Open Access
ARTICLE
Study of Mutual Improvement of Completed Weathered Phyllite and Red Clay Based on Neutralization Effects of Swelling and Shrinkage Deformation
Xiushao Zhao1, Qijing Yang1,2,*, Jianglong Rao1, Daxin Geng1, Zhouyong Tan1
1
Engineering Research & Development Centre for Underground Technology of Jiangxi Province, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, 330013, China
2
Arcadis AustraliaPacific Pty Ltd., Sydney, Australia
* Corresponding Author: Qijing Yang. Email:
Journal of Renewable Materials 2022, 10(1), 203-218. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2021.015854
Received 19 January 2021; Accepted 19 February 2021; Issue published 27 July 2021
Abstract
Completely weathered phyllite (CWP) soil is a kind of special soil with high swell potential, while red clay is a
special soil with high shrinkage. This means that these two kinds of special soils are usually not suitable for direct
use as subgrade fill. To reduce the swell index of the CWP soil and the shrinkage of red clay at the same time, it
was proposed to blend the CWP soil with red clay to improve their basic characteristics. A series of swell index
tests and dry-wet cycle tests of the blended soils have been carried out at varying blending ratios, compaction
coefficients and moisture contents. The test results show that the free swell index of the blended soil decreases
with the increase of red clay, moisture content and compaction coefficient, respectively. The fissure density of
the blended soil first decreases and then increases with the blending ratio, with the lowest being zero when
the blending ratio is ranging from 20% to 40%. Through particle microscopic analysis and elemental composition
analysis, it is found that the neutralization effect, the dilution effect of swell minerals, and the partition effect of
coarse particles play an important role in restraining expansion and shrinkage deformation of the blended soil.
Based on the liquid limit requirement of Chinese Railway Design Code (TB 10001-2016), the optimal blending
ratio of red clay has been proposed to be 50%. Compared with the CWP soil, the free load swell index of the
blended soil is reduced by 45.0% and the fissure density is reduced by 99.3% compared with that of red clay.
Therefore, it is feasible to improve the CWP soil by blending it with red clay at an optimal ratio of 50% by using
the neutralization effect of the expansion of CWP and shrinkage of red clay.
Graphical Abstract
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Cite This Article
Zhao, X., Yang, Q., Rao, J., Geng, D., Tan, Z. (2022). Study of Mutual Improvement of Completed Weathered Phyllite and Red Clay Based on Neutralization Effects of Swelling and Shrinkage Deformation.
Journal of Renewable Materials, 10(1), 203–218. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2021.015854