The Effect of Temperature on the Settlement Behavior of Fine-Grained Soil Stabilized with Cement

In this research, heat effects on settlement characteristics of cement-stabilized fine-grained soil have been considered in laboratory using standard compaction and thermal consolidation tests. Thermal consolidation tests were conducted by designing a consolidation cell instrument equipped with thermocouple and thermometer on different cement-stabilized samples at various curing times. Samples were tested at temperatures of 30, 45 and 60 0C; cement contents of 4, 6 and 8 percent; and curing times of 7 and 28 days. According to the results, consolidation will be improved in cement-stabilized soils if heat is used. Moreover, settlement time decreases and consolidation speed increases. The results also show that increasing temperature from 20 0C (room temperature) to 60 0C may increase soil settlement. This is while increasing cement content from 4 to 8 percent leads to decrease soil settlement. Besides, increasing curing time from 7 to 28 days under specific temperature and cement content, causes a significant decrease in soil compression index. Among different samples investigated in this research, the minimum compression index was observed in 28 day-cured specimens reinforced with 8 percent cement at temperature of 30 0C while the maximum swelling index was observed in natural soil. The findings also revealed that in 7 day-cured specimens under temperature of 30 0C with increasing cement content from 4 to 8 percent, compression and swelling index values have been decreased to 14 and 30 percent, respectively.