Carmen Martínez-García, Maximina Romero, Aurora López-Delgado and Teresa Cotes-Palomino
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(21), 10977; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122110977 - 29 Oct 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1196
Abstract
The possibility of transforming a diatomite-rich waste from the brewing industry into synthetic zeolites has been investigated. After precalcination at 550 °C to eliminate the retained organic matter, the clean diatomite (Dt; with a Si/Al molar ratio of 17.4), was hydrothermally treated for [...] Read more.
The possibility of transforming a diatomite-rich waste from the brewing industry into synthetic zeolites has been investigated. After precalcination at 550 °C to eliminate the retained organic matter, the clean diatomite (Dt; with a Si/Al molar ratio of 17.4), was hydrothermally treated for 24 h with continuous stirring in a 3M NaOH solution at 80 °C. The results of mineralogical characterization by X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement have shown a crystallization of 55% of zeolite P, which was neoformed from the amorphous phase, opal-CT and quartz of the starting sample. The spectra obtained by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry have corroborated such zeolitization. N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms have shown that the zeolitized material (Dt-Z) is mesoporous, with almost 60% more specific surface area than Dt (62.6 m2/g vs. 39.4 m2/g), greater microporosity and 40% smaller average pore size than Dt (71 Å vs. 118 Å). This study is a first approximation to know the potential of diatomite wastes as zeolite precursors, for which additional research including an aluminum source will be required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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14 pages, 3997 KiB  
Article
Low Compressibility at the Transition Zone of Railway Tracks Reinforced with Cement-Treated Gravel and a Geogrid under Construction
by Seongyong Park, Dae Sang Kim, Ungjin Kim and Sangseom Jeong
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8861; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178861 - 3 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1449
Abstract
In the transition zone of railway tracks, track irregularities occur frequently due to differential settlement, which arises from the difference between the vertical supporting stiffness of the abutment and the backfill. This is disadvantageous because it increases the maintenance requirements and deteriorates the [...] Read more.
In the transition zone of railway tracks, track irregularities occur frequently due to differential settlement, which arises from the difference between the vertical supporting stiffness of the abutment and the backfill. This is disadvantageous because it increases the maintenance requirements and deteriorates the ride quality. To address this challenge, this study proposes a strategy involving the application of cement-treated gravel reinforced with geogrids and rigid facing walls. The reinforced subgrade for railways (RSR), which can reduce residual settlement through the initial construction of the backfill reinforced with geogrids and the subsequent development of the rigid facing wall, was constructed at the transition zone with cement-treated gravel as the backfill material. The long-term behaviors during and after construction on the RSR for a period of 16 months were evaluated by analyzing the surface and ground settlements, horizontal earth pressure, and geogrid strain. The minor net settlement of the reinforced backfill converges at the early stage of subgrade construction, and the horizontal earth pressure was approximately reduced to the level of 54–63% of the Rankine active earth pressure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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13 pages, 16574 KiB  
Article
Geotechnical Behaviour of Fly Ash–Bentonite Used in Layers
by Murtaza Hasan, Mehboob Anwer Khan, Abdullah H. Alsabhan, Abdullah A. Almajid, Shamshad Alam, Mohammad Amir Khan, Tinku Biswas and Jaan Pu
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1421; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031421 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2310
Abstract
Increasing infrastructure growth has forced the construction industry to look for wasteful, cheap, and suitable materials for construction. An investigation into the geotechnical utilization of fly ash was carried out in the present study. Practical applications normally involve the use of large quantities [...] Read more.
Increasing infrastructure growth has forced the construction industry to look for wasteful, cheap, and suitable materials for construction. An investigation into the geotechnical utilization of fly ash was carried out in the present study. Practical applications normally involve the use of large quantities of fly ash, so proper mixing of the fly ash with other materials may not be significantly achieved. Therefore, the present paper investigates the behaviour of a fly ash–bentonite layered system with different ratios. The physical properties and chemical composition of fly ash and bentonite were determined. SEM and energy dispersive X-ray experiments were also used to investigate the morphology and phase compositions of fly ash and bentonite. A series of consolidated undrained (CU) triaxial tests on fly ash–bentonite were carried out to investigate shear strength characteristics. Fly ash (F) and bentonite (B) were used in the following ratios: 1:1 (50% F:50% B), 2:1 (67% F:33% B), 3:1 (75% F:25% B), and 4:1 (80% F:20% B), with different numbers of interfaces (N), i.e., 1, 2, and 3 for each ratio. The deviator stress and cohesion value were found to increase with the number of interfaces for each ratio. The angle of shear resistance changed marginally with the increase in the fly ash–bentonite ratios and varying interfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

19 pages, 4536 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review of Soil Remolding Toughness Determination and Its Use in the Classification of Fine-Grained Soils
by Brendan C. O’Kelly, Jacinto Alonso-Azcárate and José Manuel Moreno-Maroto
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5711; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095711 - 5 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1298
Abstract
The remolding toughness property of fine-grained soil has not been investigated that much, mainly because it has not lent easily to direct measurement, with soil toughness usually qualitatively described. In practical terms, as the plastic limit wP is approached, tougher soils require [...] Read more.
The remolding toughness property of fine-grained soil has not been investigated that much, mainly because it has not lent easily to direct measurement, with soil toughness usually qualitatively described. In practical terms, as the plastic limit wP is approached, tougher soils require greater rolling effort during the wP test, such that plasticity and toughness properties can be used to distinguish those plastic soils having greater deformation resistance for various field applications. This state-of-the-art review paper presents a critical appraisal of soil remolding toughness determination and its limited use, to date, in the classification of fine-grained soils. The recent developments reviewed and critically assessed include mechanical thread rolling for nominal toughness measurement during the wP rolling-out procedure, various extrusion approaches, and proposed correlations between toughness and the plasticity index to liquid limit ratio. From statistical analysis of previously reported toughness–consistency limits data, some new correlations are introduced in the present paper. Soil classification using the traditional Casagrande plasticity chart is not entirely accurate for certain soil types in that one can observe soils that present high toughness (something typical of clay) being incorrectly classified as silt soil. From this perspective, a new toughness chart is introduced to augment (or for use instead of) the Casagrande plasticity chart in obtaining more reliable soil classification. This paper concludes with recommendations on future research efforts for routinely obtaining soil toughness measurements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials: Latest Advances in Materials for Construction and Engineering Applications)
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