Mechanical Properties of Cement-Treated Soil Mixed with Cellulose Nanofibre

Cellulose nanofibre (CNF), a material composed of ultrafine fibres of wood cellulose fibrillated to nano-order level, is expected to be widely used because of its excellent properties. However, in the field of geotechnical engineering, almost no progress has been made in the development of techniques for using CNFs. The authors have focused on the use of CNF as an additive in cement treatment for soft ground, where cement is added to solidify the ground, because CNF can reduce the problems associated with cement-treated soil. This paper presents the results of a study on the method of mixing CNF, the strength and its variation obtained by adding CNF, and the change in permeability. CNF had the effect of mixing the cement evenly and reducing the variation in the strength of the treated soil. The CNF mixture increased the strength at the initial age but reduced the strength development in the long term. The addition of CNF also increased the flexural strength, although it hardly changed the permeability.

Automated summary

The study found that using cellulose nanofibre (CNF) as an additive in cement treatment for soft ground can reduce problems associated with cement-treated soil and increase flexural strength. However, in the long term, it may weaken the strength development of the soil. Adding CNF results in minimal variation in soil strength but hardly changes permeability.