Effect of Dry-Wet Cycles on Strength Properties and Microstructure of Lime-Metakaolin-Modified Soil

To explore the feasibility of replacing natural hydraulic lime (NHL) with lime-metakaolin (L-MK) in the restoration of soil sites, the samples of L-MK-modified silty sand (hereinafter L-MK-modified soil) underwent 0, 5, 10, and 15 dry-wet cycles and were then tested for mass loss, unconfined compressive strength, and splitting tensile strength. Some samples were tested using XRD, TG and SEM microscopic tests to study the strength mechanism for L-MK- and NHL-modified soil. The results showed that the mass loss ratios of the L-MK- and NHL-modified soils after 15 dry-wet cycles were within 2%. The compressive and tensile strengths of the L-MK-modified soil decreased with more dry-wet cycles, but the tensile strength decreased sharply initially and then to be stable after five dry-wet cycles. The attenuation characteristics were different obviously for the failure mode of compressive and tensile strength and the unevenness of the specimen caused by dry-wet cycles. The compressive and tensile strengths of L-MK-modified soil were significantly higher than those of NHL-modified soil after the same dry-wet cycle, and the decreased range of compressive and tensile strength was smaller than that of NHL-modified soil. The strength formation and attenuation characteristics of L-MK-modified soil are closely related to the influence of dry-wet cycles on the hydration products (e.g., CSH and C(4)AH(13)) generated by hydration reaction. The mix proportion of 6% L + 4% MK can effectively replace 8% and 10% NHL to protect soil sites.