Compression and strength behavior of cement-lime-polymer-solidified dredged material at high water content

The potential use and engineering properties of cement-solidified clay with superabsorbent polymer (SAP), which is implemented as raw material for backfill or reclamation, are investigated. SAP is added, as water-reducing agent, into the cement mixing method to improve the effectiveness of cementation for high-water content-dredged material in China. Test results show that the vertical yield stress (sigma(')(vy)) and unconfined compression strength q(u) significantly increase with SAP content, cement and lime content, and curing time, which are attributed to greater degree of cementation bonding. By contrast, the influence of SAP on the compressibility of cement-treated clay at postyield state is negligible. The clay-water/cement ratio hypothesis was used successfully to analyze the strength development of cement-lime-polymer-solidified Kemen clay at various SAP contents. For given clay-water/cement ratio, the strength of the cement-solidified clay increases with an increasing SAP content. Hence, to increase cementation efficiency and improve the economic impact, SAP can be used to enhance the strength of cement-solidified clay at notably high water content.